Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Embraer Phenom 300e vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Beechcraft King Air 260 and 360 are twin‑turboprop cabin aircraft suited to short-to-medium missions, with typical ranges around 1,700–1,800 nautical miles depending on load, and practical seating commonly 6–9 passengers. The King Air 360 is the more capable and higher-comfort variant, generally offering a modest range increase and stronger “hot and high”/weight performance than the 260. The Beechcraft King Air Denali is a newer, larger single‑engine turboprop in the same utility-to-executive category, aimed at carrying roughly 6–9 passengers with a projected range around 1,600 nautical miles. The Embraer Phenom 300E is a light business jet, typically carrying 6–8 passengers, and offers longer legs than the turboprops at roughly about 2,000 nautical miles plus, with higher cruise speed. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet optimized for versatility and rough/short-field access, usually seating 6–10 passengers, with range broadly around 2,000 nautical miles depending on configuration and reserves. Overall, the King Airs and Denali emphasize field performance and efficiency, while the Phenom 300E and PC‑24 emphasize jet speed and longer stage lengths, with the PC‑24 leaning most toward mission flexibility.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Embraer Phenom 300E | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.20 | $ 4.08 | $ 3.88 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | GE® Aerospace | Embraer | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350i | KingAir Denali | Phenom 300E | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1560 | 1600 | 2,010 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 5145 | 3280 | 6914 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,311 | $ 1,111 | $ 1,758 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Prodigy Touch (G3000) | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 312 | 285 | 464 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $7,650,000 | $4,150,000 | $9,650,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Optional | 1 Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | AFT | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Optional | No | Galley | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 11065 | 25560 | 23500 |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | FWD | FWD |
| Crew Rest | — | — | — | No | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | — | No | No |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | Catalyst™ | Canada PW535E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | — | 5000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | — | ISA + 15 | ISA + 23 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 539 | — | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | — | 3360 | 3435 |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | — | — | 757 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 14.86 | 51.2 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 54.3 | 52.16 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 12.6 | 17.2 | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 4.65 | 16.75 | 17.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 12.6 | 14.8 | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | 48 | 10 | 90 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | — | 0.3 | Flat Floor |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 74 | — |