Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair

The Cessna Skylane (typically the 182 series) is a high-performance, fixed-gear single-engine piston aircraft aimed at efficient personal and business travel, while the Cessna Turbo Stationair (typically the 206 series) is a heavier-duty single-engine utility aircraft designed to haul people and cargo with more flexibility. In category terms, both are single-engine piston airplanes, but the Skylane is more “touring” oriented, whereas the Turbo Stationair is more “workhorse” oriented, commonly used for backcountry operations, air taxi, and missions needing higher useful load. For range, a Skylane is generally optimized for cross-country efficiency and often achieves comparable or sometimes better still-air range than a Turbo Stationair when both are equipped similarly, though real-world range depends strongly on power settings, oxygen use at altitude, and payload. The Turbo Stationair’s turbocharging helps it maintain power at higher altitudes, which can improve trip times and high-density-altitude performance rather than purely maximizing range. Passenger capacity typically favors the Turbo Stationair: many configurations accommodate six seats (with practical limits depending on fuel and baggage), while the Skylane is commonly a four-seat aircraft, with some later variants offering optional additional seating in tighter arrangements.