Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
In category, the Beechcraft King Air 260 and 360 are pressurized, twin‑engine turboprops aimed at corporate and utility missions, with the 360 positioned as the more premium, higher‑performance variant. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a pressurized, single‑engine turboprop competing in the high‑end executive/utility space, while the Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a rugged, single‑engine turboprop optimized for short‑field, cargo, and regional shuttle work rather than fast executive travel. For range, the PC‑12 NGX and King Air 360 generally sit at the top of this group, with typical IFR ranges around the mid‑to‑upper 1,000‑nautical‑mile class depending on payload and reserves. The King Air 260 is usually slightly behind the 360 but still in a similar general bracket. The Grand Caravan EX tends to have the shortest range among these four, commonly around the ~900–1,000‑nautical‑mile class, again varying with load and conditions. Passenger capacity typically runs about 6–9 for the King Air 260/360 and PC‑12 in executive layouts, while the Grand Caravan EX commonly seats up to about 9 passengers in commuter configuration, with strong cargo flexibility.
| 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 |