AIR.ONE

Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189

The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are modern medium helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and government missions, trading runway independence for shorter range than comparable jets. In typical passenger layouts, each seats roughly in the mid-teens (about 12–16), with the AW189 generally configured around 16–19 and the Bell 525 commonly around 12–16 depending on interior and mission kit. Their practical mission range is usually in the few-hundred–nautical-mile class (often roughly 400–500 nm), with reserves and payload driving real-world results. The Enstrom 480B is a light single-engine piston helicopter best suited to training, utility, and short-hop transport. It typically carries about 4–5 people and has a shorter range, commonly a few hundred nautical miles or less depending on fuel and conditions. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet optimized for fast point-to-point travel between airports. It typically seats about 8–9 passengers (up to around 12 in higher-density layouts) and offers substantially longer range than the helicopters, roughly around 2,000 nm class, along with far higher cruise speed.

SpecBell 525 RelentlessCessna Citation XLS+AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189
Summary
Cockpit222
Min Crew221
Total Seats181021
Flight RulesIFRIFR
ManufacturerBellCessna CitationLeonardo
Aircraft Name525 RelentlessXLS+AW189
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)5801906651
Max Cabin Seats16919
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDVERIFIEDUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)66757540
Standard Cabin Seats16819
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G5000HRockwell Collins Pro Line 21EFIS
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)160430155
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$15,000,000$15,500,000$2,413,000
DOC / nm$ 5.34$ 15.57
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.67$ 0.74
Direct Operating Cost$ 2,303$ 2,413
Cabin
Cockpit222
Min Crew221
Total Seats181021
Max Cabin Seats16919
Standard Cabin Seats16819
Lavatory1 Enclosed Belted Flushing
Crew RestNo
Jump SeatNo
Galley LocationFWD
Lavatory LocationAFT
Cabin Pressure (psi)9.3
Galley / RefreshmentGalley
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)25230
Engine
FADECDual-ChannelYesYes
ModelCT7-2F1PW545CCT7-2E1
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)400050004000
Horsepower18001983
No. of Engines222
Fuel Capacity (gal)641
Flat RatingISA + 10
Thrust (lbs)4119
Dimensions
Width (ft)25.77
Length (ft)61.5852.557.8
Cabin Width (ft)7.585.5
Cabin Height (ft)4.55.7
Cabin Length (ft)15.518.5
Overall Height (ft)18.1817.216.6
Rotor Diameter (ft)54.548
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)1288085
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
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)395