Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is best categorized as a utility turboprop designed for rugged, high-volume missions rather than speed. It typically offers the longest real-world legs in this group, with range often around 900–1,000+ nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, and it can carry the most people, commonly up to about 9 passengers (with a single pilot) in typical configurations. The Daher TBM 960 is a high-performance, pressurized, single-engine turboprop optimized for fast personal and business travel. It generally delivers the greatest speed but a somewhat shorter maximum-range profile than the Caravan, often roughly in the 900–1,000+ nautical mile class depending on power settings. Seating is usually arranged for about 4–6 passengers plus a pilot. The Piper M600 SLS sits between them as a pressurized personal/business turboprop: quicker and more refined than the Caravan, but not as fast as the TBM 960. Its range is typically around 600–700+ nautical miles depending on loading, and it commonly carries about 4–5 passengers plus a pilot.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | M600 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.55 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 |
| Galley Location | MID | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | 5.6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | 12600 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | No |
| Model | TBM 960 | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | 12.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | 165 |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 11.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 |