Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Cessna Caravan vs Daher Kodiak 100 Series Iii vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Cessna Turbo Stationair is the smallest, piston single in this set, typically used for personal, training, and light utility missions. It generally carries about four to six people depending on loading and configuration, and it offers the shortest practical range of the group, suited to regional hops rather than long legs. The Cessna Caravan, Daher Kodiak 100 Series III, and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are single‑engine turboprops, but they sit in different capability tiers. The Caravan is a rugged utility hauler optimized for simple, high‑volume cabin and cargo operations; it commonly seats around nine passengers (often up to 10 including crew depending on rules/configuration) and provides solid regional range. The Kodiak 100 Series III is also a utility turboprop with strong short/rough‑field performance, typically configured for up to about 10 occupants, and offers range broadly similar to the Caravan, varying with payload and reserves. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is the most “executive” and highest‑performance option, usually seating six to nine in comfort, with the longest range and fastest cruise, making it better suited to longer point‑to‑point trips with fewer compromises.
| Spec | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Cessna Caravan | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.08 | $ 3.07 | $ 2.78 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Cessna | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 206 Turbo Stationair | Caravan | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 703 | 1070 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.18 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.46 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 174 | $ 571 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 161 | 186 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $745,000 | $2,355,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | 9 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 3305 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TIO-540-AJ1A | PT6A-114A | PT6E-67XP |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 3600 | 5000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — |
| Horsepower | 350 | 675 | 1200 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 87 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 31 | ISA + 35 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 28.3 | 37.6 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36 | 52.1 | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.6 | 5.4 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.1 | 12.8 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.4 | 15 | 14 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 11 | 32 | 40 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 4.25 |