Cessna Citation Cj3 vs Cessna Citation M2 vs Cirrus Sf50 G2 vs Daher Tbm 940 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500
The Cessna Citation CJ3+ and Cessna Citation M2 are both light business jets, with the CJ3+ being the larger and longer-range option. The CJ3+ typically flies roughly 1,800–2,000 nautical miles and usually seats about 6–9, while the M2 is closer to about 1,200–1,400 nautical miles with about 4–7 seats. The Cirrus Vision Jet G2 is a single‑engine very light jet designed for simplicity and owner-flying; it generally offers about 1,000–1,200 nautical miles of range and typically carries 4–5 passengers (up to 7 seats including smaller positions). The Daher TBM 940 and TBM 960 are high-performance single‑engine turboprops; both are commonly configured for about 4–6 passengers, with ranges around 1,400–1,700 nautical miles, and the 960 is the newer, more refined variant. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a larger single‑engine turboprop with the most cabin and payload flexibility here, commonly seating 6–9 with roughly 1,700–1,800 nautical miles of range. The Piper M500 is a single‑engine turboprop, typically 4–5 passengers, with roughly 1,000–1,300 nautical miles of range.
| Spec | Cessna Citation CJ3+ | Cessna Citation M2 | Daher TBM 940 | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.05 | $ 3.45 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Daher TBM | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | CJ3+ | M2 | TBM 940 | TBM 960 | PC-12 NGX | M500 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1898 | 1400 | 1730 | 1730 | 1803 | 1000 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.58 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 7 | — | — | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 5530 | 3810 | 2908 | 2908 | — | 1698 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,680 | $ 1,395 | $ 744 | $ 744 | $ 793 | $ 579 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 415 | 404 | 330 | 330 | 290 | 260 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $9,915,000 | $5,150,000 | $4,450,000 | $4,450,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 |
| Flight Rules | — | — | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | — | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | No | Optional | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | No | — | — | — | — |
| Jump Seat | No | No | — | — | — | — |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Galley Location | FWD | — | MID | MID | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 7 | — | — | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | — | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 8.9 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | No | Refreshment Centre | — | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 23586 | 22027 | 14390 | 14390 | 13100 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | — | 8244 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | FJ44-3A | FJ44-1AP-21 | PT6A-66D | TBM 960 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 11 | ISA + 7 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 2820 | 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | 624 | 516 | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 703 | 492 | 291 | — | — | 170 |
| Horsepower | — | — | 850 | 850 | 1200 | 500 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 51.2 | 42.6 | 35.3 | 35.3 | 47.25 | 29.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 53 | 47.3 | 42.1 | 42.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.4 | 0.4 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.7 | 11 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 16.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 15.2 | 14 | 14.3 | — | 14 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.1 | 3.1 | — | — | 4.25 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 12.2 | 8.8 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 65 | 46 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | 123 | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 30 | — | 40 | 20 |