Piper M350 vs Piper M500 vs Piper Seneca
The Piper M350 and M500 are single‑engine, pressurized, high‑performance personal aircraft, while the Piper Seneca is a twin‑engine, unpressurized light piston airplane typically used for training, personal travel, and light commercial missions. In range, the M500 generally leads thanks to its turboprop efficiency and higher cruise capability, offering the longest practical cross‑country legs of the three. The M350, a pressurized piston single, provides strong range for owner‑pilots but usually falls short of the M500 on long trips. The Seneca’s range is competitive for regional travel, but it is typically optimized for shorter to mid‑length missions compared with the M500, with performance more sensitive to payload and weather/altitude considerations. For passenger capacity, the Seneca commonly seats more people overall, often accommodating six, making it the best choice when filling seats matters. The M350 and M500 are usually configured for fewer occupants, commonly around five to six seats, but are most comfortable when carrying fewer passengers with baggage to preserve performance and range.
| Spec | Piper M350 | Piper M500 | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.34 | $ 3.11 | $ 1.69 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Piper | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | M350 | M500 | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1343 | 1000 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.22 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1308 | 1698 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 285 | $ 579 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 213 | 260 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $1,195,000 | $2,122,600 | $1,095,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 5.6 | 5.5 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 12600 | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8244 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | No | No | No |
| Model | TIO-540-AE2A | PT6A-42A | TSIO-360-RB |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 3600 | 1800 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — |
| Horsepower | 350 | 500 | 220 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 120 | 170 | 122 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 55 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 29 | 29.6 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 43 | 43.2 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.3 | 12.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.4 | 11.3 | 10 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 165 | 165 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 13 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 20 | 20 | — |