Bell 525 Relentless vs Embraer Legacy 650 E vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at VIP transport and offshore missions rather than traditional business-jet travel. Its category is a large, long-range helicopter, typically carrying about 12–16 passengers depending on cabin fit, with a practical range around 600–700 nautical miles. The Embraer Legacy 650E is a large-cabin, long-range business jet designed for intercity and transcontinental missions. It commonly seats 13 passengers (often up to 14), and its range is about 3,900 nautical miles, making it the clear leader for long nonstop trips and higher-speed travel. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a high-speed turboprop business aircraft that sits between light jets and midsize cabin offerings in mission profile. It typically carries about 7–9 passengers, with a range around 1,500–1,800 nautical miles. Compared with the Legacy 650E it trades ultimate range and cabin volume for lower fuel burn and strong short-field practicality, while offering far more range and cruise efficiency than the helicopter.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | No |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 6600 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 28 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 47.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 47.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.5 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 35.2 |