Cessna 206H Stationair (1998-present) vs Piper Cherokee Six 300 (1966-1979)
Head-to-head — specs, at a glance.
Cessna 206H Stationair (1998-present)
The 1998 Cessna 206H marked the **return of the Stationair to production** after the 1986-1997 litigation gap. The 206H carried forward the U206G airframe (3,600 lb gross, double cargo door, fixed gear, 6 seats) but swapped the Continental IO-520 for a **Lycoming IO-540-AC1A5** -- the same 300 HP fuel-injected Lycoming used in the 182S Skylane.
- +Still in active production with 2,000+ delivered; strong factory support
- +Lycoming IO-540 engine more reliable than predecessor Continental IO-520
- +G1000 NXi models (2014+) offer modern WAAS/VNAV/ADS-B capability
- !Useful load reduced 240 lbs vs U206G due to heavier engine and avionics
- !Early steam-gauge models (1998–2004) lack glass cockpit and modern autopilot integration
- !G1000 and GFC 700 systems require specialized repair support
Piper Cherokee Six 300 (1966-1979)
The PA-32-300 Cherokee Six is a six-seat, fixed-gear, low-wing single built from 1966 to 1979 — a stretched, widened Cherokee with a 300 hp fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 on the nose and a 3,400 lb gross weight. It is the airplane that earned the Cherokee Six its reputation as the "poor man's Bonanza": a genuinely large cabin, an optional double cargo door, and a useful load over 1,600 lb, at a fraction of a Beechcraft A36's price.
- +Six-seat cabin with 1,600+ lb useful load
- +Proven, widely-supported Lycoming IO-540 engine
- +Fixed gear and simple construction mean lower maintenance complexity
- !Wing spar life limits and inspection requirements dominate valuation
- !16 GPH fuel burn limits economics for frequent flying
- !Low-wing design restricts backcountry visibility and ground clearance
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