Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft typically used for short‑to‑medium regional legs. It generally carries around 9 to 14 passengers depending on configuration and payload limits, and offers practical range on the order of roughly 900 to 1,200 nautical miles. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a twin‑engine light business jet optimized for faster, longer point‑to‑point travel. It commonly seats about 8 to 9 passengers in executive layouts (with higher maximums in some configurations) and has a typical range of about 1,700 to 2,100 nautical miles, making it better suited to longer nonstop trips than the Caravan. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a twin‑engine helicopter focused on vertical‑lift missions such as EMS, law enforcement, and short‑haul corporate transport. It usually accommodates about 6 to 8 passengers (plus crew and mission equipment) and has a substantially shorter range than the fixed‑wing aircraft, typically around 250 to 400 nautical miles.
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Cockpit | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 |
| Min Crew | 2 |
| Total Seats | 10 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ |
| Certification | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 |
| Cabin | |
| Cockpit | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 |
| Crew Rest | No |
| Jump Seat | No |
| Total Seats | 10 |
| Galley Location | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 |
| Engine | |
| FADEC | Yes |
| Model | PW545C |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 |
| No. of Engines | 2 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length (ft) | 52.5 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 |
| 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 |