Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Beechcraft Baron G58 vs Piper M600

Aircraft are often compared first by category, which broadly reflects mission and size. General aviation aircraft include piston singles and light turboprops used for training, private travel, and regional access; they typically trade speed and comfort for low operating cost and flexibility. Regional aircraft, including turboprop commuters and small regional jets, are optimized for short to medium routes and frequent cycles, serving smaller airports with quicker turnaround. Narrow-body airliners are the workhorses of domestic and short‑haul international travel, balancing efficiency with higher seating density. Wide-body airliners are designed for long-haul operations, carrying more fuel and payload and offering greater cabin volume for passengers and cargo. At the top end, ultra‑long‑range wide-bodies and dedicated freighters emphasize range and payload over airport flexibility. Range generally increases as you move from general aviation to wide-body aircraft, from a few hundred to a couple thousand miles for many small airplanes, to several thousand miles for narrow-bodies, and roughly 7,000–9,000+ miles for long-range wide-bodies. Passenger capacity scales similarly, from 1–10 in light aircraft, around 30–100 in regional types, roughly 120–240 in narrow-bodies, and about 250–400+ in wide-bodies, depending on layout.