Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Embraer Praetor 600
Aircraft can be broadly compared by category, which strongly influences both range and passenger capacity. Regional turboprops and small regional jets are optimized for short to medium routes, typically carrying around 30–90 passengers and serving thinner markets where runway length, operating cost, and frequency matter more than speed. Narrow-body airliners are the workhorses of domestic and short-to-medium international travel, generally seating about 120–240 passengers and offering ranges that can cover most continental routes, with some variants capable of longer “thin” transoceanic missions. Wide-body jets are designed for high-demand long-haul travel, commonly accommodating roughly 250–450+ passengers and flying intercontinental distances, making them suitable for trunk routes and cargo-heavy operations. Business jets prioritize flexibility and speed for smaller groups, often carrying about 6–19 passengers, with range varying from regional hops to true intercontinental capability in larger models. Finally, large cargo aircraft trade seats for volume and payload; their range can be comparable to long-haul passenger wide-bodies, but performance is driven by freight weight and logistics needs rather than cabin capacity.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Embraer Praetor 600 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.20 | $ 4.37 | $ 6.74 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Embraer | Pilatus | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350i | KingAir 350ER | Praetor 600 | PC-12 NGX | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1560 | 2338 | 4018 | 1803 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 5145 | 6585 | — | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,311 | $ 1,324 | $ 3,141 | $ 793 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Honeywell Primus Apex | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 312 | 303 | 542 | 290 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $7,650,000 | $8,750,000 | $20,995,000 | $5,350,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Optional | Yes (Belted Optional) | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | Optional | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | AFT | FWD | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 5.8 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Optional | Refreshment Center | Galley | No | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — | 27140 | 13100 | 23500 |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD | FWD | — | FWD |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Optional | — | Yes | Yes |
| Crew Rest | — | — | — | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | — | No | — | No |
| Connectivity | — | — | — | Gogo AVANCE L5 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 5800 | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | PT6A-60A | HTF7500E | PT6E-67XP | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3600 | On-Condition | 5000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 1050 | — | 1200 | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 18 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 23 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 539 | 775 | 1963 | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | — | 7528 | — | 3435 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 46.7 | 68.1 | 47.25 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 57.9 | 70.5 | 53.33 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 5 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 6 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 24.1 | 16.9 | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 21 | 14 | 17.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.25 | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 21.3 | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | 71 | 45 | 40 | 90 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | — | Flat Floor | — | Flat Floor |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 110 | — | — |