Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Robinson R66
The Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine turboprop airplane in the high‑performance owner‑pilot/utility category, typically carrying about 4–6 passengers (up to around 6 plus pilot depending on configuration) and offering roughly 1,500–1,700 nautical miles of range. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range tri‑jet business aircraft designed for intercontinental travel, commonly seating 12–16 passengers (with higher-density layouts possible) and reaching about 6,400 nautical miles, making it the clear leader in range and cabin capacity among the four. The Leonardo AW189 is a super‑medium twin‑engine helicopter used for offshore, SAR, and corporate/VIP missions, generally accommodating about 12–16 passengers and flying roughly 450–500 nautical miles depending on fuel and payload. The Robinson R66 is a light single‑engine helicopter suited to short‑range utility and personal transport, typically seating 4–5 total occupants and offering about 300 nautical miles of range. Overall, the Falcon 8X dominates long-haul and capacity, the TBM 960 balances speed and efficiency for regional trips, and the helicopters trade range for vertical-lift flexibility.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | 8X | AW189 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 6450 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | 36900 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 14 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 516 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 16 | 19 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 17 | 21 |
| Galley Location | MID | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | 10.2 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 14 | 19 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | 29200 | — |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 16 | 19 |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TBM 960 | PW307D | CT7-2E1 |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | 1983 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 | — |
| No. of Engines | — | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | JetFuel |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 80.2 | 57.8 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | 86.3 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | 7.7 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 6.2 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | 42.7 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | 1695 | 395 |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 26.1 | 16.6 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 85 |