Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Piper M600 Sls
By category, the Beechcraft King Air 260 is a pressurized twin‑engine turboprop typically positioned as a light/cabin‑class utility and corporate aircraft, valued for redundancy and short‑field flexibility. The Beechcraft King Air Denali is a newer, larger single‑engine turboprop aimed at the high‑end business segment, competing more directly with fast, premium singles. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop optimized for speed and owner‑pilots, while the Piper M600 SLS is also a high‑performance single but generally oriented toward a more accessible, automation‑heavy owner‑flown experience. On range, the TBM 960 and Denali are typically marketed in the longer‑range business‑single class, often ahead of the M600 SLS, which is solidly mid‑to‑long range for its segment. The King Air 260’s range is competitive for a light twin but is usually discussed alongside its payload, runway performance, and twin‑engine mission flexibility rather than headline maximum range. For passenger capacity, the King Air 260 usually carries the most in typical layouts, with space for roughly 6–9 depending on configuration. Denali and TBM 960 commonly seat about 4–6 passengers plus pilot, while the M600 SLS is generally similar, often around 4–5 passengers plus pilot.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Daher TBM 960 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.08 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | GE® Aerospace | Daher TBM | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir Denali | TBM 960 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1600 | 1730 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3280 | 2908 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,111 | $ 744 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 285 | 330 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,150,000 | $4,450,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | 1 Flushing | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 5 | 6.2 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | — | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 11065 | 14390 | 12600 |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | Catalyst™ | TBM 960 | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | — | 3500 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | — | 850 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 14.86 | 35.3 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 54.3 | 42.1 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | 13.4 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 4.65 | — | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 12.6 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 48 | — | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | 165 |