Daher Tbm 960 vs Enstrom 480b vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Sikorsky S 92
The Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine turboprop airplane, best suited to fast, point‑to‑point travel. It typically carries one pilot plus up to five passengers (six seats total) and offers the longest range of the group at roughly 1,500–1,700 nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. The Enstrom 480B is a light single‑engine piston helicopter oriented toward training, utility, and short hops. It generally carries a pilot plus three to four passengers (about five seats total) and has a comparatively short range, commonly around 300–400 nautical miles. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a light twin‑engine helicopter designed for police, EMS, and corporate utility missions. It usually seats one or two pilots plus six to seven passengers (about eight to nine seats total) with a typical range around 300–400 nautical miles. The Sikorsky S‑92 is a large twin‑engine medium/heavy helicopter used for offshore transport, SAR, and VIP/airline‑style shuttle. It carries two pilots plus roughly 19 passengers in standard layouts and ranges about 500–600 nautical miles.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | S-92 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.94 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 19 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 21 |
| Galley Location | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 19 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TBM 960 | CT7-8A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 2520 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | — |
| Fuel Type | — | JetFuel |
| No. of Engines | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | 775 |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 17.8 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 140 |