Bell 525 Relentless vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and government missions where vertical access matters more than speed. It typically carries around 16 passengers in a high-density layout (often fewer in executive configurations) and offers long helicopter legs on the order of roughly 500–600 nautical miles, making it strong for point-to-point travel into sites without runways. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, large‑cabin business jet optimized for intercontinental travel. It generally seats about 12–16 passengers in executive layouts and delivers the greatest range of the three at roughly 6,450 nautical miles, pairing high cruise speed with a spacious cabin for long flights. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet positioned as a versatile “super versatile jet,” notable for operating from shorter and semi‑prepared runways. It typically carries about 6–10 passengers in executive use and has a mid‑range capability of roughly 2,000 nautical miles, trading cabin size and range for access and operational flexibility.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Dassault Falcon 8X | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Dassault Falcon | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | 8X | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6450 | 2076 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 36900 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell Primus EASy II | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 516 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $11,800,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 7.66 | $ 3.71 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.64 | $ 0.62 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 3,805 | $ 1,619 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 | 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 |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW307D | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 | 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 | 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 | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 1695 | — |
| 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 |