Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet aimed at efficient regional and transcontinental trips. It typically carries about 7 to 9 passengers in a comfortable executive cabin and offers a range of roughly 2,000 nautical miles, making it well suited to city-pair flying where runway flexibility and operating cost matter. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long-range, large-cabin business jet built for intercontinental missions. It generally seats about 12 to 16 passengers (with higher-density layouts possible) and can fly roughly 6,450 nautical miles, enabling nonstop routes such as North America to Europe or deep transoceanic flights with significant reserves and cabin space. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a light twin-engine helicopter designed for vertical-lift missions rather than point-to-point jet travel. It typically carries 1 to 2 pilots plus around 6 to 7 passengers, with a range on the order of 300 to 350 nautical miles, prioritizing access to confined sites, rooftops, and remote locations over long-distance speed.
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 | $ 7.66 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 17 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 | 6450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 | $ 0.64 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 14 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 | $ 3,805 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Crew Rest | No | No |
| Jump Seat | No | Yes |
| Total Seats | 10 | 17 |
| Galley Location | FWD | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 16 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | Galley |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 14 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW545C | PW307D |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | On-Condition |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 | 6722 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 52.5 | 80.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 | 86.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 | 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) | — | 1695 |