Bell 525 Relentless vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless and Robinson R66 are helicopters, while the Daher TBM 960 and Dassault Falcon 8X are fixed‑wing airplanes. In category and mission, the Bell 525 is a large, twin‑engine corporate/offshore helicopter designed for higher speed, IFR capability, and longer legs than light helicopters; the R66 is a light, single‑engine turbine helicopter aimed at simpler utility and short‑range personal or training missions. For range, the Falcon 8X is the clear long‑haul leader as an ultra‑long‑range business jet capable of intercontinental trips, while the TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop optimized for efficient regional and some transcontinental flying. The Bell 525 typically sits below the TBM and far below the Falcon in range but exceeds the R66, which is generally the shortest‑range aircraft of the group. For passenger capacity, the Falcon 8X typically carries the most in comfort (often around 12–16 in executive layouts), the TBM 960 usually seats about 4–6 passengers plus pilot, the Bell 525 commonly supports executive seating in the mid‑single digits up to around a dozen depending on configuration, and the R66 generally carries up to five including the pilot.
| 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 |