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Comparing A350-900, 787-9, PA-38 Tomahawk, 172 Skyhawk. Dimensions in metres.
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| Reference detail | Airbus A350-900 | Boeing 787-9 | Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk | Cessna 172 Skyhawk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reference speedkt | 488 kt | 488 kt | 89 kt | 124 kt |
| Reference rangekm | 15,400 km | 15,370 km | 852 km | 1,185 km |
| Reference capacityseats / occupants | 440 seats / occupants | 420 seats / occupants | 2 seats / occupants | 4 seats / occupants |
| Wingspanm | 64.75 m | 60.12 m | 10.36 m | 11 m |
| Lengthm | 66.8 m | 62.81 m | 7.06 m | 8.28 m |
| Engines | 2 turbofans | 2 turbofans | 1 Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine (112 hp) | 1 piston engine |
| Manufacturer | Airbus | Boeing | Piper | Cessna |
| Aircraft role | Long-haul airliner | Long-haul airliner | Two-seat trainer | Light piston aircraft |
Speed uses each model’s cited cruise or maximum figure and stays in knots; range stays in kilometres. Speed and range describe separate conditions. Capacity uses published maximum/reference figures, including pilots in light aircraft; airline layouts vary. These are reference figures, not flight-planning data.
Sources and reference conditions for these aircraft
- Airbus A350-900: Airbus A350 facts and figures (August 2022) (opens in a new tab)
A350-900 reference: 15,400 km published range; maximum 440 seats. Cruise Mach 0.85 from Airbus's A350-900 specifications, converted to reference knots.
- Boeing 787-9: Boeing 787 specifications and airport planning (opens in a new tab)
787-9: up to 15,370 km in Boeing's current family table. 420 seats is the FAA exit-limit reference in Boeing 787 Airport Planning Rev P, not the typical two-class layout. Cruise Mach 0.85 converted to reference knots.
- Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk: Piper PA-38-112 Pilot's Operating Handbook, Report 2126 (public mirror) (opens in a new tab)
Piper's worked example gives 88.5 KTAS, rounded to 89 kt, at 65% power, best-economy mixture, 3,300 ft pressure altitude and +3°C (printed pp. 5-5 to 5-7). Figure 5-25 gives 460 nautical miles, converted to 852 km, with a 45-minute reserve at 55% power and 30 US gallons usable. The range chart uses 1,670 lb and no wind. Dimensions follow Figure 1-1: 34 ft span and 23 ft 2 in length. Capacity includes the pilot. Game reference figures are approximate and are not flight-planning data. Speed and range are separate performance points.
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk: Textron Aviation Cessna Skyhawk (opens in a new tab)
Maximum cruise 124 KTAS; maximum range 1,185 km; maximum four occupants including pilot.
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