Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair
The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 is a high‑performance, retractable‑gear piston single often viewed as a premium personal traveler. It typically carries up to six people (with useful load depending on equipment and fuel), and its range is generally in the roughly 600–900 nautical mile class, making it well suited to longer cross‑countries at higher cruise speeds than the Cessnas below. The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is the archetypal light trainer and economical personal aircraft. It is normally a four‑seat piston single with a shorter typical range, commonly around 500–700 nautical miles, prioritizing simplicity and low operating cost over speed and payload. The Cessna Skylane (182) steps up as a heavier, faster, fixed‑gear piston single with more useful load. It commonly seats four and offers a broadly similar or somewhat longer range than a Skyhawk, often around 600–900 nautical miles, with better climb and carrying capability. The Cessna Turbo Stationair (206) is a utility piston single aimed at hauling people and cargo. It typically seats six and, with turbocharging for better high‑altitude performance, generally offers about 600–900+ nautical miles depending on configuration and power settings.
| Spec | Beechcraft Bonanza G36 | Cessna Skyhawk | Cessna Skylane | Cessna Turbo Stationair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.16 | $ 0.95 | $ 1.01 | $ 1.08 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Cessna | Cessna |
| Aircraft Name | Bonanza G36 | 172 Skyhawk | 182 Skylane | 206 Turbo Stationair |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 920 | 640 | 915 | 703 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.19 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.25 | $ 0.18 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1050 | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | — | — | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 204 | $ 118 | $ 146 | $ 174 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 176 | 124 | 145 | 161 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $925,000 | $415,000 | $530,000 | $745,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | — | — | 4 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-B | IO-360-L2A | IO-540-AB1A5 | TIO-540-AJ1A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Horsepower | 300 | 200 | 245 | 350 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 74 | 42 | 87 | 87 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 27.5 | 27.2 | 29 | 28.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 33.5 | 36.1 | 36 | 36 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 11.9 | 11.2 | 12.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 8.6 | 9 | 9.4 | 9.4 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 100 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | 30 | 32 | 11 |