Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Cessna Caravan
The Cessna Skylane (typically the 182) is a single‑engine, piston, high‑wing aircraft aimed at personal and light business travel. It generally carries four people (sometimes up to five with certain configurations) and offers moderate cross‑country capability, commonly in the roughly 700–900 nautical mile range depending on power setting, load, and reserves. The Cessna Turbo Stationair (typically the 206/207 family with turbocharging) is also a single‑engine, piston, high‑wing utility aircraft, optimized more for hauling people and cargo from shorter or higher‑elevation strips. It usually seats six (and some variants more), with range often in a similar ballpark to the Skylane but varying widely with payload; real‑world trips frequently land around 600–900 nautical miles. The Cessna Caravan (208/208B) is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft in a higher category for payload and commercial work. It commonly seats 9–14 passengers depending on configuration, and typical range is often around 800–1,200 nautical miles, again highly dependent on load and mission profile.
| Spec | Cessna Skylane | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Cessna Caravan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| DOC / nm | $ 1.01 | $ 1.08 | $ 3.07 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Cessna | Cessna |
| Aircraft Name | 182 Skylane | 206 Turbo Stationair | Caravan |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 915 | 703 | 1070 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.25 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.38 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 146 | $ 174 | $ 571 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 145 | 161 | 186 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $530,000 | $745,000 | $2,355,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 | 8 |
| Min Crew | — | — | 1 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 9 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | — | 3305 |
| Cabin | |||
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 | 8 |
| Lavatory | — | — | No |
| Min Crew | — | — | 1 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 9 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | Un-Pressurized |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | No |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | No | No | Yes |
| Model | IO-540-AB1A5 | TIO-540-AJ1A | PT6A-114A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 2000 | 3600 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 245 | 350 | 675 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 87 | 87 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 31 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 29 | 28.3 | 37.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36 | 36 | 52.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11.2 | 12.1 | 12.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.4 | 9.4 | 15 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 32 | 11 | 32 |