Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Skycourier vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Beechcraft King Air 260, King Air 360, and King Air 360ER are pressurized twin‑turboprop business aircraft in the same family, aimed at corporate and owner-operator missions. The King Air 260 is the lighter, shorter‑range option (roughly in the 1,500–1,800 nm class) and typically seats about 6–9 passengers depending on cabin layout. The King Air 360 is a higher‑end variant with similar passenger counts (commonly 6–9) and comparable or slightly improved practical range versus the 260, optimized for comfort and avionics. The King Air 360ER is the long‑range member of the trio, trading some payload flexibility for significantly more reach (around the 2,000+ nm class) while keeping a similar cabin size and seating norms. The Cessna SkyCourier is a utility turboprop designed primarily for cargo and short‑haul commuter work rather than executive travel; it has a shorter typical range (about 900–1,200 nm) and in passenger configuration is commonly around 19 seats. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a high‑speed, pressurized twin‑turboprop positioned as a business aircraft; it generally carries about 6–9 passengers and offers business-jet-like cruise with range commonly around 1,500–1,800 nm.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Cessna SkyCourier | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.20 | $ 4.37 | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Cessna | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350i | KingAir 350ER | SkyCourier | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In Development | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1560 | 2338 | 900 | 1530 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.55 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 5145 | 6585 | — | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,311 | $ 1,324 | — | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Gyro / Analog | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 312 | 303 | 200 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $7,650,000 | $8,750,000 | $7,375,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Optional | Yes (Belted Optional) | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Optional | Refreshment Center | No | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — | — | 24000 |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Optional | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | PT6A-60A | PT6A-65SC | PT6A–66B |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3600 | 6000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 1050 | 1100 | 850 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 10 | — | ISA + 28 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 539 | 775 | — | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 46.7 | 54.9 | 47.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 57.9 | 72 | 47.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | — | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | — | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 19.5 | — | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 19.8 | 13.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 19.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | 71 | — | 35.2 |