Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft optimized for short, rugged runways; it typically carries about 9–14 passengers depending on configuration and has a medium range generally around 900–1,200 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, three‑engine business jet in a different class entirely, usually seating about 12–16 passengers in executive layouts and offering intercontinental range of roughly 6,000+ nautical miles. The Leonardo AW189 is a twin‑engine medium helicopter focused on offshore and SAR/utility missions; it commonly seats around 16–19 passengers and has a much shorter practical range than fixed‑wing aircraft, typically on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light/midsize “super versatile jet” designed for short and semi‑prepared runways; it generally carries about 6–10 passengers in business configurations and offers a mid‑to‑long range around 1,800–2,000 nautical miles. Overall, the Falcon 8X leads on range and speed, the Caravan and AW189 emphasize access and utility, and the PC‑24 balances jet performance with rough‑field flexibility.
| Spec | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 8X | AW189 | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 6450 | 651 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 36900 | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 516 | 155 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | Yes | — | No |
| Total Seats | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Galley Location | FWD | — | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | FWD / AFT | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 10.2 | — | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 29200 | — | 23500 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | 3900 | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW307D | CT7-2E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | On-Condition | 4000 | 5000 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 17 | — | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 6722 | — | 3435 |
| No. of Engines | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Type | — | JetFuel | — |
| Horsepower | — | 1983 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 80.2 | 57.8 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 86.3 | — | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.7 | — | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 6.2 | — | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 42.7 | — | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 26.1 | 16.6 | 17.4 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 1695 | 395 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 6.3 | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 29.2 | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 140 | — | 90 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 85 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | Flat Floor |