Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls vs Piper Seminole vs Piper Seneca
The Piper M500 and M600 SLS are pressurized, single‑engine turboprops aimed at high-speed personal or business travel. Both typically seat one pilot plus up to five passengers, with real-world missions often flown with four to six aboard depending on baggage and fuel. The M600 SLS is the more capable step-up, generally offering higher cruise performance and a longer practical reach than the M500; both are commonly planned for roughly 1,000–1,500 nautical miles with reserves, with the M600 tending toward the upper end. The Piper Arrow is a non‑pressurized, single‑engine piston retractable geared toward training, time-building, and economical personal travel. It usually carries four people, but range and useful load are more limiting; typical planning ranges are on the order of about 500–800 nautical miles. The Piper Seneca is a non‑pressurized, twin‑engine piston designed for multi-engine utility and redundancy. It commonly seats six and can be configured for passengers and baggage more flexibly than the Arrow, with typical planning ranges roughly around 700–1,200 nautical miles depending on model, power setting, and payload.
| Spec | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS | Piper Arrow | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.36 | $ 1.69 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Piper | Piper | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | M500 | M600 | Arrow | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1000 | 1406 | 700 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.23 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1698 | 2200 | 1191 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 579 | $ 603 | $ 221 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 260 | 274 | 162 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 | $765,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | No | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Galley Location | MID | MID | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 5.5 | 5.6 | — | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 12600 | 12600 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | 8244 | 8644 | — | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | No | No | No | No |
| Model | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A | O-360-AIH6 | TSIO-360-RB |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 2000 | 1800 |
| Horsepower | 500 | 600 | 180 | 220 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 170 | 260 | 108 | 122 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | 12 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Carbureted | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 29.6 | 29.7 | 27.6 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 43.2 | 43.2 | 38.6 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.3 | 12.3 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.3 | 11.3 | 8.5 | 10 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 165 | 165 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 20 | 20 | — | — |