Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet aimed at shorter regional missions, typically flying about 2,100 nautical miles and seating around 7–9 passengers in a standard executive layout. The Daher TBM 960 is a high-performance single‑engine turboprop, generally used for owner-operators and efficient point‑to‑point trips; it offers roughly 1,700 nautical miles of range and commonly carries 4–6 passengers plus a pilot. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a large-cabin, long‑range business jet built for intercontinental travel, with about 6,450 nautical miles of range and typical seating around 12–16 passengers depending on configuration. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a light twin‑engine helicopter optimized for short‑range, flexible missions such as urban transport, law enforcement, or medical support; it generally ranges around 300–350 nautical miles and seats about 1–2 pilots with 6–8 passengers. Overall, the 8X leads on range and cabin size, the XLS+ balances speed and practicality, the TBM 960 emphasizes efficiency, and the 902 prioritizes vertical access over distance.
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 17 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ | TBM 960 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 | 1730 | 6450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 | 2908 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | $ 3,805 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 | 330 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | — |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | No | — | Yes |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 17 |
| Galley Location | FWD | MID | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 16 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | — | Galley |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 | 14390 | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW545C | TBM 960 | PW307D |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 | — | 6722 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 3 |
| Horsepower | — | 850 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 52.5 | 35.3 | 80.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 | 42.1 | 86.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 | 4 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 | 13.4 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.2 | — | 26.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.9 | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 14.3 | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 80 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | — | 140 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 1695 |