Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair

The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is a light, fixed-gear, single‑engine piston trainer and personal aircraft. It typically carries four people including the pilot and is best for shorter regional trips, with a common real‑world range roughly in the 500–700 nautical mile class depending on model, power setting, and reserves. The Cessna Skylane (182) is a heavier, more powerful step up in the same general category of single‑engine piston personal aircraft, usually still seating four but with better useful load and climb. Its range is often similar to or modestly better than a Skyhawk—frequently around 600–900 nautical miles—while offering improved performance for higher, hotter, or more heavily loaded departures. The Cessna Turbo Stationair (typically a turbocharged 206) is a utility‑oriented single‑engine piston aircraft designed for carrying people and cargo, commonly seating six. Turbocharging helps it maintain power at altitude and improve high‑density‑altitude capability. Range varies widely with load and tanks, but is often in the 600–900+ nautical mile range, with the practical advantage of carrying more passengers or payload over comparable legs.