Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Citation M2 vs Embraer Phenom 300e vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Beechcraft King Air 260, King Air 360ER, and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are pressurized turboprops, generally optimized for shorter runways, lower operating costs, and versatile regional missions, while the Cessna Citation M2 and Embraer Phenom 300E are light jets focused on higher cruise speeds and smoother high-altitude travel. In range, the King Air 360ER is the standout, designed for extended missions (roughly 2,000+ nautical miles depending on reserves and payload). The PC-12 NGX and King Air 260 typically sit in the mid-to-upper 1,000-nautical-mile class for practical trip planning. Among the jets, the Phenom 300E usually offers the longest legs (about 2,000 nautical miles class), while the Citation M2 is shorter range (around 1,200–1,500 nautical miles class). For passenger capacity, the Citation M2 is typically configured for about 5–7 passengers. The Phenom 300E commonly seats about 6–9. The King Air 260 and 360ER are often configured around 6–9, and the PC-12 NGX commonly seats 6–10, with flexibility depending on interior layout.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Cessna Citation M2 | Embraer Phenom 300E | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.37 | $ 3.45 | $ 3.88 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Cessna Citation | Embraer | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350ER | M2 | Phenom 300E | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 2338 | 1400 | 2,010 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 6585 | 3810 | 6914 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,324 | $ 1,395 | $ 1,758 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Prodigy Touch (G3000) | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 303 | 404 | 464 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $8,750,000 | $5,150,000 | $9,650,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Yes (Belted Optional) | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing | Optional |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | AFT | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 9.4 | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Center | No | Galley | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 22027 | 25560 | 13100 |
| Cargo Door | — | Optional | — | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | FWD | — |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | No | No | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | FJ44-1AP-21 | Canada PW535E1 | PT6E-67XP |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3500 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | — | — | 1200 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 7 | ISA + 15 | ISA + 35 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 775 | 492 | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 1965 | 3360 | — |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | — | 516 | 757 | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 42.6 | 51.2 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 47.3 | 52.16 | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 11 | 17.2 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14 | 16.75 | 14 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 8.8 | 14.8 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | — | 10 | 40 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | 0.4 | 0.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 46 | 74 | — |