Original Message

The published useful load is 2,535lbs.  It holds 217 gal.  They advertise a range of 411 a LRC. Put your typical EMS package in, air conditiioning, etc, etc.  You can go a long ways.  You can carry some weight/people.  But you can't do both. So in the EMS IFR roll you can't go very far.  If Bell would have certified it correctly, it would have another 500lbs of useful load (in the US) But they didn't. You would have thought they had learned their lesson from the failure of the 427.  But obviously they didn't. H135 and 109SP can carry a lot more. 429 has more cabin room.  429 is more expensive.