Bell 525 Relentless vs Piper M600 Sls vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless is a twin‑engine, fly‑by‑wire helicopter in the “super‑medium” rotorcraft category, aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions. It offers the longest practical range of the three and the highest passenger capacity, typically configured for around a dozen-plus occupants depending on interior and mission fit. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing airplane in the personal/business aircraft category. It generally delivers the greatest point‑to‑point range efficiency at cruise and is optimized for fast cross‑country travel, but it carries fewer people than the Bell 525, typically six occupants in standard seating. The Robinson R66 is a light, single‑engine turbine helicopter designed for private, training, and light utility roles. It has the shortest range and the smallest cabin of the three, typically seating five total (pilot plus four passengers), but it offers helicopter advantages such as vertical takeoff/landing and access to tighter landing areas compared with the fixed‑wing Piper.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1406 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $3,081,400 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.19 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.55 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 603 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | No |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 55 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 29.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 43.2 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 |