Bell 525 Relentless vs Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 sit in the super‑medium class, aimed at offshore and utility missions, while the MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a light twin, and the Enstrom 480B is a light single. In range terms, the 525 and AW189 generally lead, with typical mission ranges in the several-hundred–nautical‑mile class depending on fuel, payload, and reserves. The MD 902 usually offers a shorter but still respectable medium range for corporate, EMS, and law‑enforcement profiles, and the Enstrom 480B tends to be shorter-range than the twins, reflecting its lighter, single‑engine role. For passenger capacity, the AW189 and Bell 525 are commonly configured around 16–19 seats in high‑density transport layouts (with other interiors possible), making them best suited for moving larger teams. The MD 902 typically carries about 8–10 passengers, fitting smaller groups with twin‑engine redundancy. The Enstrom 480B is usually a 4–5 seat aircraft, optimized for personal, training, patrol, and light utility use rather than high‑capacity transport.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 |