Enstrom Helicotper 480b G vs Guimbal Cabri G2 vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 600n vs Robinson Helicopters R22 Beta Ii vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven I vs Robinson Helicopters R66 vs Schweizer Rsg 300cbi
All are light helicopters; the Schweizer RSG 300CBi is typically a two-seat trainer, like the Robinson R22 Beta II and Guimbal Cabri G2, which are also two-seat piston helicopters aimed at training and local utility. In passenger capacity, the Enstrom 480B-G and MD Helicopters MD 500E generally sit in the four-to-five-seat light utility class (depending on configuration), while the Robinson R44 Raven I is a common four-seat piston platform. The Robinson R66 and MD 600N move into the five-seat turbine category, offering more payload capability and usually longer legs than most piston two-seaters. The Leonardo SH09 (AW09) is a larger, modern single-engine turbine helicopter generally positioned in the six-to-seven-seat class, making it the highest-capacity aircraft in this group. On range, the two-seat trainers (R22, Cabri G2, 300CBi) are usually optimized for shorter training sorties; the R44 and Enstrom 480B-G typically provide moderate cross-country range; and the turbine singles (R66, MD 600N, SH09) generally offer the best range potential and operational flexibility, with the SH09 usually expected to be strongest overall.
| Spec | Guimbal Cabri G2 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 500E | MD Helicopters MD 600N | ROBINSON R22 Beta II | ROBINSON R44 Raven I | ROBINSON R66 | Schweizer RSG 300CBi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||||
| DOC / nm | $ 1.71 | $4.48 | $ 2.95 | $ 4.06 | $ 1.80 | $ 2.30 | $ 3.49 | $ 1.68 |
| Total Seats | 2 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Guimbal | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters | Scheizer RSG |
| Aircraft Name | Cabri G2 | SH09 | MD 500E | MD 600N | R22 Beta II | R44 Raven I | R66 | 300CBi |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 406 | 430 | 258 | 341 | 250 | 300 | 350 | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.86 | $0.56 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.90 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.70 | $ 0.56 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 617 | — | 1483 | 2000 | 490 | 950 | 1355 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 171 | $627 | $ 398 | $ 545 | $ 173 | $ 248 | $ 384 | $ 158 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Guimbal Digtal EPM | EFIS | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 100 | 140 | 135 | 134 | 96 | 108 | 110 | 94 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $385,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $3,400,000 | $ 312,000 | $ 412,000 | $ 920,000 | $ 360,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Max Passengers | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 6 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 6 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 3 | — |
| Cabin | ||||||||
| Total Seats | 2 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 6 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 3 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||||
| FADEC | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Model | 0-360-J2A | HTS 900 | 250-C20B | 250-C47 | O-360 | O-540 | RR300 | HIO-360-G1A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | AvGas | AvGas | JetFuel | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 5500 | 3500 | 2000 | 2000 | 2200 | 2000 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | — | 12 |
| Horsepower | 180 | 1020 | 420 | 715 | 131 | 225 | 300 | 180 |
| Fuel Delivery | Carbureted | — | — | — | Carbureted | Carbureted | — | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 35 | 41 | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 64 | 118 | 115 | 29.5 | 73.6 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||||
| Length (ft) | 20.7 | — | 30.9 | 36.9 | 28.5 | 38.3 | 38.3 | 30.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 8.2 | — | 8.7 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 11.4 | 8.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 23.7 | — | 26.4 | 27.5 | 25.2 | 33 | 33 | 26.9 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 0.7 | — | — | — | 1.5 | 2.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | — |