Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Kodiak 100 Series Iii vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M600 Sls
Category-wise, the Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin‑engine turboprop optimized for higher cruise speed and redundancy, suited to corporate and regional missions. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX and Daher Kodiak 100 Series III are single‑engine utility turboprops prioritizing rugged, short/rough‑field capability and flexible cargo/passenger use. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a premium single‑engine turboprop combining executive comfort with strong utility performance, while the Piper M600 SLS is a pressurized single‑engine turboprop positioned more as an owner‑flown personal/business aircraft. In range, the PC‑12 NGX generally leads among these singles and is competitive overall, offering long legs for business travel. The King Air 260 also provides solid range with faster block times, though typically not as long‑legged as the PC‑12 in many configurations. The M600 SLS offers respectable mid‑to‑long range for its class. The Grand Caravan EX and Kodiak 100 Series III usually trade range for payload and STOL/rough‑field focus, tending toward shorter typical legs. For passenger capacity, the Grand Caravan EX commonly seats the most (often up to around 14), the Kodiak typically follows (around 10), and the King Air 260 and PC‑12 NGX usually operate around 6–9 in executive layouts. The M600 SLS is typically 4–6.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 3.15 | $ 2.78 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | Grand Caravan EX | PC-12 NGX | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 964 | 1803 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3332 | — | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 614 | $ 793 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 195 | 290 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $2,695,000 | $5,350,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | Optional | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 13100 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-140 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 867 | 1200 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 335 | — | 260 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 41.6 | 47.25 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 16.8 | 16.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 15.1 | 14 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | 4.25 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 32 | 40 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 165 |