The super medium helicopter turns 18 this year. The category began with the launch of the Airbus H175, then known as the Eurocopter EC175, at Heli-Expo in Houston on February 24, 2008. Nearly two decades later, the question remains the same: will 2026 finally mark the moment the super medium comes of age?
From the start, super mediums promised a clear advantage. They aimed to sit between medium and heavy helicopters, offering longer range and higher payload than traditional mediums, but with better economics than heavies. Lower fuel burn, fewer seats to fill, and broader mission flexibility made the concept appealing on paper.
Compared with standard medium helicopters, super mediums offer greater range and endurance, typically seating 16 to 19 passengers. They also feature advanced avionics designed to improve safety and reduce pilot workload. Common missions include offshore transport, search and rescue, VIP and corporate travel, and utility work.
Today, the category remains small. Besides the H175, first delivered to launch customer NHV in 2014, the fleet includes Leonardo Helicopters’ AW189. Leonardo launched the AW189 at the Paris Air Show in 2011 and flew it later that year. Bristow introduced the type into commercial service in July 2014, supporting oil and gas operations in the North Sea.
The third contender is the Bell 525 Relentless. Bell unveiled the aircraft at Heli-Expo in Dallas in 2012. The 525 flew for the first time in July 2015. However, certification delays — driven by technical challenges and the pandemic — have slowed its path to market. Bell now expects FAA certification this year.
There has been some progress. In March 2024, Bell announced its first firm commercial order for the 525. Norwegian energy company Equinor agreed to purchase 10 aircraft for offshore operations. Earlier letters of intent never converted into confirmed orders.
So far, deliveries across the category remain modest. Cirium Fleets Analyzer data shows 13 confirmed super medium deliveries last year, with final numbers still pending. That figure sits well below the 21 units recorded in 2024.
According to Sara Dhariwal, principal aviation analyst and lead appraiser for helicopters and AAM markets at Cirium, the drop reflects a return to normal levels rather than a downturn. She says 2024 appears to have been an unusually strong year, not the start of a sustained rise. Dhariwal also notes that a sharp increase in deliveries during 2026 looks unlikely.
That outlook matters as Sikorsky continues to refresh the S-92 heavy helicopter. In March 2025, the manufacturer announced a $100 million investment in the S-92 Phase IV main gearbox. Dhariwal says the limited growth of super mediums reduces near-term pressure on the S-92 fleet, which remains well suited to long-range and harsh-weather missions.
Clark McGinn, founder of consultancy Uplifting Advice, believes 2026 could still favor super mediums — if operators can secure financing. He points out that few banks now fund helicopters tied to oil and gas work. As a result, operators may preserve S-92 fleets for demanding missions, creating room for some additional H175 and AW189 orders.
McGinn remains cautious on the Bell 525. He cites certification delays and expected pricing, which may sit above existing super mediums in a cost-sensitive market.
Others see cautious optimism. Alastair Fallon, director and senior appraiser at F4 – Fly Fast Further First, expects continued demand for twin-engine helicopters across medium and super medium classes. He views Equinor’s Bell 525 order as an important step.
Once certified and in service, Fallon says the market will feature three serious competitors. These aircraft will fight for a narrow but specialised role: medium-range offshore utility missions where economics matter most.
Not everyone agrees. Brad Shaen, director at International Aviation Marketing, does not expect 2026 to favor super mediums. Instead, he believes the year will belong to heavy helicopters, particularly the S-92, in offshore oil and gas and search and rescue roles.
Shaen argues that while super mediums offer capability, they remain niche products. Outside specific markets, he says, the category has never fully defined its role. By contrast, the S-92, despite its age, continues to deliver reliable performance. Parts supply issues exist, he notes, but those affect nearly every platform today.
In oil and gas, helicopter transport represents a small share of total costs. Yet it remains mission-critical. That reality continues to support heavy helicopters where range, payload, and resilience matter most.
So, the super medium enters its 18th year with mixed signals. The concept still makes sense. The aircraft continue to perform well. However, broad adoption remains limited.
Whether 2026 becomes the year the super medium truly comes of age may depend on three things: steady market growth, final FAA certification of the Bell 525, and the first commercial deliveries to patient launch customers.
