Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Cessna Caravan vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is a piston, fixed‑gear trainer and personal aircraft, typically carrying four people with a range around 600–800 nautical miles. The Cessna Skylane (182) is a higher‑performance piston single in the same general category, also usually four seats but with more useful load and speed, and roughly similar or slightly better range, commonly about 700–900 nautical miles. The Cessna Turbo Stationair (206) is a turbocharged piston utility aircraft aimed at heavier loads and rougher missions; it generally seats six and can reach about 700–900 nautical miles depending on configuration. The Cessna Caravan (208) steps up to a single‑engine turboprop utility/commuter role, typically configured for 9–14 passengers, with range commonly around 900–1,200 nautical miles. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a pressurized, high‑performance single‑engine turboprop in the executive/utility class, often seating 6–9 in typical layouts (up to about 10), and offers longer legs on the order of 1,500–1,800 nautical miles, depending on payload and conditions.
| Spec | Cessna Skyhawk | Cessna Skylane | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Cessna Caravan | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| DOC / nm | $ 0.95 | $ 1.01 | $ 1.08 | $ 3.07 | $ 2.78 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Cessna | Cessna | Cessna | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 172 Skyhawk | 182 Skylane | 206 Turbo Stationair | Caravan | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 640 | 915 | 703 | 1070 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.24 | $ 0.25 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.46 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 118 | $ 146 | $ 174 | $ 571 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 124 | 145 | 161 | 186 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $415,000 | $530,000 | $745,000 | $2,355,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cockpit | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | — | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| Min Crew | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | — | 9 | 9 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | — | — | 3305 | — |
| Cabin | |||||
| Total Seats | 4 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Cockpit | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | — | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | — | — | No | Optional |
| Min Crew | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | — | 9 | 9 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | — | Un-Pressurized | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | — | No | No |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | — | — | FWD |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 13100 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Model | IO-360-L2A | IO-540-AB1A5 | TIO-540-AJ1A | PT6A-114A | PT6E-67XP |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | AvGas | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 3600 | 5000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | 12 | — | — |
| Horsepower | 200 | 245 | 350 | 675 | 1200 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 42 | 87 | 87 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | — | ISA + 31 | ISA + 35 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 27.2 | 29 | 28.3 | 37.6 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36.1 | 36 | 36 | 52.1 | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11.9 | 11.2 | 12.1 | 12.8 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 15 | 14 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 30 | 32 | 11 | 32 | 40 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | — | — | 4.25 |