Bell 525 Relentless vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Robinson R66 vs Sikorsky S 92
The Bell 525 Relentless is a modern super‑medium twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore and corporate missions, offering long helicopter-class range (roughly in the 500–600+ nautical mile class, mission dependent) and typically carrying about 12–16 passengers in high-density layouts. The Sikorsky S‑92 is a larger heavy twin helicopter optimized for offshore transport and SAR, generally carrying around 19 passengers in typical oil-and-gas seating and providing comparable or somewhat greater mission range than many super‑mediums (often around the 500–600+ nautical mile class, depending on tanks and payload). The Robinson R66 is a light single‑engine helicopter intended for utility and personal/short‑haul work; it seats up to 5 including the pilot and has a much shorter practical range than the 525 or S‑92 (commonly a few hundred nautical miles). The Daher TBM 960 is not a helicopter but a single‑engine turboprop airplane; it trades vertical lift for speed and efficiency, typically carrying 4–6 passengers (up to 6 plus pilot) and delivering much longer range than the helicopters here, commonly around 1,000+ nautical miles with reserves depending on profile.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 | 439 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $30,650,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.25 | $ 19.79 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.56 | $ 0.94 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 744 | $ 3,068 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | 760 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 35.3 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 13.4 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | — | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | 140 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 775 |