Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piper M600 Sls
The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, large‑cabin business jet, optimized for intercontinental travel. It typically offers roughly 6,400 nautical miles of range and seats about 12–16 passengers depending on cabin layout, making it the clear choice for nonstop, high‑speed point‑to‑point missions. The Leonardo (AgustaWestland) AW189 is a medium twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, SAR, and utility/VIP transport. It generally carries around 16–19 passengers and has a typical range on the order of roughly 450–500 nautical miles (mission‑ and fuel‑tank‑dependent), trading speed and range for vertical‑lift access. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a light twin helicopter suited to EMS, law enforcement, and corporate shuttle roles. It usually seats about 7–8 passengers and commonly offers roughly 250–350 nautical miles of range, emphasizing maneuverability and lower operating footprint. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop personal/business aircraft. It typically carries 5–6 passengers with around 1,400–1,500 nautical miles of range, bridging short‑to‑midrange travel with simpler operations than a jet.
| Spec | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 8X | AW189 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 6450 | 651 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 36900 | — | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 14 | 19 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 516 | 155 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | IFR |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — | No |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | Yes | — | — |
| Total Seats | 17 | 21 | 5 |
| Galley Location | FWD | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | — |
| Lavatory Location | FWD / AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 10.2 | — | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | — | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 14 | 19 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 29200 | — | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | 3900 | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PW307D | CT7-2E1 | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | On-Condition | 4000 | 3600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 17 | — | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 6722 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Type | — | JetFuel | — |
| Horsepower | — | 1983 | 600 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 80.2 | 57.8 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 86.3 | — | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.7 | — | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 6.2 | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 42.7 | — | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 26.1 | 16.6 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 1695 | 395 | 165 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 6.3 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 29.2 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 140 | — | 20 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 85 | — |