Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls
Category-wise, the Beechcraft King Air 260, King Air 360, and King Air 360ER are twin‑engine pressurized turboprops aimed at corporate and utility missions; the Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine utility turboprop optimized for short/rough-field and high-volume hauling; the Daher TBM 960, Pilatus PC‑12 NGX, Piper M500, and Piper M600 SLS are single‑engine pressurized turboprops focused on owner‑pilot business travel, with the PC‑12 also straddling business and utility roles. Range generally separates them into tiers: the M500 and King Air 260 tend to be in the mid-range class; the King Air 360 typically goes farther than the 260; the 360ER pushes into long-range turboprop territory and is usually the longest-legged of the King Airs. Among singles, the TBM 960 is typically longest-range and fastest, the PC‑12 NGX is long-range but often optimized for payload/flexibility, and the M600 SLS usually exceeds the M500. The Grand Caravan EX is typically shorter-range than these pressurized business singles and the King Air 360/360ER. Passenger capacity also differs: King Air variants commonly seat around 7–9 in executive layouts; TBM/M500/M600 typically 4–6; PC‑12 often 6–9 depending on configuration; Grand Caravan EX can carry the most, commonly up to around 9–14 depending on interior.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.20 | $ 4.37 | $ 3.15 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Cessna | Daher TBM | Pilatus | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350i | KingAir 350ER | Grand Caravan EX | TBM 960 | PC-12 NGX | M500 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1560 | 2338 | 964 | 1730 | 1803 | 1000 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | — | 9 | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 5145 | 6585 | 3332 | 2908 | — | 1698 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,311 | $ 1,324 | $ 614 | $ 744 | $ 793 | $ 579 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 312 | 303 | 195 | 330 | 290 | 260 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $7,650,000 | $8,750,000 | $2,695,000 | $4,450,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | — | — | Turbo Prop | — | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Optional | Yes (Belted Optional) | No | No | Optional | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | — | 9 | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Optional | Refreshment Center | No | — | No | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — | — | 14390 | 13100 | 12600 | 12600 |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD | — | MID | — | MID | MID |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Optional | Yes | — | Yes | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8244 | 8644 |
| Engine | ||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | PT6A-60A | PT6A-140 | TBM 960 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3600 | 4000 | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 1050 | 867 | 850 | 1200 | 500 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 539 | 775 | 335 | — | — | 170 | 260 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | — | 402 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 46.7 | 41.6 | 35.3 | 47.25 | 29.6 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 57.9 | 52.1 | 42.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 16.8 | 13.4 | 16.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 15.1 | — | 14 | 11.3 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — | 4.25 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 19.5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | 71 | 32 | — | 40 | 20 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | 123 | — | 165 | 165 |