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 | MD Helicopters MD 500EView aircraft profile | Eurocopter EC120B ColibriView aircraft profile | Eurocopter AS355 NPView aircraft profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical market year | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Estimated purchase | €2.18m | €1.4m | €1.31m |
| Annual cash cost at 80 h | €204k | €191k | €190k |
| Five-year cash outlay | €3.2m | €2.35m | €2.26m |
| Cruise speed | 136 kt | 120 kt | 118 kt |
| Advertised range | 267 nm | 383 nm | 307 nm |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Realistic payload | 434 kg | 508 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 MD 500E combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 170 NM reported range and about 135 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. | Quiet, comfortable and economical for a turbine helicopter, but production has ended and component support must be checked carefully. | The AS355 NP combines 5-seat helicopter capability with about 307 NM reported range and about 118 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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