Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo (Agusta) AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, EMS, and VIP missions, trading runway independence and hover capability for lower cruise speed than jets. In typical configurations they carry around 12–16 passengers, and their practical mission range is generally a few hundred nautical miles, with the 525 often positioned toward the longer end of the super‑medium helicopter class and the AW189 similar depending on payload and reserves. 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 in executive layouts and offers roughly 1,800–2,100 nautical miles of range, substantially outpacing helicopters in speed and range but requiring runways and airport infrastructure. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop in the personal/light business category. It typically carries 4–6 passengers and offers about 1,300–1,500 nautical miles of range, with lower operating costs than a jet but less speed and cabin size than the Citation.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Leonardo | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | AW189 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 651 | 1406 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 19 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | — | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 155 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $2,413,000 | $3,081,400 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 15.57 | $ 2.19 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.55 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 2,413 | $ 603 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 19 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | — | No |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | MID |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | — | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | — | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | CT7-2E1 | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 1983 | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | — | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 57.8 | 29.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | — | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | — | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | 16.6 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | 85 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | — | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 395 | 165 |