Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine turboprop business aircraft best suited to owner‑operators and fast regional trips, typically carrying about 4 to 6 passengers in comfort (up to around 6–7 seats depending on configuration) with roughly 1,700–1,800 nautical miles of range. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet aimed at flexible “businessliner” missions, usually accommodating about 6 to 8 passengers (up to around 10) and offering about 2,000 nautical miles of range, with the added advantage of operating from shorter and less‑improved runways. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, large‑cabin tri‑jet designed for intercontinental travel, commonly seating 8 to 14 passengers with approximately 6,400–6,450 nautical miles of range. The Leonardo AW189 is a twin‑engine medium helicopter optimized for offshore and utility/VIP roles; it typically carries about 12 to 16 passengers (higher in some layouts) and has far shorter range than the fixed‑wing options, generally on the order of 400–500 nautical miles depending on reserves and fit.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | 8X | AW189 | PC-24 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — | — | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 6450 | 651 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.62 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | 36900 | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 516 | 155 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 17 | 21 | 6 |
| Galley Location | MID | FWD | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | 10.2 | — | 9.3 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | 29200 | — | 23500 |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes | — | No |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT | — | FWD |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TBM 960 | PW307D | CT7-2E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | On-Condition | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | 1983 | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 | — | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 | — | 3435 |
| No. of Engines | — | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | JetFuel | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 80.2 | 57.8 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | 86.3 | — | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | 7.7 | — | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 6.2 | — | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | 42.7 | — | 23 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | 1695 | 395 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 26.1 | 16.6 | 17.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 | — | 90 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 85 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | — | Flat Floor |