Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft, optimized for short, rugged routes; it typically carries about 9 passengers and offers roughly 900–1,200 nm of range depending on load and reserves. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop aimed at fast owner‑pilot travel; it generally seats 4–6 passengers in comfort (up to about 6–8 depending on layout) and reaches about 1,400–1,700 nm. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet, a step up in speed and altitude capability; it commonly carries 7–9 passengers with a range around 2,000–2,100 nm. The Dassault Falcon 8X is an ultra‑long‑range, large‑cabin trijet designed for intercontinental missions; typical configurations seat about 12–16 passengers (higher in dense layouts) and range is about 6,400–6,450 nm. Overall, the lineup progresses from rugged short‑haul utility (208B), to fast turboprop personal travel (TBM 960), to regional business jet missions (XLS+), to true long‑haul global capability (8X).
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 17 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ | TBM 960 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 | 1730 | 6450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 | 2908 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | $ 3,805 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 | 330 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | — |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | No | — | Yes |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 17 |
| Galley Location | FWD | MID | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 16 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | — | Galley |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 | 14390 | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW545C | TBM 960 | PW307D |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 | — | 6722 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 3 |
| Horsepower | — | 850 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 52.5 | 35.3 | 80.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 | 42.1 | 86.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 | 4 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 | 13.4 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.2 | — | 26.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.9 | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 14.3 | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 80 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | — | 140 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 1695 |