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Bell 525 Relentless vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piaggio Avanti Evo

The Bell 525 Relentless and MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer are twin‑engine helicopters, while the Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing business aircraft, so it typically delivers higher cruise speed and longer range than either rotorcraft. In mission category, the Bell 525 is a larger “super‑medium” class helicopter aimed at offshore transport and corporate/VIP roles, whereas the MD 902 is a lighter utility/EMS/law‑enforcement and short‑haul corporate helicopter optimized for efficient, low‑footprint operations. For range, the Avanti EVO generally leads (roughly on the order of 1,500–1,800 nautical miles), the Bell 525 sits in the middle (about 500–600 nautical miles depending on configuration), and the MD 902 is usually shorter (around 300–400 nautical miles). Passenger capacity follows a similar pattern: the Bell 525 typically accommodates the most (commonly up to around 16–19 including crew in high‑density layouts), the Avanti EVO usually seats about 7–9 in executive configuration (plus crew), and the MD 902 commonly carries about 5–8 (plus crew), depending on interior and mission kit.

SpecBell 525 RelentlessPiaggio Avanti EVO
Summary
Cockpit22
Min Crew21
Total Seats188
Flight RulesIFRIFR
ManufacturerBellPiaggio
Aircraft Name525 RelentlessAvanti EVO
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)5801530
Max Cabin Seats167
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)66753775
Standard Cabin Seats166
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G5000HRockwell Collins Pro Line 21
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)160400
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$15,000,000$ 7,695,000
Cabin
Cockpit22
Min Crew21
Total Seats188
Max Cabin Seats167
Standard Cabin Seats166
LavatoryNo
Cabin Pressure (psi)9
Galley / RefreshmentNo
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)24000
Max Cabin Altitude (ft)6600
Engine
FADECDual-ChannelYes
ModelCT7-2F1PT6A–66B
Fuel TypeJetFuel
TBO (hrs)40003600
Horsepower1800850
No. of Engines22
Fuel Capacity (gal)641
Flat RatingISA + 28
Fuel Burn (gph)100
Dimensions
Width (ft)25.77
Length (ft)61.5847.3
Cabin Width (ft)7.586.1
Cabin Height (ft)4.55.8
Cabin Length (ft)15.514.9
Overall Height (ft)18.1813.1
Rotor Diameter (ft)54.5
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)128
Wingspan (ft)47.1
Cabin Width - Floor (ft)3.5
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)35.2