Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Cessna Caravan vs Daher Tbm 910 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M600 Sls
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin‑engine turboprop positioned as a fast, high‑redundancy corporate and special‑mission aircraft. It typically carries about 6–9 passengers depending on layout, with a practical range roughly in the 1,500–1,700 nm class. The Cessna Caravan is a single‑engine utility turboprop optimized for rugged, short‑field, and cargo/commuter work; it commonly seats 9–14 in passenger configurations and generally offers shorter range, around 900–1,200 nm depending on variant and load. The Daher TBM 910 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop aimed at owner‑pilots, usually seating 4–6 with range around 1,500–1,700 nm. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a premium single‑engine turboprop with a large cabin and strong payload flexibility; it often seats 6–9 and typically ranges about 1,500–1,800 nm. The Piper M600 SLS is a lower‑capacity, owner‑flown single‑engine turboprop; it generally seats up to 5–6 with range around 1,200–1,400 nm.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Cessna Caravan | Daher TBM 910 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 3.07 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Daher TBM | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | Caravan | TBM 910 | PC-12 NGX | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1070 | 1730 | 1803 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3305 | 2908 | — | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 571 | $ 744 | $ 793 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 186 | 330 | 290 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $2,355,000 | $4,250,000 | $5,350,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | No | Optional | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | Refreshment Centre | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 14390 | 13100 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-114A | PT6A-66D | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 675 | 850 | 1200 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 31 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | 291 | — | 260 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 37 | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 37.6 | 35.3 | 47.25 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 | 42.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 12.8 | 13.4 | 16.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 15 | 14.3 | 14 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — | 4.25 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 32 | 30 | 40 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | — | 165 |