Bell 525 Relentless vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Bell 525 Relentless is a large, twin‑engine helicopter, best suited to vertical-lift missions and point-to-point access where runways aren’t available. It typically carries a small executive group (about 8–12 depending on configuration) and offers medium range for a helicopter, roughly on the order of 500–600 nautical miles. The Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine, high‑performance turboprop airplane optimized for owner‑pilots and fast regional trips. It usually seats 4–6 passengers (up to about 6–7 including the pilot, depending on layout) and has long range for its class, roughly around 1,400–1,700 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 8X is an ultra‑long‑range, three‑engine business jet designed for intercontinental travel. It commonly accommodates 12–16 passengers in comfort (with higher maximum seating possible) and reaches about 6,450 nautical miles. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin‑turboprop business aircraft positioned between light jets and traditional turboprops for speed and cabin comfort. It generally seats 6–7 passengers (up to 9) with a typical range around 1,400–1,700 nautical miles.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 17 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | 8X | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 | 6450 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 16 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 | 36900 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 14 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 | 516 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 17 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 16 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 14 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing | No |
| Galley Location | — | MID | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | 10.2 | 9 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | 29200 | 24000 |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley | No |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 | 6600 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | PW307D | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | On-Condition | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 | — | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 | ISA + 28 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 6722 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 35.3 | 80.2 | 47.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4 | 7.7 | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 13.4 | 42.7 | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | — | 26.1 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | 86.3 | 47.1 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 1695 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 6.3 | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 29.2 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 | 35.2 |