Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Cessna Citation Sovereign vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Gulfstream G280 vs Gulfstream G400
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin‑turboprop business aircraft, typically seating about 7–9 passengers, with roughly 1,500–1,800 nautical miles of range depending on load and reserves. The Beechcraft King Air Denali is a newer single‑engine turboprop positioned above utility turboprops, generally expected to carry about 6–9 passengers with an advertised range around 1,600 nautical miles. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a rugged single‑engine utility turboprop optimized for short/rough fields, commonly configured for 9–14 passengers, with range typically around 900–1,200 nautical miles. Stepping into jets, the Cessna Citation Sovereign+ is a super‑midsize business jet, usually 8–12 passengers, with about 2,800–3,200 nautical miles of range. The Gulfstream G280 is also super‑midsize, typically 8–10 passengers, with approximately 3,600 nautical miles of range. The Gulfstream G400 is a large‑cabin jet, generally 12–16 passengers, designed for longer missions at roughly 4,000+ nautical miles.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Cessna Citation Sovereign+ | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Gulfstream G280 | Gulfstream G400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.08 | $ 6.02 | $ 3.15 | $ 6.57 | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | VFR | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | GE® Aerospace | Cessna Citation | Cessna | Gulfstream | Gulfstream |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir Denali | Sovereign + | Grand Caravan EX | G280 | G400 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | — |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1600 | 3138 | 964 | 3600 | 4200 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.82 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | — |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3280 | 12790 | 3332 | 15550 | 30650 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,111 | $ 2,699 | $ 614 | $ 3,168 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G5000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Gulfstream PlaneView (Pro Line Fusion) | Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 285 | 458 | 195 | 481 | 539 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,150,000 | $19,730,000 | $2,695,000 | $24,900,000 | 34500000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | 1 Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | — | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 5 | 9.3 | Un-Pressurized | 9.2 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | Galley | No | Galley | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 11065 | 25230 | — | 25000 | — |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | No | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | FWD | — | FWD | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 5800 | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Model | PT6A-52 | Catalyst™ | PW306D | PT6A-140 | HTF7250G | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | — | 6000 | 4000 | On-Condition | — |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | — | 867 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | — | ISA + 16 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 17 | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | 1700 | 335 | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 5907 | — | 7624 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 14.86 | 63.5 | 41.6 | 66.9 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 54.3 | 72.4 | 52.1 | 63 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 6.9 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 6.3 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | 25.3 | 16.8 | 25.9 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 4.65 | 20.4 | 15.1 | 21.4 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | — | 5.4 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | 17.4 | — | 17.7 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 48 | 35 | 32 | 154 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | 0.7 | — | 0.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 100 | — | — | — |