Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft, best for short to medium regional legs with typical range around 900–1,200 nm depending on payload, and it commonly seats about 9–14 passengers in commuter configurations. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop optimized for speed and owner‑pilot travel; it generally carries 4–6 passengers (up to 6) and offers longer business-trip range, roughly 1,400–1,700 nm. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light business jet, aimed at faster, higher‑altitude point‑to‑point flying; it typically seats about 7–9 passengers and has a range around 1,800–2,100 nm. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a twin‑engine light helicopter focused on vertical lift missions (EMS, law enforcement, corporate shuttle); it usually carries about 4–7 passengers and has much shorter range, roughly 300–400 nm, trading cruise efficiency for VTOL access.
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ | TBM 960 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 | 1730 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 | 2908 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 | $ 744 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 | 330 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | — |
| Jump Seat | No | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 |
| Galley Location | FWD | MID |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | 6.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 | 14390 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW545C | TBM 960 |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — |
| Horsepower | — | 850 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 52.5 | 35.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 | 42.1 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 | 4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 | 13.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.2 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.9 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 14.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 80 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 |