Summary

  • Turboprop aircraft like Piaggio Avanti can fit 7-9 passengers and fly 1,510 nm at 400 knots.
  • Piper’s new M700 Fury is 29.7 ft long and flies at 301 knots, with a range of 1,424 nm.
  • Cessna’s Skycourier has a 72.3 ft wingspan, a cruise speed of 210 knots, and a range of 920 nm.

Many aviation enthusiasts are aware of several different types of aircraft. In private aviation, this may include business aircraft powered by jet engines or propellor aircraft that are powered by piston engines. However, one type of aircraft that is often overlooked is turboprop aircraft. These aircraft utilize a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propellor so that they may resemble smaller piston-powered propellor aircraft. However, due to the powerful turbine engine driving the propellor, these aircraft are typically larger, faster, and can fly further.

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Turboprop aircraft are popular with both pilot owners and businesses. These aircraft can fly at moderate ranges and vary in size, although they typically seat up to approximately eight people. Let’s take a closer look at some aircraft manufacturers that are currently producing turboprop aircraft.

6

Piaggio

Aircraft in production: Avanti P180 Evo

This aircraft manufacturer, Piaggio Aerospace, is also well-known for its relationship with Piaggio, a motor vehicle manufacturer that produces two-wheeled motor vehicles like Vespas, Aprilias, and Derbis. However, Piaggio Aerospace is also well-known for its production of several utility aircraft, including the Piaggio P.149, the Nardi FN.305, and the Piaggio P.166.

A Piaggio P.180 Avanti flying over water.

Photo: Arief Akbar | Shutterstock

However, Piaggio’s most well-known aircraft is its flagship aircraft, the Piaggio Avanti. This unique aircraft is marketed as an executive light transport aircraft. The pressurized aircraft can fit between seven and nine passengers. It features two wing-mounted turboprop engines that are positioned in a pusher configuration. It also features a small forward wing on the nose of the aircraft. The aircraft was originally introduced in 1990, and since then, over 250 aircraft have been built. The newest variant, the P180 Avanti EVO, has the following specifications:

Length

47.3 feet

Height

13 feet

Wingspan

46 feet

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

12,100 pounds

Maximum speed

400 knots (460 miles per hour)

Cruise speed

318 knots (366 miles per hour)

Range

1,510 nautical miles (1,740 miles)

Flight ceiling

41,000 feet

5

Piper

Aircraft in production: M-Class series

Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company was founded in 1927. In the late 1930s, William T. Piper purchased it and renamed it Piper Aircraft Corporation. Since its founding, the company has produced some very notable aircraft. These include the Piper Cub, which has had over 30,000 variants built, the PA-24 Comanche, the PA-28 Cherokee, and the PA-34 Seneca, each featuring piston-powered engines.

Piper M700 Fury rendering

Photo: Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft has also produced several turboprop-powered aircraft. The most popular family it currently produces is the M-Class series. A single-engine powers these light aircraft, and it can fit up to six passengers. Early models, like the Malibu, were powered by piston engines. However, newer models, like the M500, M600, and recently certified M700, are powered by turboprop engines. The newest variant is the M700 Fury. This was unveiled to replace the M600. The M700 Fury features a more powerful turboprop engine with an updated avionics system. Deliveries began shortly after it was certified in February 2024. The M700 Fury has the following performance measures:

Length

29.7 feet

Height

11.5 feet

Wingspan

43.2 feet

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

6,000 pounds

Maximum speed

301 knots (346 miles per hour)

Range

1,424 nautical miles (1,638 miles)

Flight ceiling

30,000 feet

4

Pilatus

Aircraft in production: PC-21, PC-12

Another popular turboprop manufacturer is Pilatus Aircraft. The Swiss manufacturer was founded in 1939 and has since produced a wide range of transport aircraft, trainer aircraft, and, most recently, private aviation aircraft. This includes its newest development, the PC-24 light business jet that can take off on short, unpaved runways.

A Pilatus PC-12 flying in the sky.

Photo: Bradley Caslin | Shutterstock

However, the most notable Pilatus aircraft is a turboprop-powered aircraft known as the PC-12. This pressurized and single-engine aircraft was first introduced in 1994. Over 2,000 of these have been built, mostly for use by owner-operators or for cargo operations. Various aircraft are also utilized as air ambulances due to their take-off and runway performance. The newest variant of the PC-12, the PC-12NG, has the following specifications:

Length

47 feet three inches

Height

14 feet

Wingspan

53 feet five inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

10,450 pounds

Cruise speed

285 knots (328 miles per hour)

Range

1,845 nautical miles (2,123 miles)

Flight ceiling

30,000 feet

3

Daher

Aircraft in production: TBM 900 series, Kodiak 100 series, Kodiak 900

The French manufacturer Daher builds several different turboprop aircraft. Its origin can be traced back to 1863, over 160 years ago. However, the company started as a shipping company. Since then, it has moved into the aircraft manufacturing business.

A French-built SOCATA TBM-900 parked on the apron at Idaho Falls Regional Airport.

Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock

It currently produces two single-engine turboprop aircraft, the TBM series, and the Kodiak series. The TBM series was originally developed by Mooney Airplane Company and SOCATA in the late 1980s, and over 1,000 total variants have been built. The Kodiak series is a utility aircraft that has been produced since 2008.

Specification

TBM 900

Kodiak 900

Length

35 feet two inches

34 feet two inches

Height

14 feet three inches

15 feet three inches

Wingspan

42 feet one inch

45 feet

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

7,394 pounds

7,255 pounds

Cruise speed

252 knots (290 miles per hour)

183 knots (211 miles per hour)

Range

1,784 nautical miles (2,053 miles)

1,132 nautical miles (1,303 miles)

Flight ceiling

31,000 feet

25,000 feet

2

Cessna

Aircraft in production: Caravan, Grand Caravan EX, Skycourier

Cessna has been one of the largest producers of general aviation aircraft since it was founded nearly 100 years ago in 1927. It has produced the most popular aircraft of all time, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, which has seen nearly 50,000 variants produced. It is also well-known for its Citation family of aircraft, popular business jets.

A Cessna Grand Caravan Flying in the sky.

Photo: Textron Aviation

The company has also made waves in the turboprop industry. Its most popular turboprop aircraft is the Cessna Caravan. This single-engine, high-wing aircraft features an unpressurized cabin and is used for civil, cargo, and military operations. The newest Cessna turboprop aircraft is the Cessna Skycourier. This larger turboprop aircraft was launched in coordination with FedEx to fit its cargo needs. The newer Skycourier has the following specifications:

Length

55 feet one inch

Height

20 feet eight inches

Wingspan

72 feet three inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

19,000 pounds

Cruise speed

210 knots (240 miles per hour)

Range

920 nautical miles (1,060 miles)

Flight ceiling

25,000 feet

1

Beechcraft

Aircraft in production: King Air, Denali

Another popular turboprop aircraft manufacturer is Beechcraft Corporation. This company was founded in 1932 by Walter Beech. Currently, the aircraft is owned by Textron Aviation, the same company that owns Cessna. Beechcraft has produced a wide variety of aircraft, ranging from single-engine piston aircraft to small-cabin business jets.

Beechcraft King Air on runway

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

The company’s most popular turboprop aircraft is the King Air series. This utility aircraft was first introduced in 1964, and over 3,000 have been produced. Many operators use this aircraft for personal use, although there are cargo variants and military operators as well. The newest and largest variant is the King Air 360ER, which has the following specifications:

Length

46 feet eight inches

Height

14 feet four inches

Wingspan

57 feet eleven inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

16,500 pounds

Cruise speed

303 knots (350 miles per hour)

Range

2,539 nautical miles (2,922 miles)

Flight ceiling

35,000 feet

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