Cessna Grand Caravan EX vs Pilatus PC-12

Side-by-side specs, range, and operating costs.

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Dimensions & configuration

Representative planforms, drawn to shared scale.

Cessna Grand Caravan EX
52.1 × 41.6 ft 15.5 ft tall
1× Turboprop Fixed Unpressurized
Pilatus PC-12
53.2 × 47.2 ft 14.0 ft tall
1× Turboprop Retractable Pressurized

Flight Profile

Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.

Tap legend to isolate

Arc represents the climb-cruise-descent profile based on published service ceiling and range. Climb rate annotated on ascent. FL180 (18,000 ft) shown for reference.

Mission Performance

Stall, approach, cruise, range, ceiling and climb: best values are at the top.

Mission performance specifications
Specification Cessna Grand Caravan EXPilatus PC-12
Stall speed 78 kt93 kt
Approach speed 83 kt90 kt
Cruise speed 185 kt270 kt
Range 912 nm1600 nm
Service ceiling 25000 ft30000 ft
Rate of climb 1275 fpm2000 fpm
Fuel burn 60.0 gph76.0 gph

Each axis is scaled independently across the compared aircraft and printed in its own units; every vertex sits at the published figure. Higher is better on all axes: Stall, Approach and Fuel Burn are inverted (lower = higher). A missing figure breaks the line at that axis.

Fuel Burn & Range

Range, endurance, and what the fuel costs by the hour.

Cessna Grand Caravan EX Jet A
60.0 gph
Baseline
912 nm range 3.1 nm/gal 335 gal usable $360 fuel/hr 5h 34m endurance
Cessna Grand Caravan EX: 60.0 gallons per hour at cruise, 912 nautical mile published range, 5 hour 34 minute endurance, 3.1 nautical miles per gallon.
Pilatus PC-12 Jet A
76.0 gph
Baseline
1,600 nm range 3.6 nm/gal 402 gal usable $456 fuel/hr 5h 17m endurance
Pilatus PC-12: 76.0 gallons per hour at cruise, 1,600 nautical mile published range, 5 hour 17 minute endurance, 3.6 nautical miles per gallon.
Jet A range each cell = 1 hr of cruise · width scales with speed

Bars show published still-air range. Endurance is usable fuel divided by the published cruise burn. Estimates only. Always verify against the POH.

Runway Performance

Density altitude adjusted estimates

Outside Air Temp
0°F57°F115°F
Field Elevation
SL4,0008,000 ft
Density Altitude

Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle

Landing ground roll

Base distance DA penalty
Scale: 6,000 ft

FAA 10%/1,000 ft DA rule of thumb (FAA-H-8083-25B). Turboprops and jets are less sensitive in practice. Always verify against the POH.

Estimated Operating Costs

Scale:
Cessna Grand Caravan EX Jet A
$743 /hr
Baseline
Cessna Grand Caravan EX: $743 per flight hour — fuel $360, maintenance and reserve $383.
Pilatus PC-12 Jet A
$1,106 /hr
Baseline
Pilatus PC-12: $1,106 per flight hour — fuel $456, maintenance and reserve $650.
Cessna Grand Caravan EX Turboprop
$49,371 /yr Baseline
Cessna Grand Caravan EX: $49,371 per year — insurance $23,898, hangar $22,973, annual inspection $2,500.
Pilatus PC-12 Turboprop
$59,500 /yr Baseline
Pilatus PC-12: $59,500 per year — insurance $22,000, hangar $35,000, annual inspection $2,500.

Estimates only. Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.

Capability & limits

Each bar stacks your selected occupants against full fuel and the aircraft's useful-load limit (the black line). The open gap between them is spare payload. Add an occupant and the gap closes; once it's gone, fuel has to give.

lb

+ lb / pax

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Cessna Grand Caravan EX
11 / 11 seats 335 / 335 gal fuel 1,288 lb wet payload 3,532 lb useful 8,807 lb MTOW
Pilatus PC-12
11 / 11 seats 402 / 402 gal fuel 907 lb wet payload 3,600 lb useful 9,921 lb MTOW

Occupants at 190 + 30 lb each. Fuel at 6.7 lb/gal jet-A, 6.0 lb/gal avgas.

Payload-Range Map

Origin: · two fingers to move map

lb

+ lb / pax

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