Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M600 Sls
By category, the Beechcraft King Air 260 and King Air 360ER are pressurized twin‑turboprop business/utility aircraft; the 360ER emphasizes extended‑range missions. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a pressurized single‑engine turboprop in the high‑end business/utility class, while the Piper M600 SLS is a pressurized single‑engine turboprop aimed at owner‑pilots and lighter executive missions. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a rugged, largely unpressurized single‑engine turboprop optimized for short/rough-field utility, cargo, and regional shuttle work rather than high‑altitude executive travel. On range, the King Air 360ER is generally the longest‑leg option among these, followed by the PC‑12 NGX and then the King Air 260; the M600 SLS is competitive for typical owner‑flown trips but usually trails the PC‑12/360ER. The Grand Caravan EX typically offers the shortest range of the group, trading endurance for payload flexibility and field performance. For passenger capacity, the Grand Caravan EX commonly carries the most in commuter layouts, the King Air 260/360ER and PC‑12 NGX sit in the mid range for executive seating, and the M600 SLS is typically the smallest.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.37 | $ 3.15 | $ 2.78 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Cessna | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350ER | Grand Caravan EX | PC-12 NGX | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 2338 | 964 | 1803 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 6585 | 3332 | — | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,324 | $ 614 | $ 793 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 303 | 195 | 290 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $8,750,000 | $2,695,000 | $5,350,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Yes (Belted Optional) | No | Optional | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Center | No | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — | 13100 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | Optional | Yes | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | PT6A-140 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 4000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 867 | 1200 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 775 | 335 | — | 260 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 41.6 | 47.25 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 52.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 16.8 | 16.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | 15.1 | 14 | 11.3 |
| 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 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | 165 |