Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Sikorsky S 92
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are modern super‑medium twin helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions, while the Sikorsky S‑92 is a larger heavy twin helicopter typically chosen for higher payload offshore transport, SAR, and VIP configurations. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is the outlier: a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft optimized for fast point‑to‑point business travel rather than vertical lift. On range, the Avanti EVO generally offers the longest reach for typical passenger operations because fixed‑wing efficiency enables longer legs than helicopters. Among the helicopters, the S‑92 commonly provides strong long‑range offshore capability, with the 525 and AW189 offering competitive ranges in the super‑medium class depending on tanks, payload, and reserves. On passenger capacity, the S‑92 usually seats the most in transport layouts (often around 19), reflecting its heavy category. The AW189 and Bell 525 typically sit below that in common configurations (roughly mid‑teens to high‑teens). The Avanti EVO generally carries fewer passengers in a business cabin (often 6–9) but does so at higher cruise speeds and with airport-to-airport efficiency.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 8 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Piaggio | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 | Avanti EVO | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 | 1530 | 439 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 7 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — | 3775 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 | 400 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $30,650,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 | — | $ 19.79 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 | — | $ 0.94 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 | — | $ 3,068 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 8 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 7 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | PT6A–66B | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 3600 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 | 850 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | 760 |
| 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 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 | — | 140 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 | — | 775 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 47.1 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 3.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 35.2 | — |