Bell 407gxi vs Cessna Caravan vs Diamond Aircraft Da62
The Bell 407GXi is a single‑engine turbine helicopter optimized for short, point‑to‑point missions where vertical takeoff and landing matter more than cruise efficiency. Its practical range is typically a few hundred nautical miles depending on reserves and payload, and it generally carries a pilot plus up to six passengers in a high‑utility cabin. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing utility aircraft focused on hauling people or cargo economically from short or unimproved runways. It usually offers longer legs than the helicopter—commonly in the high‑hundreds of nautical miles—and seats are typically arranged for around 9 to 14 passengers depending on configuration and regulatory limits. The Diamond DA62 is a twin‑engine piston aircraft aimed at efficient, comfortable cross‑country travel. It generally provides the longest range of the three—often around or above 1,000 nautical miles with appropriate fuel/reserves and payload management—and seats up to seven occupants including the pilot, favoring speed and efficiency over rugged payload capacity.
| Spec | Bell 407GXi | Cessna Caravan | Diamond Aircraft DA62 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.43 | $ 3.07 | $ 1.18 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 5 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna | Diamond Aircraft |
| Aircraft Name | 407GXi | Caravan | DA62 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 337 | 1070 | 1283 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.74 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.24 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2300 | 3305 | 1565 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 589 | $ 571 | $ 225 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000H NXI | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 133 | 186 | 190 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,225,000 | $2,355,000 | $1,290,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | Un-Pressurized | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | M250-C47E/4 | PT6A-114A | AE330 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | Diesel / Jet Fuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3600 | 1800 |
| Horsepower | 862 | 675 | 180 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | 46 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 127.8 | — | 89 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 31 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 86 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.4 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 41.4 | 37.6 | 30.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5 | 5.4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 3.9 | 4.5 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10.2 | 15 | 9.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 35 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 125 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 16 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 52.1 | 47.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 12.8 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 32 | — |