Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Cessna Caravan vs Daher Kodiak 100 Series Iii vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
In category, the Beechcraft King Air 260 is a pressurized twin‑engine turboprop suited to corporate and special‑mission work, while the Beechcraft King Air Denali is a newer‑generation, pressurized single‑engine turboprop positioned as a higher‑speed, longer‑leg alternative to utility singles. The Cessna Caravan and Daher Kodiak 100 Series III are unpressurized single‑engine utility/STOL turboprops optimized for short, rough strips and high payload flexibility. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a pressurized single‑engine turboprop that blends executive comfort with strong utility capability and typically sits at the top end of this group for cabin refinement and speed. For range, the PC‑12 NGX and Denali generally target longer nonstop legs than Caravan and Kodiak, which prioritize rugged field performance over cruise efficiency; the King Air 260 also offers solid range but often trades some efficiency for twin‑engine performance and redundancy. For passenger capacity, Caravan and Kodiak commonly carry the most in commuter layouts (often up to around 9–10), while King Air 260, Denali, and PC‑12 NGX typically seat about 6–9 in executive configurations.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Cessna Caravan | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.08 | $ 3.07 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | GE® Aerospace | Cessna | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir Denali | Caravan | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1600 | 1070 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3280 | 3305 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,111 | $ 571 | $ 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 | 285 | 186 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,150,000 | $2,355,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | 1 Flushing | No | Optional |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 5 | Un-Pressurized | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | No | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 11065 | — | 13100 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | Catalyst™ | PT6A-114A | PT6E-67XP |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | — | 3600 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | 675 | 1200 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | — | ISA + 31 | ISA + 35 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 14.86 | 37.6 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 54.3 | 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 | 12.6 | 12.8 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 4.65 | 15 | 14 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 48 | 32 | 40 |