Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piper M600 Sls
The Enstrom 480B is a light single‑engine piston helicopter suited to short‑range utility and training missions; it typically carries a pilot plus up to four passengers, with a practical range on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on reserves and load. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a light twin‑engine turbine helicopter aimed at EMS, law enforcement, and corporate transport; it generally seats one to two pilots with about six to seven passengers and offers a similar short‑to‑medium range, often a few hundred nautical miles. The Agusta/Leonardo AW189 is a much larger super‑medium twin‑engine turbine helicopter designed for offshore and SAR roles; it carries substantially more people (commonly up to the mid‑teens in typical layouts) and delivers a longer, mission‑grade range that can extend into the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile class. The Piper M600 SLS is not a helicopter but a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft; it is a six‑seat personal/corporate traveler with the longest range of the group, typically well over 1,000 nautical miles, trading vertical‑lift flexibility for speed and endurance.
| Spec | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 15.57 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | AW189 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 651 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.74 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,413 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,413,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 2200 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 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 | Yes | No |
| Model | CT7-2E1 | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1983 | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 55 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 57.8 | 29.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.6 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 48 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 395 | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 85 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 12.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 |