Bell 525 Relentless vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are medium-class, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate shuttle, and utility roles. They typically carry around 16–19 passengers in high‑density layouts (fewer in VIP), with practical ranges roughly in the 400–500 nautical mile class depending on payload and reserves. The Robinson R66 is a light, single‑engine helicopter designed for lower-cost personal, training, and light utility missions; it usually seats 4–5 people and has a shorter practical range, roughly around 300 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, tri‑jet business airplane in a different category altogether, optimized for intercontinental travel at high speed and altitude. It commonly seats about 12–16 passengers in executive configurations (with higher maximums possible), and its range is on the order of 6,000+ nautical miles, enabling nonstop city pairs that are far beyond any of these helicopters. Overall, the helicopters trade speed and range for vertical access and point-to-point flexibility, while the 8X prioritizes distance, cruise performance, and cabin comfort over runway dependence.
| 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 | — |