Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls vs Piper Seminole vs Piper Seneca
The Daher TBM 960 and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are high-performance single‑engine turboprops; the TBM 960 is typically positioned as a fast personal/business aircraft with roughly 1,500–1,700 nm range and usually 4–6 passengers in comfort (up to about 6–7 seats installed), while the PC‑12 NGX is a larger utility/business turboprop with similar or slightly longer typical range (about 1,600–1,800 nm) and more usable cabin capacity, commonly 6–9 passengers depending on layout. The Piper M500 and M600 SLS are single‑engine turboprops in a smaller class than the PC‑12; both generally offer about 1,000–1,400 nm range with seating typically for 5–6 passengers, with the M600 SLS tending toward higher performance and payload flexibility. The Piper Arrow is a single‑engine piston retractable, usually a 4‑seat airplane with shorter cross‑country range, often around 700–1,000 nm. The Piper Seneca is a light twin‑engine piston aircraft, typically 6 seats, with moderate range commonly around 700–1,000 nm, valued for twin‑engine redundancy and training/utility roles.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS | Piper Arrow | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.36 | $ 1.69 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Pilatus | Piper | Piper | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | PC-12 NGX | M500 | M600 | Arrow | Seneca |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — | — | — | — | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 1803 | 1000 | 1406 | 700 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | — | 1698 | 2200 | 1191 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 793 | $ 579 | $ 603 | $ 221 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 290 | 260 | 274 | 162 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 | $765,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | Optional | No | No | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Galley Location | MID | — | MID | MID | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | 13100 | 12600 | 12600 | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD | — | — | — | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8244 | 8644 | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Model | TBM 960 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A | O-360-AIH6 | TSIO-360-RB |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 | 3600 | 2000 | 1800 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1200 | 500 | 600 | 180 | 220 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | 402 | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 170 | 260 | 108 | 122 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | — | — | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | — | — | 12 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | — | Carbureted | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 47.25 | 29.6 | 29.7 | 27.6 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 | 43.2 | 38.6 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | 16.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | — | 165 | 165 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 14 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 8.5 | 10 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 4.25 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 40 | 20 | 20 | — | — |