Cessna Caravan vs Cirrus Sf50 G2 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Diamond Aircraft Da42 vs Diamond Aircraft Da50 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is a rugged utility turboprop, optimized for short or unimproved strips and high payload flexibility. It typically offers the longest real-world legs of this group with range around 900–1,000+ nautical miles depending on load, and it carries the most people, commonly 9–14 seats in commuter configurations. The Daher TBM 960 is a high-performance single-engine turboprop aimed at fast owner-operators. It trades cabin volume for speed and efficiency, with range roughly 1,500–1,700 nautical miles and seating usually 4–6 (up to about 6–7 including occasional seating). The Diamond DA50 is a modern single-engine piston aircraft in the personal/luxury touring category. It is slower but economical, typically seating 4–5 with range around 750–1,100 nautical miles depending on engine variant and reserves. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin-turboprop executive aircraft emphasizing jet-like cruise speeds and a spacious cabin. It generally seats 6–9, with range about 1,400–1,800 nautical miles, balancing speed, comfort, and longer missions.
| Spec | Cessna Caravan | Daher TBM 960 | Diamond Aircraft DA50 | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.07 | $ 2.25 | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Daher TBM | Diamond Aircraft | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | Caravan | TBM 960 | DA50 | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In Development | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1070 | 1730 | — | 1530 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.38 | $ 0.56 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | — | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3305 | 2908 | 1256 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | — | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 571 | $ 744 | — | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 186 | 330 | — | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,355,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 700,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | No | — | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Cargo Door | Yes | — | — | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | — | 7 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | Un-Pressurized | 6.2 | — | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | — | — | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | — | 6 |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | — | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-114A | TBM 960 | CD-300 | PT6A–66B |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3500 | 2000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 675 | 850 | 260 | 850 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 31 | ISA + 49 | — | ISA + 28 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | Diesel / Jet Fuel | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Fuel Injected | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 50 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 37.6 | 35.3 | 29.5 | 47.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 52.1 | 42.1 | 44 | 47.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.4 | 4 | — | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 | — | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.8 | 13.4 | — | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 15 | — | 9.5 | 13.1 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 32 | — | — | 35.2 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | — | 3.5 |