Embraer Legacy 650 E vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer

The Embraer Legacy 650E is a long-range fixed‑wing business jet, best suited to city‑to‑city travel over large distances at high cruise speeds. It typically carries about 13 passengers in an executive layout and offers roughly 3,900 nautical miles of range, making it the clear choice for intercontinental-style missions compared with the helicopters. The Leonardo (Agusta) AW189 is a medium twin‑engine helicopter designed for offshore, SAR, and utility/VIP transport where vertical lift and access to confined sites matter more than speed. Passenger capacity commonly falls around 16–19 (depending on configuration), with a typical range in the neighborhood of 450–500 nautical miles, varying with payload and reserves. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) MD 902 Explorer is a lighter twin‑engine helicopter optimized for EMS, law enforcement, and short‑haul corporate use, featuring the NOTAR anti‑torque system. It generally seats about 8–10 passengers (or fewer with mission equipment) and has a typical range around 300–350 nautical miles.