Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Enstrom 480b vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless is a large, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore and executive transport; it carries about 16 passengers and offers long helicopter range, roughly in the 600–700 nautical mile class depending on fit and reserves. The Enstrom 480B is a much smaller single‑engine piston helicopter typically configured for 4–5 seats, suited to utility and training, with comparatively short range, generally a few hundred nautical miles. The Robinson R66 is a light single‑engine turbine helicopter, usually 4–5 seats, favored for personal, news, and light commercial work, with range commonly around 300–350 nautical miles. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light business jet rather than a helicopter; it typically seats about 7–9 passengers and, because it is a fixed‑wing jet, it offers substantially greater point‑to‑point range than the light helicopters—around 2,000 nautical miles class—along with much higher cruise speed. Overall, the Citation leads in range and speed, the Bell 525 leads among the helicopters in capacity and mission reach, and the Enstrom 480B and R66 are lighter, shorter‑range rotorcraft for smaller groups.
| 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 |