Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Sikorsky S 92
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing utility aircraft, typically used for short‑haul regional, cargo, or rugged-field operations. It generally carries around 9 passengers (up to about 14 in high-density commuter layouts) and offers a practical range roughly in the 900–1,200 nm class depending on payload, reserves, and configuration. The Leonardo AW189 is a super‑medium twin‑engine helicopter oriented to offshore, SAR, and corporate shuttle missions. It commonly seats about 16–19 passengers and has a typical operational range on the order of 450–550 nm, varying strongly with cabin fit, fuel, and hover/loiter requirements. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin‑turboprop business aircraft in the “fast turboprop” category. It usually carries 6–9 passengers and delivers substantially longer legs than most helicopters, commonly around 1,400–1,800 nm. The Sikorsky S‑92 is a heavy twin helicopter optimized for offshore transport. It typically seats about 19 passengers and flies in a similar general range bracket to the AW189, often about 500–600 nm, mission dependent.
| Spec | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 15.57 | — | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 8 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo | Piaggio | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | AW189 | Avanti EVO | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 651 | 1530 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.74 | — | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | 7 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,413 | — | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 400 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,413,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 3775 | 7417 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 8 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | 7 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 6600 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2E1 | PT6A–66B | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1983 | 850 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 28 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 100 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 57.8 | 47.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.6 | 13.1 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 48 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 395 | — | 775 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 85 | — | 140 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 47.1 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 6.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.8 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 14.9 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 35.2 | — |