Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Kodiak 100 Series Iii vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M350
The Cessna Skylane is a high-performance single‑engine piston aircraft best suited to personal travel and light utility, typically carrying 3–4 passengers plus a pilot with a practical range around 800–1,000 nm. The Cessna Turbo Stationair steps up as a larger, turbocharged piston utility platform with more cabin volume and payload, generally accommodating about 5–6 passengers plus a pilot, with similar or slightly longer typical range roughly 800–1,000 nm depending on loading. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX and Daher Kodiak 100 Series III are single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft aimed at rugged, short/soft-field work and regional hauling; both commonly seat 8–10 passengers plus a pilot, with typical ranges around 900–1,200 nm, varying notably with payload and reserves. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a pressurized, executive-capable single‑engine turboprop that bridges utility and business use, often configured for 6–9 passengers with a pilot and offering longer legs around 1,500–1,800 nm. The Piper M350 is a pressurized cabin-class piston aircraft for business/personal travel, typically seating 5–6 plus a pilot with an approximate range near 1,200–1,400 nm.
| Spec | Cessna Skylane | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| DOC / nm | $ 1.01 | $ 1.08 | $ 3.15 | $ 2.78 | $ 1.34 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Cessna | Cessna | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 182 Skylane | 206 Turbo Stationair | Grand Caravan EX | PC-12 NGX | M350 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 915 | 703 | 964 | 1803 | 1343 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.25 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.22 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 146 | $ 174 | $ 614 | $ 793 | $ 285 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 145 | 161 | 195 | 290 | 213 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $530,000 | $745,000 | $2,695,000 | $5,350,000 | $1,195,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Min Crew | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 12 | 9 | — |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | — | 3332 | — | 1308 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | — | No | Optional | — |
| Min Crew | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 12 | 9 | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | Un-Pressurized | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | No | No | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | — | FWD | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 13100 | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | IO-540-AB1A5 | TIO-540-AJ1A | PT6A-140 | PT6E-67XP | TIO-540-AE2A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | — | — | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 2000 | 4000 | 5000 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | — | — | 12 |
| Horsepower | 245 | 350 | 867 | 1200 | 350 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 87 | 87 | 335 | — | 120 |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 24 | ISA + 35 | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 29 | 28.3 | 41.6 | 47.25 | 29 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36 | 36 | 52.1 | 53.33 | 43 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11.2 | 12.1 | 16.8 | 16.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.4 | 9.4 | 15.1 | 14 | 11.4 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 32 | 11 | 32 | 40 | 20 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | — | 4.25 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | 13 |