Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls vs Piper Seminole vs Piper Seneca
The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 and Piper Arrow are piston singles aimed at personal and training-style travel; both typically carry four to six people depending on loading, with the Bonanza offering the higher practical passenger capacity and generally longer legs. The Piper Seneca is a piston twin, commonly used for business and multi-engine utility flying; it offers more flexibility and redundancy than the singles, typically seating five to six with useful range for regional trips. The Piper M500, Piper M600 SLS, and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are pressurized, turboprop singles designed for faster, higher-altitude travel. The M500 is an entry-level personal turboprop with roughly five to six seats and solid cross-country range. The M600 SLS adds more power, payload capability, and cabin comfort, usually accommodating up to six, with longer, more practical legs than the M500. The PC-12 NGX is the most capable and versatile, a larger utility/business turboprop with seating commonly six to nine, and the longest range of the group, often suited to longer nonstop regional missions.
| Spec | Beechcraft Bonanza G36 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS | Piper Arrow | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.16 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.36 | $ 1.69 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Pilatus | Piper | Piper | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Bonanza G36 | PC-12 NGX | M500 | M600 | Arrow | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 920 | 1803 | 1000 | 1406 | 700 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.19 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1050 | — | 1698 | 2200 | 1191 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 204 | $ 793 | $ 579 | $ 603 | $ 221 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 176 | 290 | 260 | 274 | 162 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $925,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 | $765,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | Optional | No | No | — | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 | — | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre | — | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 13100 | 12600 | 12600 | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | MID | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8244 | 8644 | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-B | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A | O-360-AIH6 | TSIO-360-RB |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | — | — | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 5000 | 3600 | 3600 | 2000 | 1800 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — | — | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 300 | 1200 | 500 | 600 | 180 | 220 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | — | — | Carbureted | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 74 | — | 170 | 260 | 108 | 122 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | 402 | — | — | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 27.5 | 47.25 | 29.6 | 29.7 | 27.6 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 33.5 | 53.33 | 43.2 | 43.2 | 38.6 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 16.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 8.6 | 14 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 8.5 | 10 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 100 | — | 165 | 165 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | 40 | 20 | 20 | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 4.25 | — | — | — | — |