While there are faster single-engine propeller aircraft than the Cessna Grand Caravan, they’re either not yet available or their production has been completed. That’s why we’re listing this aircraft as one of the fastest single-engine planes you can buy new.
Although the Grand Caravan has just a 186-knot (or 214 mph) maximum cruise speed, it beats the other aircraft in this list with its massive capacity, which can seat as many as 14 passengers or 3,305 pounds of useful load. You can also go for the Grand Caravan EX, which uses a more powerful variant of the PT6 turboprop engine to carry 200 lbs more, but at the price of one knot off the maximum cruise speed and about 100 nm less range. It’s also unpressurized, so its ceiling is just 25,000 feet.
Nevertheless, the Grand Caravan is the most affordable new plane on our list, with a starting price of just $2.2 million. At this price, you can buy two Cessnas instead of one PC-12 NGX and have a little left over for a smaller, very light jet.
If you have $5 million burning a hole in your pocket, you can pick any of these planes to start flying quickly around the country. They’re quick, can comfortably seat a family, and have enough payload left for all your weekend luggage and then some.
