Buyers Guide 2021: Behind the Scenes

The Epic E1000 GX was certified in July 2021. Epic Aircraft

One of the most popular tools the FLYING has provided to its audience over the years is our annual Buyers Guide—and this year we’ve released a snapshot of that data in our November issue.

But what goes into the numbers we publish?

Beginning in the summer, we solicit information from each of the selected manufacturers we feature, and obtain the most current available data from each in a few key categories.

Sounds simple, right?

By the Numbers

In fact, the figures we publish are a bit of a moving target, and require some insight into interpreting correctly.

Case in point: load.

We have to make a decision regarding the data we print because of the limited space we have in the pages of the physical magazine. We take the most commonly reported figure (in 2021, “useful load”) and build the table around that.

We added a series of footnotes to illuminate the variations from that figure—and normally this takes care of things. However, after an error in the production process, we had those footnotes slip off of the visible portion of the table in the Turboprops and Jets sections. So, to correct that, we’re reprinting the tables in their full format here.

Turboprops

AIRCRAFT MAKE/MODEL	MFG BASE PRICE*	ENGINE	SEATS	MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT	LOAD	FUEL BURN	MAX SPEED	MAX RANGE	STALL SPEED	TAKEOFF DISTANCE	LANDING DISTANCE
Pilatus PC-12 NGX	$4,480,000	P+W PT6E-67XP	10 + 1	10,450 lb.	2,235 lb. (6)	69 GPH	290 KTAS	1,803 NM	67 KIAS	2,485 ft. (2)	2,170 ft. (2)
Daher Kodiak 100	$2,278,750	P+W PT6A-34	Up to 2 + 8	7,255 lb.	3,530 lb. (5)	48 GPH	183 KTAS	1,132 NM	60 KCAS	1,507 ft. (2)	1,468 ft. (2)
Epic E1000 GX	$3,850,000	P+W PT6A-67A	6	8,000 lb.	1,100 lb. (7)	N/A	333 KTAS	1,560 NM	68 KIAS	2,254 ft. (2)	2,399 ft. (2)
TBM 940	$4,575,004	P+W PT6A-66D	6	7,394 lb.	1,400 lb. (6)	60 GPH @ max cruise	330 KTAS	1,730 NM	65 KCAS	2,380 ft. (2)	2,430 ft. (2)
Piper M600/SLS	$3,112,116	P+W PT6A-42A	6	6,000 lb.	2,400 lb. (5)	40 GPH	274 KTAS	1,658 NM	71 KIAS	2,635 ft. (2)	2,659 ft. (2)
Beechcraft King Air 260	$7,050,000	2 x PT6A-52	9	12,500 lb.	3,760 lb. (5)	125 GPH	310 KTAS	1,720 NM	80 KCAS	1,715 ft. (3)	1,750 ft. (3)
Beechcraft King Air 360	$8,390,000	2 x PT6A-60A	11	15,000 lb.	5,145 lb. (5)	128.8 GPH	312 KTAS	1,806 NM	81 KCAS	3,300 ft. (4)	2,692 ft.

FOOTNOTES: (1) Demonstrated, (2) Over 50’ Obstacle, (3) Ground roll 50 ft., (4) Balanced Field Length, (5) Useful Load, (6) Maximum Payload, (7) Full Fuel Payload

You’ll note that we reported on three different kinds of “load”: useful load, payload, and payload with full fuel. We’d chosen the figure either reported or advertised by the OEM for that column.

For example, we reported the full fuel payload for the Epic E1000 GX, which is 1,100 pounds, with a useful load of 2,238 pounds. Be sure to take a look at both—as well as other performance stats, such as cruise speed, fuel burn, and takeoff and landing distances—when you consider your purchase decision.

And, because of the lead time involved in producing a print version, it’s inevitable that some of those figures will have been updated by the time the pages get to you.

Jets

AIRCRAFT MAKE/MODEL	MFG BASE PRICE*	ENGINE	SEATS	MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT	LOAD	FUEL BURN	MAX SPEED	MAX RANGE	STALL SPEED	TAKEOFF DISTANCE	LANDING DISTANCE
HondaJet Elite S	$5,400,000	2 x GE Honda HF120	1 + 6	10,700 lb.	3,827 lbs. (5)	N/A	422 KTAS	1,437 NM	N/A	3,500 ft.	3,000 ft.
Cirrus Vision Jet G2+	$2.980,000	Williams FJ33-5A	7	6,000 lb.	1,400 lb. (6)	442 PPH	311 KTAS	1,275 NM	60 KCAS	2,036 ft.	1,628 ft. (3)
Embraer Phenom 100EV	$4,250,000	2 x P+W PW617F1-E	6/8	10,703 lb.	1,775 lb. (6)	88 GPH	406 KTAS	1,178 NM	72 KTAS	3,190 ft.	2,430 ft.
Embraer Phenom 300E	$9,650,000	2 x PW535E1	8/11	18,552 lb.	2,637 lb. (6)	124 GPH	464 KTAS	2,010 NM	78 KTAS	3,209 ft.	2,212 ft.
Embraer Praetor 500	$16,995,000	Honeywell HTF7500E	2 + 9	37,567 lb.	2,921 lb. (6)	214 GPH	466 KTAS	3,340 NM	82 KTAS	4,222 ft.	2,086 ft.
Embraer Praetor 600	$20,995,000	Honeywell HTF7500E	2 + 12	42,858 lb.	4,001 lb. (6)	236 GPH	466 KTAS	4,018 NM	85 KTAS	4,717 ft.	2,165 ft.
Pilatus PC-24	$10,700,000	2 x Williams FJ44-4A	1 + 11	18,300 lb.	2,500 lb. (6)	159 GPH	440 KTAS	2,000 NM	82 KCAS	2,930 ft.	2,375 ft. (2)
Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2	$10,750,000	2 x Williams FJ44-4A	10	17,110 lb.	6,950 lb. (5)	1,470 PPH	451 KTAS	2,165 NM	86 KIAS	3,410 ft. (4)	2,940 ft.
Bombardier Challenger 350	$26,700,000	2 x Honeywell HTF7350	10	40,600 lb.	15,950 lb. (5)	N/A	.83 MACH	3,200 NM	N/A	4,835 ft.	2,364 ft.
Cessna Citation Latitude	$19,105,000	2 x PW306D1	9	30,800 lb.	12,394 lb. (5)	1,765 PPH	446 KTAS	2,700 NM	88 KIAS	3,580 ft.	2,480 ft.
Cessna Citation Longitude	$29,265,000	2 x Honeywell HTF7700L	12	39,500 lb.	1,600 lb. (7)	1,937 PPH	483 KTAS	3,500 NM	90 KIAS	4,810 ft.	3,170 ft.
Gulfstream G280	$24,500,000	2 x Honeywell HTF7250G	8-10 + 2	39,600 lb.	4,050 (6)	N/A	0.85 MACH	3,600 NM	N/A	4,750 ft.	3,050 ft.
Gulfstream G500	$48,500,000	2 x P+W PW814GA	up to 19	79,600 lb.	5,250 lb. (6)	N/A	.925 MACH	5,300 NM	N/A	5,300 ft.	2,620 ft.
Gulfstream G600	$58,500,000	2 x P+W PW815GA	up to 19	94,600 lb.	6,540 lb. (6)	N/A	.925 MACH	6,600 NM	N/A	5,700 ft.	2,550 ft.
Dassault Falcon 7X	$53,800,000	3 x P+W PW307A	12 - 16	70,000 lb.	6,000 lbs. (6)	2,210 PPH	.90 MACH	5,950 NM	104 (VREF)	5,710 ft. (4)	2,070 ft.
Dassault Falcon 8X	$60,000,000	3 x P+W PW307D	12 - 16	73,000 lb.	4,900 lbs. (6)	2,240 PPH	.90 MACH	6,450 NM	107 (VREF)	5,880 ft. (4)	3,705 ft. (2)
Bombardier Global 5500	$46,000,000	2 x Rolls-Royce Pearl	up to 16	92,500 lb.	41,889 lb. (5)	N/A	.90 MACH	5,900 NM	N/A	5,340 ft.	2,207 ft.
Bombardier Global 6500	$56,000,000	2 x Rolls-Royce Pearl	up to 17	99,500 lb.	47,520 lb. (5)	N/A	.90 MACH	6,600 NM	N/A	6,145 ft.	2,236 ft.
Bombardier Global 7500	$75,000,000	2 x GE Passport	up to 19	114,850 lb.	53,400 lb. (5)	N/A	.925 MACH	7,700 NM	N/A	5,760 ft.	2,237 ft.

FOOTNOTES: (1) Demonstrated, (2) Over 50’ Obstacle, (3) Ground roll 50 ft., (4) Balanced Field Length, (5) Useful Load, (6) Maximum Payload, (7) Full Fuel Payload

What’s Next

In the future, with our expanded team and the strength of Flying Media Group’s data skillset in the house, we will go to an all-digital format for next year’s Buyers Guide. So, you can look forward to more data from more manufacturers—and better tools to assist you with your buying decision.

This will allow us to keep performance data and specs more current, as information changes.

Sounds exciting? We think so. Stay tuned for more from the team at FLYING!

2021 Buyers Guide Aircraft Buyer's Guide

Julie BoatmanContributor

Based in Maryland, Boatman is an aviation educator and author. She holds an airline transport pilot certificate with Douglas DC-3 and CE510 (Citation Mustang) type ratings. She's a CFI/CFII since 1993, specializing in advanced aircraft and flight instructor development.