Beechcraft Baron G58 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna 172 Skyhawk
The Cessna Skyhawk is a simple single‑engine piston trainer and personal aircraft, best suited to short regional trips and basic transportation. It typically carries four people including the pilot and offers the shortest range of the three, generally in the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles depending on fuel, payload, and speed. The Beechcraft Baron G58 is a twin‑engine piston aircraft positioned a step up in performance and redundancy for owner‑pilots and small business travel. It commonly seats about five to six occupants (including pilot, depending on configuration) and provides longer range than the Skyhawk, often around the 1,000‑nautical‑mile class with appropriate reserves and loading. The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is a pressurized twin‑turboprop business aircraft in a higher category altogether, designed for faster, higher‑altitude, all‑weather capability and professional operations. It typically accommodates roughly six to nine passengers plus crew (interior dependent) and delivers the greatest range—often on the order of 1,500 to 2,000+ nautical miles—making it the most capable option for longer missions with more people and baggage.
| Spec | Beechcraft Baron G58 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Cessna Skyhawk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.72 | $ 4.37 | $ 0.95 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 4 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Cessna |
| Aircraft Name | Baron G58 | KingAir 350ER | 172 Skyhawk |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1480 | 2338 | 640 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.29 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.24 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1450 | 6585 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 347 | $ 1,324 | $ 118 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 202 | 303 | 124 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $1,495,000 | $8,750,000 | $415,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 4 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | — |
| Lavatory | — | Yes (Belted Optional) | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Optional | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.5 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Center | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | No | Yes | No |
| Model | IO-550-C | PT6A-60A | IO-360-L2A |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 3600 | 2000 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | 12 |
| Horsepower | 300 | 1050 | 200 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 194 | 775 | 42 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 29.9 | 46.7 | 27.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 37.9 | 57.9 | 36.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 19.5 | 11.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.8 | 14.4 | 9 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 150 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 46 | 71 | 30 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 19.5 | — |