Bell 525 Relentless vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are medium, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions, while the Enstrom 480B is a smaller single‑engine light turbine helicopter typically used for training, patrol, and short‑range transport. The Dassault Falcon 8X is in a different category entirely: a long‑range tri‑jet business aircraft optimized for high‑speed intercity and intercontinental travel. On range, the Falcon 8X is the clear outlier, offering true long‑haul capability on the order of several thousand nautical miles, far beyond any helicopter in this group. The AW189 and Bell 525 sit in the middle with medium helicopter ranges suited to regional missions, generally a few hundred nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, with the 525 often positioned toward the higher‑performance end of its class. The Enstrom 480B is typically shorter‑range than the larger twins. For passenger capacity, the Falcon 8X commonly seats around 12–16 in typical executive layouts. The AW189 and Bell 525 can be configured for roughly a dozen to the high‑teens depending on interior and mission. The Enstrom 480B is much smaller, generally carrying about 4–5 occupants.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | 8X | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6450 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 36900 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 516 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 | 19 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW307D | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 80.2 | 57.8 |
| 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 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | 85 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 1695 | 395 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 | — |