Bell 525 Relentless vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire super‑medium helicopter aimed at point-to-point missions without runways. It typically carries about 12–16 passengers depending on configuration, and its practical range is roughly in the 500–600 nautical mile class, making it well suited to offshore, regional shuttle, and premium corporate missions where vertical access matters most. The Daher TBM 960 is a high-performance single‑engine turboprop airplane built for fast, efficient owner-operator and short business trips between airports. It generally seats up to about 6 passengers (plus a pilot), and offers a range around 1,400–1,700 nautical miles depending on profile and reserves, giving it strong speed-per-dollar and flexibility for regional to mid‑range travel. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long-range tri‑jet business aircraft designed for intercontinental missions. Typical layouts accommodate about 12–16 passengers (with higher-density options), and range is about 6,450 nautical miles, enabling nonstop city pairs that are far beyond the other two.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 | 6450 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 14 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 744 | $ 3,805 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Galley Location | — | MID | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | 29200 |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 35.3 | 80.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 13.4 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | — | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | 86.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 1695 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |