Bell 525 Relentless vs Enstrom 480b vs Piper M600 Sls
The Bell 525 Relentless and Enstrom 480B are helicopters, while the Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop airplane, so their mission profiles differ. The Bell 525 is a modern, fly‑by‑wire, super‑medium class helicopter aimed at longer-range corporate and offshore-style missions; it generally offers the longest range of the two rotorcraft and the highest passenger capacity, commonly configured for roughly a dozen-plus occupants depending on interior layout. The Enstrom 480B is a lighter, utility-oriented turbine helicopter typically used for training, patrol, and short-to-medium hops; it carries far fewer people, usually a pilot plus several passengers, and its range is notably shorter than the 525. The Piper M600 SLS is a pressurized, fixed‑wing turboprop designed for efficient point‑to‑point travel at higher cruise speeds than either helicopter. It typically seats one pilot plus up to five passengers (with some configurations allowing an extra seat), and its range is competitive for personal and business travel—often comparable to or exceeding light helicopters, though the Bell 525’s long-range configurations can surpass it.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1406 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $3,081,400 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.19 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.55 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 603 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 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 | No |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 55 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 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 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 43.2 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 |