Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Piper M600 Sls
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a rugged single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft, best suited to short or unimproved strips and high payload flexibility rather than speed. It typically offers the largest practical cabin capacity of this group, commonly seating around 9 passengers in commuter or charter layouts, with range generally in the roughly 900–1,000+ nm class depending on configuration and reserves. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, large‑cabin tri‑jet business aircraft focused on intercontinental missions, with a range around 6,000+ nm and typical executive seating for about 12–16 passengers, trading much higher speed and comfort for substantially higher operating cost. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a high‑speed twin‑turboprop business aircraft, positioned between utility turboprops and light/midsize jets; it commonly carries about 6–8 passengers with range around 1,400–1,800 nm. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop personal/business aircraft, usually configured for about 4–6 passengers, with range typically around 1,200–1,500 nm, emphasizing owner‑pilot capability and modern avionics.
| Spec | Dassault Falcon 8X | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 7.66 | — | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 17 | 8 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Falcon | Piaggio | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 8X | Avanti EVO | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 6450 | 1530 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.64 | — | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 7 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 36900 | 3775 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 14 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 3,805 | — | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Honeywell Primus EASy II | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 516 | 400 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 62,500,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | IFR |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 2 Enclosed Flushing | No | No |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | Yes | — | — |
| Total Seats | 17 | 8 | 5 |
| Galley Location | FWD | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 7 | — |
| Lavatory Location | FWD / AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 10.2 | 9 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 14 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 29200 | 24000 | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | 3900 | 6600 | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PW307D | PT6A–66B | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | On-Condition | 3600 | 3600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 17 | ISA + 28 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 6722 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Horsepower | — | 850 | 600 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 100 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 80.2 | 47.3 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 86.3 | 47.1 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.7 | 6.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 6.2 | 5.8 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 42.7 | 14.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 26.1 | 13.1 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 1695 | — | 165 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 6.3 | 3.5 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 29.2 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 140 | 35.2 | 20 |