Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Daher Tbm 910
The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is a four-seat, single‑engine piston aircraft typically used for training, personal travel, and short regional trips. The Daher TBM 910 is a high‑performance, single‑engine turboprop designed for fast business and personal transportation. In category terms, the Skyhawk is a simple, fixed‑gear, normally aspirated piston airplane optimized for affordability and ease of operation, while the TBM 910 is a pressurized, turbine aircraft built for higher altitude cruise, greater speed, and more advanced avionics and systems. In range, a Skyhawk commonly supports trips on the order of roughly 600–800 nautical miles depending on fuel, power settings, payload, and reserves, whereas a TBM 910 is typically capable of about 1,500–1,700 nautical miles under comparable planning assumptions, again varying with conditions and mission profile. For passenger capacity, the Skyhawk generally seats four including the pilot, making it practical for one to three passengers with limited baggage. The TBM 910 typically seats up to six, enabling the pilot plus up to five passengers, with substantially more baggage capability and comfort.
| Spec | Cessna Skyhawk | Daher TBM 910 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| DOC / nm | $ 0.95 | $ 2.25 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Daher TBM |
| Aircraft Name | 172 Skyhawk | TBM 910 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 640 | 1730 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.24 | $ 0.56 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 118 | $ 744 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 124 | 330 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $415,000 | $4,250,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 2908 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 |
| Cabin | ||
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 |
| Lavatory | — | No |
| Min Crew | — | 1 |
| Galley Location | — | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | No | Yes |
| Model | IO-360-L2A | PT6A-66D |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 3500 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 200 | 850 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 42 | 291 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 37 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 27.2 | 35.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36.1 | 42.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.4 | 4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11.9 | 13.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9 | 14.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 30 | 30 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 |