Cessna Citation M2 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Cessna Citation M2 is a light jet, aimed at faster point‑to‑point travel at higher altitudes. It typically carries a single pilot with about five passengers in the cabin (often marketed as up to seven seats including crew and optional seating) and offers roughly 1,500 miles of range, making it well suited to regional city pairs with jet speed and smoother weather avoidance. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a single‑engine turboprop in the utility/executive class. It generally seats a pilot plus six to eight passengers depending on interior, and it stands out for longer legs—commonly around 1,700–1,800 miles—along with strong short/rough‑field capability. The Piper M500 and M600 SLS are single‑engine turboprops positioned as personal/business aircraft. Both are typically flown with one pilot and about four to five passengers. The M500’s range is commonly around 1,000–1,200 miles, while the more powerful M600 SLS stretches closer to about 1,400–1,500 miles, trading up in speed, payload, and avionics/autothrottle sophistication.
| Spec | Cessna Citation M2 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.45 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Pilatus | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | M2 | PC-12 NGX | M500 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1400 | 1803 | 1000 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.58 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3810 | — | 1698 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,395 | $ 793 | $ 579 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 404 | 290 | 260 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $5,150,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | Optional | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | — | — |
| Jump Seat | No | — | — | — |
| Total Seats | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | FWD | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 8.5 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 22027 | 13100 | 12600 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8244 | 8644 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | FJ44-1AP-21 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 | 3600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 7 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 1965 | — | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | 516 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 492 | — | 170 | 260 |
| Horsepower | — | 1200 | 500 | 600 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | 402 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 42.6 | 47.25 | 29.6 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 47.3 | 53.33 | 43.2 | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.8 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11 | 16.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14 | 14 | 11.3 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.1 | 4.25 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 8.8 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 46 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 40 | 20 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 165 | 165 |