I've had email exchange with a number of contacts on this subject and one of them persuaded me to open it up on Rotorheads, so here goes with a comparison of the R66 to the EC120 from the brochure numbers. We all know that brochure numbers may not be close enough to actual “out in the field” flying, and these ball-park figures were all I originally had immediately available via my smartphone
Passengers
- EC120 = 4
- R66 = 4
Cruise Speed
- EC120 = 110 kts at max weight
- R66 = 120 kts at max weight
Fuel Burn
- EC120 = 270 lbs per hour at max weight
- R66 = 160 lbs per hour at max weight
VNE
- EC120 = 150 kts
- R66 = 140 Kts – if below 2200lbs and 3000′ density altitude – or 130 kts if above either
Endurance
- EC120 = 4h20m at 54 knots (who flies at 54 knots??) – or 3h30m dividing range by cruise speed
- R66 = 3h, estimated
Range
- EC120 = 383 nm
- R66 = 360 nm (120kts for 3 hours)
Useful load with full fuel
- EC120 = 946 lb (MTOW 3781 less empty weight 2127 less fuel 708)
- R66 = 1000 lb (MTOW 2700 less empty weight 1200 less fuel 500)
Standard ex-factory price, no extras (note, no shipping, rebuilding, local certification etc)
- EC120 = circa €1.4 million, so approx $1.76M
- R66 = $814K
So mostly they are closely comparable with each winning by a little bit (=within the bounds of brochure
PR puff?)
- R66 "wins" on cruise speed, fuel burn, useful load
- EC120 "wins" on VNE, endurance and range.
But the R66 has a notable advantage on fuel burn, and by nearly $1 million on price new.
So how will Eurocopter sell any more new EC120s?
It even made me wonder whether Eurocopter had a hand in the delay in EASA getting the R66 certified....
[moderators - pls don't file this into the R66 or EC120 threads, I really believe this comparison is worthy of separate discussion]