Interactive comparison
Compare ownership, not brochures
Purchase price is only one part of the decision. Figures are indicative estimates at the typical market year for each model.
| Decision factor | Enstrom 280CView aircraft profile | MD Helicopters MD 500CView aircraft profile | Aérospatiale / Eurocopter SA 316B Alouette IIIView aircraft profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical market year | 1978 | 1971 | 1976 |
| Estimated purchase | €118k | €131k | €262k |
| Annual cash cost at 80 h | €156k | €199k | €252k |
| Five-year cash outlay | €899k | €1.12m | €1.52m |
| Cruise speed | 95 kt | 131 kt | 104 kt |
| Advertised range | 209 nm | 268 nm | 210 nm |
| Seats | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Realistic payload | 180 kg | 270 kg | 360 kg |
| Runway need | Vertical | Vertical | Vertical |
| Data confidence | Preliminary, verify source data before deciding | Preliminary, verify source data before deciding | Preliminary, verify source data before deciding |
| Main trade-off | The 280C combines 3-seat helicopter capability with about 209 NM reported range and about 95 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. | The MD 500C combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 268 NM reported range and about 131 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. | The SA 316B Alouette III combines 5-seat helicopter capability with about 210 NM reported range and about 104 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. |
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