Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Sikorsky S 76d
The Leonardo AW109 Trekker is a light twin positioned for short‑to‑medium missions, typically carrying about six to seven passengers and offering moderate range. The Leonardo AW169 moves up to the light‑intermediate class, carrying roughly eight to ten passengers with generally longer legs than the AW109 and better payload‑range flexibility for EMS, offshore, and utility roles. The Leonardo SH09 is a newer light single designed around efficiency and lower operating cost; it is typically aimed at around five to six passengers with a range broadly comparable to other light singles, usually less than the twin‑engine AW169. The MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer is a light twin commonly configured for about seven to eight passengers, with range and payload more aligned with light twins like the AW109 rather than the AW169. The Sikorsky S‑76D is a medium twin optimized for executive and offshore transport, commonly seating about eight to twelve passengers and offering strong range/endurance in its class, typically comparable to or better than many light‑intermediate twins depending on configuration.
| Spec | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 7.40 | $ 11.84 | $4.48 | $ 7.54 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | AW109 Trekker | AW169 | SH09 | MD 902 Exlplorer | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 450 | 440 | 430 | 317 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.93 | $ 0.99 | $0.56 | $ 0.94 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,125 | $ 1,658 | $627 | $ 988 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Genesys Aerosystems | EFIS | EFIS | Garmin G500H | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 152 | 140 | 140 | 131 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,950,000 | $9,450,000 | $3,500,000 | $7,250,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | 7 | — | — |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | — | — | 3125 | — |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 6 | 10 | — | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Model | PW207C | PW210A | HTS 900 | PW207E | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 5500 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 735 | 1000 | 1020 | 710 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 152 | — | — | 159 | 296 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 65 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 48.1 | — | 40.6 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.5 | 14.8 | — | 12 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 35.5 | — | — | 33.9 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 222.5 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 49.5 | — | — | — |