jbrereton,
The AUM as given by brochures can be widely varient, and depends on the actual equipment selected, and the features of the aircraft. For example, the 225 would have difficulty being approved to carry passengers in many countries unless fitted with its "optional" crashworthy floors, stroking seats and modern seat belts.
These safety features are negociable to helicomparitor, I guess, but are required in modern FAR/JAR, and can only be circumvented by grandfathering the certification (a failure of EC to make the Mark II they had planned, reportedly when the French authorities told them they would not grandfather a new fuselage, so the cost of the Mark III went up too much and it was dropped.) Operationally, different authorities get involved, as does local politics (imagine helicompartior's viewpoint if the EC 225 had the greater crashworthiness, considering how purple he gets at seat adjustability!)
These safety requirements add about 600Kg to the equipped empty weight, we are told by a customer who didn't chose the 225 (in fact, that customer was told by the EC salesman that the crashworthy seats and floor had not yet been designed.)
Given that extra needed weight, the 225's performance is about at par with the 92, or even shy. Independant studies by customers (I have two on my hard drive, done by folks who bought S-92) generally show between 2 to 4 passenger advantage for the S-92.
helicomparitor continues his slurs, with snide, inaccurate comments about comfort. He seems to imply vibration and such. I think I recall S-92 mech telling us that passengers were thrilled with the comfort in the S-92. I am sure they appreciated the stand-up headroom, and the fact that they didn't have to walk aft on their knees, like they have to in the tiny cabin of the 225. Also, the seat room of the 92 is several inches more than the 225, because the cabin is so very much bigger.
Remember that the S-92 is designed to crash standards about TWICE as strong as the 225, in a whole new league. It is safer, and more comfortable. Yea, if you want comfort, maybe you CAN get safety, too.
rotorpower,
It is clear that helicomparitor has sold his soul, when he tries to equate safety for his passengers with his adjustability on his seat. Such crackpot comparisons have no place among professionals, except in EC-land.