Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Kodiak 100 Series Iii vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
Category-wise, the Beechcraft King Air 260 and King Air 360 are pressurized, twin‑engine turboprops optimized for fast, higher‑altitude business and utility missions; the 360 is the more premium, higher‑gross‑weight variant with typically longer legs and better hot‑and‑high capability. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a pressurized, single‑engine turboprop positioned as a high‑performance “executive utility” aircraft, often matching or exceeding the twins’ real‑world range while trading the redundancy of a second engine for lower operating complexity. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX and Daher Kodiak 100 Series III are generally unpressurized single‑engine utility/STOL types aimed at rugged, short‑field and lower‑altitude regional work; the Caravan emphasizes volume and payload flexibility, while the Kodiak emphasizes backcountry and short/rough strip performance. On range, the PC‑12 NGX and King Air 360 are typically at the top end for this group, with the King Air 260 close behind; the Caravan EX and Kodiak 100 generally have shorter legs, though both can be configured for useful regional sectors. On passenger capacity, typical executive layouts put the King Air 260/360 and PC‑12 around six to nine seats, while the Caravan EX and Kodiak commonly seat nine to ten in commuter configurations.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.20 | $ 3.15 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Cessna | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350i | Grand Caravan EX | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1560 | 964 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 5145 | 3332 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,311 | $ 614 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 312 | 195 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $7,650,000 | $2,695,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Optional | No | Optional |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Optional | No | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — | 13100 |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | PT6A-140 | PT6E-67XP |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 867 | 1200 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 35 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 539 | 335 | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 41.6 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 52.1 | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 16.8 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 15.1 | 14 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | 32 | 40 |