Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Aw189
All four are twin‑engine civil helicopters, but they sit in different size and mission categories. The Bell 525 Relentless is a “super‑medium” class aircraft aimed at offshore and high‑utilization transport, generally offering the longest reach in this group at roughly around the 500‑nautical‑mile class depending on fit and reserves, with a typical passenger layout in the mid‑teens. The Leonardo AW139 is a medium twin used widely for EMS, SAR, and corporate/offshore work; it commonly carries about 12–15 passengers and delivers solid mid‑range capability, often in the roughly 400–500‑nautical‑mile class depending on configuration. The Leonardo AW169 is a lighter intermediate/medium‑light twin optimized for shorter sectors, typically carrying around 8–10 passengers with range commonly in the roughly 350–450‑nautical‑mile class. The Leonardo AW189 is a larger “super‑medium” geared strongly toward offshore; it typically seats about 16–19 passengers and offers long‑range performance broadly comparable to the 525, often around the 500‑nautical‑mile class depending on tanks and mission equipment.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 12 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW139 | AW169 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 573 | 440 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 4701 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 165 | 140 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 | 12 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PT6C-67C | PW210A | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1679 | 1000 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | 414 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 54.7 | 48.1 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 54.7 | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 120 | 49.5 | 85 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 282 | 222.5 | 395 |