Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Daher Tbm 910 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Beechcraft King Air 260 and the single‑engine Beechcraft King Air Denali sit in the “premium turboprop” category: the 260 is a twin‑engine utility/business turboprop with typical IFR range around 1,500–1,700 nm and usually seats 6–9 passengers, while the Denali is a higher‑end single‑engine turboprop aimed at TBM/PC‑12 class missions with roughly similar or slightly longer range (about 1,600–1,800 nm) and typically 6–9 seats. The Daher TBM 910 and TBM 960 are fast single‑engine business turboprops. Both are typically flown with 4–6 passengers (up to about 6–7 depending on configuration) and have ranges generally around 1,600–1,730 nm, with the 960 emphasizing improved efficiency and cabin refinement. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a versatile single‑engine turboprop in the same broad category but with a larger cabin, commonly seating 6–9 and offering about 1,700–1,800 nm range. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet, not a turboprop, trading turboprop runway flexibility for jet speed; it typically carries 6–10 passengers with roughly 1,800–2,000 nm range depending on payload and reserves.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Daher TBM 910 | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.08 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | GE® Aerospace | Daher TBM | Daher TBM | Pilatus | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir Denali | TBM 910 | TBM 960 | PC-12 NGX | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1600 | 1730 | 1730 | 1803 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | — | 9 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3280 | 2908 | 2908 | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,111 | $ 744 | $ 744 | $ 793 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 285 | 330 | 330 | 290 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,150,000 | $4,250,000 | $4,450,000 | $5,350,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | — | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | 1 Flushing | No | No | Optional | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | — | 9 | 10 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | — | FWD | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 5 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | Refreshment Centre | — | No | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 11065 | 14390 | 14390 | 13100 | 23500 |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | MID | — | FWD |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Crew Rest | — | — | — | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | — | — | — | No |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | Catalyst™ | PT6A-66D | TBM 960 | PT6E-67XP | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | — | 3500 | 3500 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | 850 | 850 | 1200 | — |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 23 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | 291 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 37 | — | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | — | — | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 14.86 | 35.3 | 35.3 | 47.25 | 52.2 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 54.3 | 42.1 | 42.1 | 53.33 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 16.9 | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 4.65 | 14.3 | — | 14 | 17.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — | 4.25 | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | — | — | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 48 | 30 | — | 40 | 90 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | 123 | — | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | — | — | — | Flat Floor |