Bell 525 Relentless vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless is a large, fly-by-wire twin-engine helicopter in the super‑medium class, aimed at offshore and corporate missions. It offers the longest range of the helicopters here (roughly in the 500–600 nm class, mission dependent) and typically carries about 16 passengers in high-density seating, or fewer in executive layouts. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a light twin helicopter; its range is generally shorter (about 300–350 nm), and typical passenger capacity is around 7–8 total seats (including pilot[s]), depending on configuration. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a pressurized twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft rather than a helicopter; it operates in the light business aircraft category, with substantially longer range (often around 1,400–1,800 nm) and typically seats 6–7 passengers in a corporate cabin (plus pilots). The Robinson R66 is a light single‑turbine helicopter designed for private and utility flying; it has the shortest range of the group (commonly about 300 nm) and usually carries 4 passengers plus a pilot.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 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 |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 28 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 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 | 13.1 |
| 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 |