Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are modern, twin‑engine medium helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility roles, while the Robinson R66 is a lighter, single‑engine helicopter primarily for private, training, and light commercial use. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a twin‑engine business jet designed for fast point‑to‑point travel between airports rather than vertical-lift missions. In range, the Citation XLS+ typically offers the longest, commonly around 2,000+ nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, making it best for regional-to-transcontinental trips. The Bell 525 and AW189 generally sit in the mid-hundreds of nautical miles, often roughly 400–500 nm in typical configurations, suited to offshore legs and regional helicopter transport. The Robinson R66 is usually shorter-range than the larger twins, commonly a few hundred nautical miles. For passenger capacity, the AW189 and Bell 525 are the highest, often configured around 12–16 passengers depending on mission and layout. The Citation XLS+ typically seats about 7–9 passengers in executive configuration. The Robinson R66 is smallest, generally carrying about 4 passengers plus a pilot.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 155 |
| 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 | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 57.8 |
| 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 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | 85 |
| 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 |