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Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Sikorsky S 92

The Leonardo AW189 and MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer are medium-class rotorcraft, while the Sikorsky S-92 is a larger, heavy-class helicopter; the Piaggio Avanti EVO is a fixed‑wing twin‑turboprop business aircraft rather than a helicopter. In category terms, the AW189 sits between the lighter 902 and the heavier S‑92, offering a modern super‑medium platform commonly used for offshore and SAR-style missions. The MD 902 Explorer is a lighter twin-engine helicopter, typically optimized for urban/public-service, EMS, and short-to-medium regional missions. The S‑92 is the most capable of the helicopters here, aimed at longer offshore legs and higher payloads. For range, the Avanti EVO generally leads because fixed‑wing aircraft are more efficient, followed by the S‑92 and AW189 in typical configurations, with the 902 usually shortest among these four. Passenger capacity similarly scales: the 902 commonly carries fewer passengers (often around 8–10), the AW189 typically around 16–19, the S‑92 about 19, and the Avanti EVO typically seats about 7–9 in executive layouts.

SpecAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189Piaggio Avanti EVOSikorsky S-92
Summary
Cockpit222
DOC / nm$ 15.57$ 19.79
Min Crew112
Total Seats21821
Flight RulesIFRIFRIFR
ManufacturerLeonardoPiaggioSikorsky
Aircraft NameAW189Avanti EVOS-92
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)6511530439
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.74$ 0.94
Max Cabin Seats19719
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Standard Cabin Seats19619
Direct Operating Cost$ 2,413$ 3,068
Flight Deck (Base Spec)EFISRockwell Collins Pro Line 21EFIS
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)155400155
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$2,413,000$ 7,695,000 $30,650,000
Useful Load (lbs)37757417
Cabin
Cockpit222
Min Crew112
Total Seats21821
Max Cabin Seats19719
Standard Cabin Seats19619
LavatoryNo
Cabin Pressure (psi)9
Galley / RefreshmentNo
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)24000
Max Cabin Altitude (ft)6600
Engine
FADECYesYesYes
ModelCT7-2E1PT6A–66BCT7-8A
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)400036004000
Horsepower19838502520
No. of Engines221
Flat RatingISA + 28
Fuel Burn (gph)100
Fuel Capacity (gal)760
Dimensions
Length (ft)57.847.3
Overall Height (ft)16.613.117.8
Rotor Diameter (ft)48
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)395775
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)85140
Wingspan (ft)47.1
Cabin Width (ft)6.1
Cabin Height (ft)5.8
Cabin Length (ft)14.9
Cabin Width - Floor (ft)3.5
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)35.2