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 530FView aircraft profile	Bell 505View aircraft profile	Bell 407GXiView aircraft profile
Typical market year	2025	2025	2025
Estimated purchase	€3.6m	€1.5m	€3.6m
Annual cash cost at 80 h	€245k	€158k	€272k
Five-year cash outlay	€4.83m	€2.29m	€4.96m
Cruise speed	135 kt	125 kt	133 kt
Advertised range	232 nm	306 nm	337 nm
Seats	5	5	7
Realistic payload	638 kg	468 kg	747 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	Exceptional agility and hot-and-high performance, but small cabin, specialist support and component-life costs are significant.	A modern, flexible and relatively accessible turbine helicopter, but useful payload and turbine reserves remain costly.	Fast, proven and highly versatile, but acquisition, component lives and single-turbine operating costs are substantial.

Popular head-to-head guides

Start with the decision pilots are actually researching

Each guide adds mission context and links back into the live comparison and Finder.

Two premium piston singles with very different answers to speed, fuel, cabin design and ownership complexity.

A fast, refined travelling aircraft against a slower utility platform built around payload and access.

Two leading single-engine turboprops that optimise for different combinations of speed, cabin volume and payload.

Modern diesel efficiency and composite design compared with a conventional turbocharged piston twin.

A modern Jet A trainer and tourer compared with the most familiar four-seat training platform.

No generic winner