Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Piper Seminole vs Piper Seneca
The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 is a high‑performance, single‑engine piston aircraft typically used for personal and business travel. It generally carries up to six people and offers a solid cross‑country range (often roughly 600–900 nautical miles depending on power settings and reserves), with a strong blend of speed and cabin comfort. The Cessna Turbo Stationair is also a single‑engine piston aircraft but emphasizes utility and high‑altitude capability thanks to turbocharging. It commonly seats six and is often chosen for hauling people and bags from shorter or higher‑elevation airports. Range is broadly comparable to the Bonanza, frequently in the same general 600–900 nautical mile band. The Piper Arrow is a smaller, retractable‑gear single‑engine piston aircraft, typically seating four. It’s often used for training and economical traveling, with a shorter overall range than the six‑seat singles, commonly around 500–700 nautical miles. The Piper Seneca is a light twin‑engine piston aircraft, usually seating six (sometimes more in certain configurations). It adds redundancy and multi‑engine capability and typically provides mid‑to‑upper cross‑country range, often roughly 700–1,000 nautical miles depending on variant and loading.
| Spec | Beechcraft Bonanza G36 | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Piper Arrow | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.16 | $ 1.08 | $ 1.36 | $ 1.69 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Bonanza G36 | 206 Turbo Stationair | Arrow | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 920 | 703 | 700 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.19 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1050 | — | 1191 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 204 | $ 174 | $ 221 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 176 | 161 | 162 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $925,000 | $745,000 | $765,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-B | TIO-540-AJ1A | O-360-AIH6 | TSIO-360-RB |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 2000 | 2000 | 1800 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 300 | 350 | 180 | 220 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Carbureted | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 74 | 87 | 108 | 122 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 27.5 | 28.3 | 27.6 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 33.5 | 36 | 38.6 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 3.6 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 12.1 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 8.6 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 10 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 100 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | 11 | — | — |