Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Sikorsky S 92
The Bell 525 Relentless, Leonardo AW189, and Sikorsky S-92 are all twin‑engine, IFR-capable, medium-class helicopters commonly associated with offshore energy, search and rescue, and VIP/utility transport, but they sit in slightly different parts of the segment. The AW189 and Bell 525 are generally considered “super‑medium” types, while the S‑92 is typically positioned closer to the heavy end of the medium market and is widely used for longer offshore legs and higher payload missions. On range, the Bell 525 and AW189 are broadly comparable, with typical mission ranges on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on fuel, payload, and reserves; the S‑92 is often selected when operators want robust long‑range offshore capability, though real-world range still depends heavily on configuration. On passenger capacity, the AW189 and Bell 525 commonly seat around 16–19 passengers in offshore layouts, whereas the S‑92 is frequently configured around 19 passengers and can be arranged for higher-density seating in some utility setups. Overall, AW189 and 525 compete most directly as modern super‑mediums, while the S‑92 is the larger, more offshore-centric option.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 | 439 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $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 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 | 140 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 | 775 |