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.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Leonardo | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | AW189 | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 651 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | — | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 155 | 400 |
| 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 | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | — | No |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | — | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | No |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | — | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | CT7-2E1 | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 1983 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | — | ISA + 28 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 57.8 | 47.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | — | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | — | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | — | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | 16.6 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | 85 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | — | 47.1 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | 35.2 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 395 | — |