Cessna Caravan vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex.
The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is a light, single‑engine piston aircraft typically used for training and personal travel. It usually carries 3–4 people including the pilot and is best for shorter trips, with a typical range in the rough neighborhood of 600–800 nautical miles depending on model, payload, and winds. The Cessna Caravan (208) is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft designed for hauling people or cargo into smaller or rougher airstrips. It generally seats around 9–14 passengers in commuter layouts (or more space for cargo) and commonly offers about 900–1,200 nautical miles of range, again varying with load and conditions. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX (208B) is a stretched, more powerful evolution of the Caravan with improved hot‑and‑high and heavy‑payload performance. Passenger capacity is similar (often up to about 14), but it typically delivers better useful load and climb, with range broadly comparable to the Caravan and often near the upper end when configured efficiently.
| Spec | Cessna Skyhawk | Cessna Caravan |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| DOC / nm | $ 0.95 | $ 3.07 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Cessna |
| Aircraft Name | 172 Skyhawk | Caravan |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 640 | 1070 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.24 | $ 0.38 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 118 | $ 571 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 124 | 186 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $415,000 | $2,355,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 3305 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 8 |
| Cabin | ||
| Total Seats | 4 | 10 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 |
| Lavatory | — | No |
| Min Crew | — | 1 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | Un-Pressurized |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 8 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | No | Yes |
| Model | IO-360-L2A | PT6A-114A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 3600 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 200 | 675 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 42 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 31 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 27.2 | 37.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36.1 | 52.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.4 | 5.4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | 4.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11.9 | 12.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9 | 15 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 30 | 32 |