Bell 525 Relentless vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters suited to vertical-access missions such as offshore transport and remote-area operations. In category terms they trade runway independence for lower cruise efficiency than jets. The Bell 525 is positioned as a long‑range “super‑medium” helicopter, while the AW189 is a heavy/large‑cabin helicopter; both typically carry around 16–19 passengers in high‑density layouts, with practical mission ranges commonly in the roughly 450–550 nautical mile class depending on payload and reserves. The Dassault Falcon 8X is an ultra‑long‑range business jet optimized for intercontinental travel. It generally seats about 12–16 passengers in executive configurations and offers a published range around 6,450 nautical miles, far exceeding the helicopters and the PC‑24. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet designed for versatility, including operations from shorter and semi‑prepared runways. It typically seats about 6–10 passengers in executive layouts and has a published range around 2,000 nautical miles, placing it between the helicopters and the Falcon 8X for range while retaining more field flexibility than most business jets.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | 8X | AW189 | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6450 | 651 | 2076 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 36900 | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 516 | 155 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 | $11,800,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 | $ 3.71 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.62 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 | $ 1,619 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 10.2 | — | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 29200 | — | 23500 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW307D | CT7-2E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 1983 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 | — | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 80.2 | 57.8 | 52.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 7.7 | — | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 6.2 | — | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 42.7 | — | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 26.1 | 16.6 | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | 85 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 | — | 55.8 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 1695 | 395 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 | — | 90 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | — | Flat Floor |