Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Cessna Citation M2 vs Embraer Phenom 100ev vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
By category, the Beechcraft King Air 260 and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are pressurized twin‑turboprop (King Air) and single‑turboprop (PC‑12) utility aircraft, optimized for shorter runways and flexible regional missions. The Beechcraft King Air Denali is a newer-generation single‑engine turboprop positioned between traditional turboprops and light jets for speed and comfort. The Cessna Citation M2 and Embraer Phenom 100EV are very light jets, typically chosen for faster point‑to‑point trips at higher cruise altitudes. On range, the turboprops generally cover roughly 1,500–1,800 nautical miles, with the PC‑12 NGX commonly in the ~1,800 nm class and the King Air 260 around the mid‑1,700 nm range. Denali is expected to be competitive in this band as well (final numbers vary by certification and options). The very light jets typically land in a similar but often slightly shorter practical range window: the Citation M2 is around ~1,550 nm, while the Phenom 100EV is around ~1,100–1,200 nm. For passenger capacity, typical seating is about 6–9 for King Air 260 and PC‑12 NGX, about 6–8 for Denali, and about 4–7 for the M2 and Phenom 100EV depending on layout.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Cessna Citation M2 | Embraer Phenom 100EV | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.08 | $ 3.45 | $ 2.84 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | GE® Aerospace | Cessna Citation | Embraer | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir Denali | M2 | Phenom 100EV | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1600 | 1400 | 1,178 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3280 | 3810 | 3451 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,111 | $ 1,395 | $ 1,152 | $ 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 | 285 | 404 | 406 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,150,000 | $5,150,000 | $4,250,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | 1 Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Flushing | Optional |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | AFT | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 5 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | No | No | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 11065 | 22027 | 21280 | 13100 |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | No | No | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | Catalyst™ | FJ44-1AP-21 | PW617F1-E | PT6E-67XP |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | — | 3500 | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | — | — | 1200 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | — | ISA + 7 | ISA + 8 | ISA + 35 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | 492 | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 1965 | 1730 | — |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | — | 516 | 543 | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 14.86 | 42.6 | 42.1 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 54.3 | 47.3 | 40.4 | 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 | 12.6 | 11 | 11 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 4.65 | 14 | 14.3 | 14 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | 8.8 | 9 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 48 | — | 10 | 40 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | 0.4 | 0.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 46 | 60 | — |