Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Bell 525 Relentless is a large, fly-by-wire helicopter aimed at corporate and offshore missions. Its range is roughly 560 nautical miles, and typical seating is about 16 passengers (with layouts varying by operator). The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a lighter twin-engine helicopter optimized for urban, law-enforcement, and utility work; it generally carries about 8–10 passengers and offers a shorter range around 250–300 nautical miles. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a super-midsize business jet built for fast point-to-point travel; it typically seats 7–9 passengers in executive configuration and can fly about 2,100 nautical miles, making it well suited to regional and transcontinental missions. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a high-speed turboprop business aircraft that bridges jet and turboprop roles; it commonly seats 7–9 passengers and offers around 1,700–1,800 nautical miles of range, emphasizing efficiency and speed for its class.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 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 |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 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 | 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 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — |
| 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 |