Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Diamond Aircraft Da42 Vi vs Piper M500 vs Piper Seminole
By category, the Beechcraft Denali and Piper M500 are pressurized, higher-performance single‑engine turboprops aimed at faster, longer, all‑weather personal and business travel. The Cessna Turbo Stationair is also a single‑engine turboprop but typically unpressurized and positioned more as a rugged utility/backcountry and family hauler. The Diamond DA42 VI is a twin‑engine piston aircraft emphasizing efficiency, redundancy, and modern avionics, often used for travel, training, and special‑mission roles. The Piper Arrow is a retractable‑gear single‑engine piston aircraft commonly viewed as a complex trainer and economical personal traveler. In range, the Denali and M500 generally lead, offering the longest legs among this group. The DA42 VI usually provides mid‑to‑long range with notably low fuel burn, often competitive with smaller turboprops on endurance but typically behind the Denali/M500 on speed and payload. The Turbo Stationair is usually mid‑range, balancing useful load and flexibility over raw distance. The Arrow is generally the shortest‑range option. For passenger capacity, the Turbo Stationair typically seats the most (often up to six), Denali and M500 commonly seat five to six, the DA42 VI usually seats four, and the Arrow typically seats four.
| Spec | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Diamond Aircraft DA42 VI | Piper M500 | Piper Arrow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.08 | $ 1.08 | $ 1.11 | $ 3.11 | $ 1.36 |
| Min Crew | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 11 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | GE® Aerospace | Cessna | Diamond Aircraft | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir Denali | 206 Turbo Stationair | DA42 VI | M500 | Arrow |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1600 | 703 | 1273 | 1000 | 700 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.68 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.28 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.23 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3280 | — | 1298 | 1698 | 1191 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,111 | $ 174 | $ 211 | $ 579 | $ 221 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 285 | 161 | 190 | 260 | 162 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,150,000 | $745,000 | $869,000 | $2,122,600 | $765,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | — | — | No | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 11 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 5 | — | — | 5.5 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | — | — | Refreshment Centre | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 11065 | — | — | 12600 | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | — | MID | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8244 | — |
| Engine | |||||
| Model | Catalyst™ | TIO-540-AJ1A | AE300 | PT6A-42A | O-360-AIH6 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| FADEC | — | No | Yes | No | No |
| Fuel Type | — | AvGas | Diesel / Jet Fuel | — | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | — | 2000 | 1800 | 3600 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | — | 12 | — | — | 12 |
| Horsepower | — | 350 | 168 | 500 | 180 |
| Fuel Delivery | — | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | — | Carbureted |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 87 | 79.4 | 170 | 108 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 76.4 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | — | ISA + 55 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 14.86 | 28.3 | 28.1 | 29.6 | 27.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 54.3 | 36 | 44.5 | 43.2 | 38.6 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 3.6 | — | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.2 | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 12.1 | — | 12.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 4.65 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 11.3 | 8.5 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 12.6 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 48 | 11 | — | 20 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 165 | — |