Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Enstrom 480b
The Bell 525 Relentless and the Enstrom 480B are helicopters, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light business jet, so their strengths differ sharply. The Bell 525 is a modern super‑medium twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and government missions, offering a long helicopter range (roughly in the 500–600 nautical mile class, mission‑dependent) and typically seating around 16 people in a high‑density layout, with fewer in VIP configurations. The Enstrom 480B is a smaller single‑engine utility helicopter used for training, patrol, and light transport; its range is much shorter (on the order of a few hundred nautical miles) and passenger capacity is limited to about five seats total including the pilot. The Citation XLS+ is designed for fast point‑to‑point travel at altitude; it generally flies farther than either helicopter (often around 1,800–2,100 nautical miles depending on conditions and reserves) and typically carries about 8–9 passengers plus crew, trading vertical‑lift flexibility for much higher cruise speed and longer nonstop legs.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 |