Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169
The Bell 525 Relentless is a super‑medium helicopter positioned above the light/intermediate Leonardo models, aimed at longer missions and heavier payloads. It typically offers the longest range in this group and the highest passenger capacity, making it well suited to offshore transport and longer corporate or utility legs. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a light twin, optimized for speed, short‑to‑medium range trips, and premium cabin service. It generally has the shortest range and the smallest passenger capacity here, fitting executive, EMS, and short-hop utility roles. The Leonardo AW139 is a medium twin and a common benchmark for offshore and public‑service operations. Its range is usually mid‑to‑high within this set and its passenger capacity is high, though typically below the Bell 525, balancing lift, cabin volume, and operating flexibility. The Leonardo AW169 sits between the AW109 and AW139 as a light‑intermediate twin. It generally offers more range and passenger capacity than the AW109, but less than the AW139 and Bell 525, targeting EMS, law enforcement, and multi‑mission utility work.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 8 | 17 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW109 Grand New | AW139 | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 464 | 573 | 440 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 156 | 165 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 7.31 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.91 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 1,140 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 8 | 17 | 12 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW207C | PT6C-67C | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 735 | 1679 | 1000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | 152 | 414 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 42.5 | 54.7 | 48.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 11.5 | 16.4 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 35.5 | 54.7 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | 120 | 49.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 282 | 222.5 |