Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Beechcraft King Air 260 and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are pressurized, twin‑engine (King Air) and single‑engine (PC‑12) turboprop business/utility aircraft suited to fast regional travel. Both typically offer roughly 1,500–1,800 nautical miles of range depending on payload and reserves, and commonly carry about 6–9 passengers in executive layouts (with higher maximum seating in commuter configurations). The PC‑12 NGX generally emphasizes single‑engine efficiency and a large cabin/cargo door, while the King Air 260 emphasizes twin‑engine redundancy and strong runway performance. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a rugged, unpressurized single‑engine turboprop optimized for short, unimproved strips and utility work; its range is generally shorter, around 900–1,200 nautical miles, but it can carry more people in high‑density seating, often up to about 9–14 passengers depending on configuration and regulations. The MD Helicopters MD 500E is a light turbine helicopter focused on short‑range missions; range is typically only a few hundred nautical miles, and passenger capacity is usually about 4–5 plus a pilot, trading speed and endurance for vertical access and confined‑area operations.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | MD Helicopters MD 500E | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 3.15 | $ 2.95 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 4 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | MD Helicotpers | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | Grand Caravan EX | MD 500E | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 964 | 258 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3332 | 1483 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 614 | $ 398 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Gyro / Analog | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 195 | 135 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $2,695,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | — | Optional |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 4 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | — | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | — | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — | 13100 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-140 | 250-C20B | PT6E-67XP |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 867 | 420 | 1200 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 24 | — | ISA + 35 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 335 | 64 | — |
| Fuel Type | — | — | JetFuel | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 35 | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 41.6 | 30.9 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 | — | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 | — | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 | — | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 16.8 | — | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 15.1 | 8.7 | 14 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 32 | — | 40 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | — | 26.4 | — |