Beechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls vs Piper Seminole vs Piper Seneca
The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 is a high-performance, single‑engine piston airplane aimed at owner‑pilots; it typically carries six people and offers moderate cross‑country range for its class. The Piper Arrow is also single‑engine piston but generally sits a step down in speed and capability; it usually seats four and is better suited to shorter trips and training-to-travel missions rather than maximum range. The Piper M500 and M600 SLS move into the pressurized, single‑engine turboprop category, designed for faster, higher-altitude travel. Both are typically six-seat aircraft with significantly longer range than piston singles, with the M600 SLS generally offering the most capability and the longest legs of the group, along with more advanced automation. The Piper Seneca is a twin‑engine piston aircraft, commonly configured for six seats. Its category emphasizes redundancy and multi‑engine utility; range is typically comparable to or somewhat better than many piston singles, but generally less than the M500/M600 turboprops.
| Spec | Beechcraft Bonanza G36 | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS | Piper Arrow | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.16 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.36 | $ 1.69 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Piper | Piper | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Bonanza G36 | M500 | M600 | Arrow | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 920 | 1000 | 1406 | 700 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.19 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1050 | 1698 | 2200 | 1191 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 204 | $ 579 | $ 603 | $ 221 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 176 | 260 | 274 | 162 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $925,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 | $765,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | No | No | — | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | MID | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 5.5 | 5.6 | — | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre | — | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 12600 | 12600 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8244 | 8644 | — | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-B | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A | O-360-AIH6 | TSIO-360-RB |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | — | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 3600 | 3600 | 2000 | 1800 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 300 | 500 | 600 | 180 | 220 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | — | Carbureted | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 74 | 170 | 260 | 108 | 122 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 27.5 | 29.6 | 29.7 | 27.6 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 33.5 | 43.2 | 43.2 | 38.6 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 12.3 | 12.3 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 8.6 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 8.5 | 10 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 100 | 165 | 165 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | 20 | 20 | — | — |