Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Cessna Turbo Stationair sits in the utility single‑engine piston/turboprop‑family niche (commonly the pressurized 206/“Stationair” class), optimized for short, flexible missions and rough-field practicality rather than speed. Typical real-world range is on the order of roughly 600–900 nautical miles depending on load and reserves, and it generally carries about 4–6 passengers in comfort (up to six seats total), with limited baggage volume compared with the larger turboprops. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance, single‑engine turboprop optimized for owner‑pilots who want jetlike cruise speed. It is usually flown with 4–6 passengers plus a pilot, and its typical range is roughly 1,400–1,700 nautical miles depending on cruise setting and payload. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a larger, more versatile single‑engine turboprop positioned as a true executive/utility aircraft. It commonly carries 6–9 passengers in a cabin that supports freight or special missions, and it offers long legs around 1,500–1,800 nautical miles with strong short/soft‑field capability.
| Spec | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.08 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Daher TBM | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 206 Turbo Stationair | TBM 960 | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 703 | 1730 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.18 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 174 | $ 744 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 161 | 330 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $745,000 | $4,450,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 2908 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 9 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | No | Optional |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | 13100 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | No |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TIO-540-AJ1A | TBM 960 | PT6E-67XP |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 3500 | 5000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — |
| Horsepower | 350 | 850 | 1200 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 87 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 28.3 | 35.3 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36 | 42.1 | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.6 | 4 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.1 | 13.4 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.4 | — | 14 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 11 | — | 40 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 4.25 |