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Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo

The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters suited to point‑to‑point access where runways are unavailable, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet optimized for fast, high‑altitude runway‑to‑runway travel, and the Piaggio Avanti EVO is a high‑speed twin‑turboprop positioned between turboprops and light/midsize jets in efficiency and cruise comfort. For range, the Citation XLS+ is generally the longest‑leg aircraft of the four, commonly used for transcontinental U.S.-style missions and longer nonstop city pairs than the rotorcraft options. The Avanti EVO typically offers jet‑like cruise speeds with range that is usually below the XLS+ but competitive for many regional trips. The AW189 and Bell 525 have substantially shorter ranges than the fixed‑wing aircraft, reflecting helicopter endurance and reserves, though both are strong for offshore, corporate, and utility legs. For passenger capacity, the Citation XLS+ and Avanti EVO typically seat around 7–9 in executive layouts, while the Bell 525 and AW189 can be configured for roughly similar executive loads or higher-density seating depending on mission, with the AW189 often accommodating the most in utility configurations.

SpecBell 525 RelentlessCessna Citation XLS+AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189Piaggio Avanti EVO
Summary
Cockpit2222
Min Crew2211
Total Seats1810218
Flight RulesIFRIFRIFR
ManufacturerBellCessna CitationLeonardoPiaggio
Aircraft Name525 RelentlessXLS+AW189Avanti EVO
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)58019066511530
Max Cabin Seats169197
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)667575403775
Standard Cabin Seats168196
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G5000HRockwell Collins Pro Line 21EFISRockwell Collins Pro Line 21
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)160430155400
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$15,000,000$15,500,000$2,413,000$ 7,695,000
DOC / nm$ 5.34$ 15.57
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.67$ 0.74
Direct Operating Cost$ 2,303$ 2,413
Cabin
Cockpit2222
Min Crew2211
Total Seats1810218
Max Cabin Seats169197
Standard Cabin Seats168196
Lavatory1 Enclosed Belted FlushingNo
Crew RestNo
Jump SeatNo
Galley LocationFWD
Lavatory LocationAFT
Cabin Pressure (psi)9.39
Galley / RefreshmentGalleyNo
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)2523024000
Max Cabin Altitude (ft)6600
Engine
FADECDual-ChannelYesYesYes
ModelCT7-2F1PW545CCT7-2E1PT6A–66B
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)4000500040003600
Horsepower18001983850
No. of Engines2222
Fuel Capacity (gal)641
Flat RatingISA + 10ISA + 28
Thrust (lbs)4119
Fuel Burn (gph)100
Dimensions
Width (ft)25.77
Length (ft)61.5852.557.847.3
Cabin Width (ft)7.585.56.1
Cabin Height (ft)4.55.75.8
Cabin Length (ft)15.518.514.9
Overall Height (ft)18.1817.216.613.1
Rotor Diameter (ft)54.548
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)1288085
Wingspan (ft)56.347.1
Aisle Step (ft)0.7
Cabin Width - Floor (ft)3.93.5
Cabin Length - Seating (ft)14.3
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)1035.2
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)395