Beechcraft Baron G58 vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Guimbal Cabri G2 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Robinson Helicopters R22 Beta Ii
The Beechcraft Baron G58 is a twin‑engine piston airplane in the high‑performance personal/utility category, typically carrying about five to six people and offering the longest useful range of this group, commonly on the order of roughly 1,000 nautical miles depending on configuration and reserves. The Cessna Skyhawk is a single‑engine piston trainer/light touring airplane, usually seating four, with a moderate range commonly around 600–800 nautical miles. The Guimbal Cabri G2 is a two‑seat piston helicopter primarily used for training and light utility, with relatively short range, often roughly 250–350 nautical miles. The MD Helicopters MD 500E is a light turbine helicopter used for utility, patrol, and aerial work; it typically carries about four to five occupants (configuration dependent) and has a range commonly around 250–350 nautical miles. The Robinson R22 Beta II is a two‑seat piston training helicopter with similarly short legs, typically about 200–300 nautical miles.
| Spec | Beechcraft Baron G58 | Cessna Skyhawk | Guimbal Cabri G2 | MD Helicopters MD 500E | ROBINSON R22 Beta II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | — | 2 | — |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.72 | $ 0.95 | $ 1.71 | $ 2.95 | $ 1.80 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Guimbal | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | Baron G58 | 172 Skyhawk | Cabri G2 | MD 500E | R22 Beta II |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1480 | 640 | 406 | 258 | 250 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.29 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.86 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.90 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1450 | — | 617 | 1483 | 490 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | — | — | 2 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 347 | $ 118 | $ 171 | $ 398 | $ 173 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Guimbal Digtal EPM | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 202 | 124 | 100 | 135 | 96 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $1,495,000 | $415,000 | $385,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $ 312,000 |
| Min Crew | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | — | 2 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | — | — | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-C | IO-360-L2A | 0-360-J2A | 250-C20B | O-360 |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas | JetFuel | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 2000 | 2000 | 3500 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | 12 | — | 12 |
| Horsepower | 300 | 200 | 180 | 420 | 131 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Carbureted | — | Carbureted |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 194 | 42 | — | 64 | 115 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 35 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 29.9 | 27.2 | 20.7 | 30.9 | 28.5 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 37.9 | 36.1 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 3.4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 11.9 | — | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.8 | 9 | 8.2 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 150 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 46 | 30 | 0.7 | — | 1.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | — | 23.7 | 26.4 | 25.2 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 7 | — | — |