Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Beechcraft King Air 260 and 360ER are twin‑turboprop aircraft in the same family: both are typically operated as 6–9 passenger corporate/utility airplanes, but the 360ER is the longer‑range variant, trading some payload flexibility for substantially more endurance than the 260. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop in the owner‑flown/premium personal category; it generally carries about 4–6 passengers in comfort and offers long range for its class, often comparable to or exceeding many light twins depending on loading. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a fast twin‑turboprop positioned between traditional turboprops and light jets; it usually seats 6–9 and emphasizes higher cruise speed with solid mid‑to‑long range. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a large single‑engine turboprop known for utility and cabin volume; it commonly carries 6–9 passengers and delivers long range with excellent payload-range practicality. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light business jet; it typically seats 6–10 and combines jet speed with strong range and flexibility, generally outpacing all the turboprops here on cruise performance while offering competitive mission radius.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Daher TBM 960 | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.37 | $ 2.25 | — | $ 2.78 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Daher TBM | Piaggio | Pilatus | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350ER | TBM 960 | Avanti EVO | PC-12 NGX | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 2338 | 1730 | 1530 | 1803 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.56 | — | $ 0.46 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 6585 | 2908 | 3775 | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,324 | $ 744 | — | $ 793 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 303 | 330 | 400 | 290 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $8,750,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $5,350,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Yes (Belted Optional) | No | No | Optional | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | — | FWD | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 9 | 5.8 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Center | — | No | No | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 14390 | 24000 | 13100 | 23500 |
| Cargo Door | — | Optional | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID | — | — | FWD |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 6600 | — | — |
| Crew Rest | — | — | — | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | — | — | — | No |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | TBM 960 | PT6A–66B | PT6E-67XP | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3500 | 3600 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 850 | 850 | 1200 | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 28 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 23 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 775 | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 100 | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | — | — | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 35.3 | 47.3 | 47.25 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 42.1 | 47.1 | 53.33 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 6.1 | 5 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 13.4 | 14.9 | 16.9 | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | — | 13.1 | 14 | 17.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | 3.5 | 4.25 | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | — | — | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | — | 35.2 | 40 | 90 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | — | — | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | — | — | — | Flat Floor |