Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Robinson R66

The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) MD 902 Explorer and the Robinson R66 are rotary-wing aircraft optimized for short-to-medium missions with vertical takeoff and landing, while the Pilatus PC-24 is a twin‑engine light business jet designed for fast point‑to‑point travel between airports, including many shorter runways. In range, the PC‑24 is in a different class, typically around 2,000 nautical miles, making it suitable for regional-to-transcontinental legs. The MD 902 Explorer generally offers a few hundred nautical miles of range (roughly 350–400 nm typical), suited to missions like EMS, law enforcement, or utility work. The R66 is also in the several-hundred‑nautical‑mile bracket (often around 300–350 nm), commonly used for private transport, training, and light utility roles. Passenger capacity also reflects their categories. The PC‑24 typically carries a single pilot plus about 8 passengers in executive layouts (with higher maximum seating depending on configuration). The MD 902 usually seats 1–2 pilots plus up to about 7–8 passengers. The R66 typically seats 1 pilot plus 4 passengers (five total).