Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Caravan

The Beechcraft King Air 260, King Air 360, and King Air 360ER are twin‑engine pressurized turboprops aimed at faster, higher‑altitude business and utility missions, while the Cessna Caravan is a single‑engine turboprop optimized for simpler, lower‑cost regional, cargo, and rugged short‑field operations. In category terms, the King Airs sit in the light twin‑turboprop business/utility class with cabin comfort and redundancy; the Caravan is a high‑utility single with strong payload flexibility but less speed and altitude capability. For range, the King Air 260 typically covers around 1,700 nautical miles, the King Air 360 is in a similar ballpark at roughly 1,800 nautical miles depending on configuration, and the King Air 360ER extends that to roughly 2,400 nautical miles, making it the long‑leg option for surveillance, special missions, or fewer stops. The Caravan generally offers shorter legs, commonly around 900–1,200 nautical miles depending on variant and load. Passenger capacity is broadly comparable in typical layouts: King Airs usually seat about 8–9 passengers, while the Caravan commonly seats about 9 passengers in commuter configuration (or can be configured for cargo).