Beechcraft Baron G58 vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Piper M350 vs Piper M500
The Beechcraft Baron G58 is a twin‑engine piston aircraft in the high‑performance personal/business category, typically seating about five to six and offering roughly 900–1,300 nautical miles of range depending on power settings and reserves. The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is a single‑engine piston trainer/personal aircraft, usually carrying four people with about 600–800 nautical miles of range. The Cessna Turbo Stationair (Turbo 206) is a single‑engine turbocharged utility aircraft oriented toward hauling and backcountry work, commonly seating six (often up to seven with configurations) and reaching about 700–1,000 nautical miles. The Piper M350 is a pressurized single‑engine piston aircraft for personal/business travel, typically seating six with around 1,200–1,400 nautical miles of range. The Piper M500 is a pressurized single‑engine turboprop that steps into faster executive travel, generally seating five to six with approximately 1,000–1,300 nautical miles of range. Overall, Skyhawk favors simplicity and training, Turbo Stationair emphasizes useful load and flexibility, Baron adds twin‑engine performance, and the M350/M500 prioritize pressurization and cross‑country capability.
| Spec | Beechcraft Baron G58 | Cessna Skyhawk | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Piper M350 | Piper M500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.72 | $ 0.95 | $ 1.08 | $ 1.34 | $ 3.11 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Cessna | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Baron G58 | 172 Skyhawk | 206 Turbo Stationair | M350 | M500 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1480 | 640 | 703 | 1343 | 1000 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.29 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.78 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1450 | — | — | 1308 | 1698 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 347 | $ 118 | $ 174 | $ 285 | $ 579 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 202 | 124 | 161 | 213 | 260 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $1,495,000 | $415,000 | $745,000 | $1,195,000 | $2,122,600 |
| Min Crew | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | — | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| Lavatory | — | — | — | — | No |
| Min Crew | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Galley Location | — | — | — | — | MID |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | — | — | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 8244 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-C | IO-360-L2A | TIO-540-AJ1A | TIO-540-AE2A | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 3600 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 300 | 200 | 350 | 350 | 500 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 194 | 42 | 87 | 120 | 170 |
| Flat Rating | — | — | — | — | ISA + 55 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 29.9 | 27.2 | 28.3 | 29 | 29.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 37.9 | 36.1 | 36 | 43 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4 | 4.2 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.8 | 9 | 9.4 | 11.4 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 150 | — | — | 165 | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 46 | 30 | 11 | 20 | 20 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 13 | — |