Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Bell 525 Relentless and the Leonardo AW189 are super‑medium, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, utility, and executive missions, while the Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing business aircraft optimized for faster point‑to‑point travel from runways. In category terms, 525 and AW189 overlap closely as large cabin rotorcraft with strong all‑weather and vertical-access advantages; the Avanti EVO trades vertical lift for higher cruise speed and typical business-aircraft operating profiles. For range, both helicopters generally deliver a few hundred nautical miles in practical passenger configurations, with the Bell 525 typically positioned toward the upper end of the super‑medium class and the AW189 similarly competitive depending on fuel, reserves, and mission equipment. The Avanti EVO usually offers substantially longer range than either helicopter, commonly around or above the 1,000‑nautical‑mile class, reflecting fixed‑wing efficiency. For passenger capacity, the Bell 525 and AW189 are commonly configured around 16–19 passengers in high‑density transport layouts, or fewer in executive interiors. The Avanti EVO typically seats about 7–9 passengers in business configuration.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | — | No |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | No |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 28 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 | 47.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 47.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 3.5 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 35.2 |