Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft suited to short, rugged strips, typically carrying around 9 passengers with a range on the order of roughly 900–1,200 nautical miles depending on load and reserves. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop in the personal/corporate category, usually seating 4–6 passengers (up to about 6–7 total seats depending on configuration) and offering longer legs around roughly 1,400–1,700 nautical miles. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a light twin‑engine helicopter aimed at passenger, EMS, and law‑enforcement missions, commonly configured for about 6–8 passengers with a much shorter typical range, roughly 300–400 nautical miles. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet designed for business travel with rough‑field capability, generally seating about 6–10 passengers depending on layout, and delivering the longest range of this group at about 2,000 nautical miles, making it best suited to fast point‑to‑point trips over longer distances.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | PC-24 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.62 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 10 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Galley Location | MID | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | 9.3 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | 23500 |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TBM 960 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 3435 |
| No. of Engines | — | 2 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | 23 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 17.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 90 |