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.
| Spec | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 15.57 | — | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 8 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo | Piaggio | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | AW189 | Avanti EVO | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 651 | 1530 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.74 | — | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | 7 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,413 | — | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 400 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,413,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 3775 | 7417 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 8 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | 7 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 6600 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2E1 | PT6A–66B | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1983 | 850 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 28 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 100 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 57.8 | 47.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.6 | 13.1 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 48 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 395 | — | 775 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 85 | — | 140 |
| 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 | — |