Bell 525 Relentless vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Bell 525 Relentless and the Dassault Falcon 8X sit in different aircraft categories: the Bell 525 is a twin‑engine, fly‑by‑wire civilian helicopter designed for offshore, corporate, and utility missions, while the Falcon 8X is a long‑range, three‑engine business jet built for intercontinental executive travel. In range, the Falcon 8X is in a different class, typically capable of about 6,450 nautical miles, enabling nonstop city pairs such as New York–Dubai or Paris–Singapore under favorable conditions. The Bell 525’s range is far shorter, roughly in the 500–600 nautical mile class depending on configuration and reserves, but it can access helipads and remote sites without runways. Passenger capacity also reflects the mission: the Falcon 8X commonly seats around 12–16 passengers in executive layouts (with a much higher maximum certified capacity in dense seating), whereas the Bell 525 generally carries around 16–20 people including crew, with typical offshore or VIP configurations often lower. Overall, the 525 prioritizes vertical access and point‑to‑point flexibility; the 8X prioritizes speed, comfort, and global reach.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6450 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 7.66 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.64 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 3,805 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 80.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 1695 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 |