Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cirrus Sr20 G6

The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 sits in the high‑performance, complex single‑engine piston touring category, aimed at faster cross‑country travel with more load-carrying capability. It typically carries six people (including the pilot) and offers the longest practical range of the three, commonly on the order of roughly 700–900 nautical miles depending on power settings, fuel reserves, and equipment. The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is the classic fixed‑gear, trainer-and-personal-travel piston single. It is optimized for simplicity, low operating cost, and short-to-medium trips rather than speed. Passenger capacity is usually four, and typical range is roughly 500–700 nautical miles, again varying with model, fuel tanks, and cruise profile. The Cirrus SR20 G6 is a modern, fixed‑gear piston single positioned as an advanced personal aircraft and training platform with higher cruise speeds and avionics sophistication than a Skyhawk. It generally seats five (including the pilot) and delivers midrange cross‑country capability, often around 600–800 nautical miles depending on configuration and reserves.