Robinson R44 vs Bell 505
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X and the Robinson R44 sit at very different points: the 505 is a modern five-seat single-turbine (Safran engine, ~$3M+ new); the R44 is a four-seat piston single (Lycoming, ~$500K new) — different propulsion, different operating cost class, different price.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 446
- Median asking
- $337,560
- Range
- $103,500–$722,186
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 94
- Source marketplaces
- 17
- Model years available
- 1994–2026
- For sale now
- 27
- Median asking
- $1,790,000
- Range
- $1,423,540–$2,395,000
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 10
- Source marketplaces
- 9
- Model years available
- 2017–2025
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Robinson R44 | Bell 505 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 366 | 4 |
| Serious | 33 | 1 |
| Fatal | 165 | 2 |
| Fatalities | 345 | 8 |
| % Fatal | 45% | 50% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Robinson R44 | Bell 505 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $103,500 – $722,186 | $1,423,540 – $2,395,000 |
| Category | Piston Helicopters | Single Turbine Helicopter |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Horsepower | 260 HP | 504 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 110 kts (204 km/h) | 125 kts (232 km/h) |
| Range | 300 nm (556 km) | 340 nm (630 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 20,000 ft (6,096 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) | 3,680 lbs (1,669 kg) |
| Useful Load | 882 lbs (400 kg) | 1,500 lbs (680 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 48.0 gal (182 L) | 76.0 gal (288 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 16.0 GPH (61 L/h) | 30.0 GPH (114 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,200 hrs | 3,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $150,000 | $250,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $25,000 | $80,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $200 | $400 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Turboshaft |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateRobinson R44
Bell 505
Which Should You Buy: Robinson R44 or Bell 505?
Bottom line: Choose the Robinson R44 for the lowest-cost four-seat helicopter ownership — piston simplicity, accessible operating cost, vast support. Step up to the Bell 505 when you genuinely need turbine reliability, more performance and the additional fifth seat — at multiples of the R44's acquisition and per-hour cost. ================================================================ # Cross-Robinson — already in robinson_compare_verdicts.md (cross-link): ================================================================ - `/compare/robinson-r22-vs-bell-206` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md - `/compare/robinson-r44-vs-bell-206` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md - `/compare/robinson-r44-vs-bell-206b` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md - `/compare/robinson-r44-vs-bell-206l` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md - `/compare/robinson-r44-vs-bell-407` → потребує написати (verdict нижче) - `/compare/robinson-r66-vs-bell-206` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md - `/compare/robinson-r66-vs-bell-407` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md - `/compare/bell-505-vs-robinson-r66` → see robinson_compare_verdicts.md
Pick the R44 if…
- Budget matters — from $103,500 vs $1,423,540, you save ~$1,320,040.
- Lower operating cost — ~$200/hr vs $400/hr.
- More inventory — 426 listings vs 26.
Pick the 505 if…
- More seats — 5 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 125 kts vs 110 kts.
- Longer range — 340 nm vs 300 nm.
- Newer design — production from 2017 vs 1993.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.