Range Map

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+ cargo
×
1

Tank-dry, where fuel runs out at catalogue's stored cruise burn.

Excludes reserves: range beyond the dashed circle requires a leaner cruise than what we store. Great-circle, still air, book cruise. Estimates only: always verify against the POH.

Payload vs. Range

Occupants:

Fuel on board

Cargo

nm

Range

Cargo is additional payload after occupants and baggage.
full tanks
Available Range / nm
Mission capable. This load flies with full fuel.
Fuel reduced by . left aboard for nm range.
Over max payload by . At this load it cannot lift a single occupant.

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Mission Profile

In production Aircraft available new or used
142
KTAS
Cruise Speed
730
nm
Max Range
15,700
ft
Service Ceiling
6
Occupants
815
lbs
Wet Payload
Endorsements & ratings:
  • High-Performance
Cessna 206H Stationair (N191ME) at Kemble Airfield, England, July 2005. Photo: Adrian Pingstone, public domain.
Cessna 206H Stationair (N191ME) at Kemble Airfield, England, July 2005. Photo: Adrian Pingstone, public domain.

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Cessna 206 Stationair

Type certificated 1997 Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet

Overview

The Cessna 206 Stationair is the high-wing utility single that earned the nickname “the Sport Utility Vehicle of the air.” It grew out of the retractable-gear Cessna 210 but found its calling as a rugged, fixed-gear hauler. The modern 206H, certified in 1997 and still in production, pairs a 300-horsepower Lycoming IO-540-AC1A5 with the airframe’s signature double clamshell rear cargo doors, the feature that makes the Stationair a favorite of float operators, jump pilots, and backcountry flyers who need to load bulky freight through an opening a conventional cabin door cannot match.

For a buyer, the 206 is the choice when load and access matter more than speed. A useful load over 1,300 lb, fixed gear that shrugs off rough strips, and the wide cargo doors define the mission; in return you accept a cruise near 142 knots and a direct operating cost around $155 per hour. It stays in production, so parts and factory support are current rather than vintage. If your flying routinely crosses high terrain or launches from hot, high fields, look at the turbocharged Cessna T206 Turbo Stationair; for more seats and cabin volume, the stretched Cessna 207 Stationair 7 carries more.

Key Features for GA Buyers

  • Cargo door access: The rear clamshell doors swing wide enough to load a 55-gallon drum, which is why the 206 is a fixture in utility and humanitarian roles.
  • Genuine load-hauling: A useful load comfortably over 1,300 lb lets you carry several adults, real baggage, and useful fuel at the same time.
  • Backcountry friendly: Heavy-duty fixed gear and the high wing suit rough strips, and the type adapts readily to floats or skis.
  • Proven powerplant: The fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540-AC1A5 carries a 2,000-hour recommended TBO and a deep parts and overhaul network.

Trade-offs

  • Speed costs: Fixed gear and a wide cabin add drag; plan on cruise in the low 140s of knots, not the speeds a retractable single would give you.
  • Thirsty under load: Hauling weight burns around 16 GPH at a 75 percent cruise, so range and economy trail sleeker singles.
  • Cabin entry: The pilot has a dedicated door and the rear doors are superb, but the right front occupant often boards across the cabin or through the rear.

See Also

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Wingspan 36 ft
Height
9 ft
Length
28 ft
Parking area (ft²2)
1,532 ft²
Max Takeoff Weight
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 3,600 lbs
Max Landing Weight
3,600 lbs
Useful Load
1,343 lbs
Fuel Capacity
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 88 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed
142 KTAS
Never-Exceed (VNE)
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 182 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (VNO)
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 149 KIAS
Approach Speed
70 KIAS
Stall, Clean (VS1)
54 KIAS
Range
730 NM
Service Ceiling
15,700 ft
Rate of Climb
988 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle
1,860 ft
Landing over 50 ft obstacle
1,395 ft

Engine

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Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Cessna 206 Stationair specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.

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