Bell 525 Relentless vs Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions, while the Enstrom 480B is a smaller single‑engine turbine helicopter typically used for training, patrol, and light utility. The Piper M600 SLS is not a helicopter at all but a single‑engine turboprop airplane, generally oriented toward personal and business travel with higher cruise efficiency than rotorcraft. By category, the Bell 525 and AW189 sit in the “super‑medium” twin helicopter class, offering IFR capability and stronger all‑weather/overwater suitability than the Enstrom 480B. In range, the M600 SLS typically delivers the longest point‑to‑point range among these because fixed‑wing aircraft are more fuel‑efficient in cruise; the Bell 525 and AW189 offer medium‑to‑long helicopter ranges depending on tanks and payload; the Enstrom 480B is usually shortest‑legged. For passenger capacity, the AW189 and Bell 525 carry the most (commonly up to mid‑teens in high‑density seating), the Enstrom 480B is limited to a small cabin load (typically 4–5 total seats), and the M600 SLS is commonly configured for about 5–6 seats.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 | 1406 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $3,081,400 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 | $ 2.19 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 | $ 0.55 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 | $ 603 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | No |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 55 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 | 29.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 | 165 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 43.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 20 |