Cessna Caravan vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Piper M500
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a rugged utility turboprop designed for short, unimproved strips and high payload flexibility. It typically offers the longest practical legs in this group at roughly 900–1,200 nautical miles depending on load and conditions, and it commonly carries about 9–14 passengers in commuter configurations (fewer in executive layouts), making it the capacity leader. The Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet emphasizing speed and versatility, including operation from relatively short runways for a jet. Its typical range is about 2,000 nautical miles, and it generally seats around 6–10 passengers in a corporate cabin. It trades higher operating complexity and cost for substantially faster travel and higher-altitude weather avoidance. The Piper M500 is a single-engine pressurized turboprop positioned as an owner-flown personal/business aircraft. It generally carries about 4–6 passengers in comfort and has a typical range around 1,000–1,300 nautical miles. Compared with the Caravan it prioritizes speed and pressurization over cabin volume; compared with the PC-24 it offers simpler, lower-cost turboprop operation but less speed and capacity.
| Spec | Cessna Caravan | Pilatus PC-24 | Piper M500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.07 | $ 3.71 | $ 3.11 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Caravan | PC-24 | M500 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1070 | 2076 | 1000 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.38 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.78 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 10 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3305 | 6680 | 1698 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 571 | $ 1,619 | $ 579 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 186 | 440 | 260 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,355,000 | $11,800,000 | $2,122,600 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | 1 Enclosed Flushing | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cargo Door | Yes | Yes | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 10 | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | Un-Pressurized | 9.3 | 5.5 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Optional Refreshment Center | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 23500 | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8244 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-114A | FJ44-4A-QPM | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 675 | — | 500 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 31 | ISA + 23 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 3435 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 170 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 37.6 | 52.2 | 29.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 52.1 | 55.8 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.4 | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.8 | 23 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 15 | 17.4 | 11.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 32 | 90 | 20 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.8 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 17 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 165 |