Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Piper Seminole

In category, the Cessna Skyhawk is the classic four‑seat, fixed‑gear trainer and personal airplane, while the Cessna Skylane steps up as a higher‑power, fixed‑gear four‑seat utility cruiser. The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 is a premium six‑seat high‑performance piston single with retractable gear, typically positioned as a faster personal/business traveler. The Piper Arrow is a four‑seat complex trainer and personal aircraft with retractable gear, generally closer to the Skyhawk/Skylane in mission than to the Bonanza. The Cessna Turbo Stationair is a six‑seat, turbocharged utility platform optimized for carrying people and cargo with strong climb and high‑altitude capability. For range, the Skyhawk is usually the shortest‑leg option, the Arrow and Skylane are typically mid‑pack, the Bonanza G36 often offers longer legs with higher cruise efficiency, and the Turbo Stationair commonly provides solid cross‑country range but is frequently used more for load‑carrying and versatility than maximum speed. For passenger capacity, the Skyhawk, Skylane, and Arrow are generally four‑place airplanes, while the Bonanza G36 and Turbo Stationair are six‑place aircraft, though real‑world payload and fuel tradeoffs can reduce practical seat use.