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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |