AIR.ONE

Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Piaggio Avanti Evo

The Beechcraft King Air 260 and Piaggio Avanti EVO are pressurized twin‑turboprop business aircraft, while the Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine utility turboprop optimized for rugged, short-field and cargo-heavy missions. In range terms, the Avanti EVO generally leads the group, offering the longest typical cruise range among these three, with the King Air 260 close behind; the Grand Caravan EX is usually the shortest‑ranged of the trio, reflecting its role as a regional workhorse rather than a long cross-country executive platform. For passenger capacity, the Grand Caravan EX often carries the most in high-density configurations (commonly around 9–14 depending on layout and certification), whereas the King Air 260 is typically arranged for roughly 6–9 passengers in executive seating, and the Avanti EVO similarly tends to seat about 7–9 in a corporate cabin. Overall, the Caravan emphasizes simplicity and payload flexibility, the King Air balances comfort with versatility, and the Avanti prioritizes speed and longer legs with a distinctive, efficient aerodynamic design.

SpecBeechcraft King Air 260Cessna Grand Caravan EXPiaggio Avanti EVO
Summary
Cockpit222
DOC / nm$ 4.30$ 3.15
Min Crew111
Total Seats8108
Flight RulesIFRVFRIFR
ManufacturerBeechcraftCessnaPiaggio
Aircraft NameKingAir 250Grand Caravan EXAvanti EVO
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)14209641530
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.72$ 0.39
Max Cabin Seats8127
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDVERIFIEDUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)376033323775
Standard Cabin Seats686
Direct Operating Cost$ 1,333$ 614
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Rockwell Collins Pro Line FusionGarmin G1000 NXiRockwell Collins Pro Line 21
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)310195400
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$6,450,000$2,695,000$ 7,695,000
Cabin
Cockpit222
Lavatory1 FlushingNoNo
Min Crew111
Total Seats8108
Max Cabin Seats8127
Lavatory LocationAFT
Cabin Pressure (psi)6.5Un-Pressurized9
Galley / RefreshmentNoNoNo
Standard Cabin Seats686
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)1529324000
Cargo DoorYes
Max Cabin Altitude (ft)6600
Engine
FADECYesYesYes
ModelPT6A-52PT6A-140PT6A–66B
TBO (hrs)360040003600
Horsepower850867850
Flat RatingISA + 37ISA + 24ISA + 28
No. of Engines112
Fuel Capacity (gal)544335
Fuel Burn (gph)100
Dimensions
Length (ft)43.841.647.3
Wingspan (ft)57.952.147.1
Cabin Width (ft)4.55.46.1
Cabin Height (ft)4.84.55.8
Cabin Length (ft)16.716.814.9
Overall Height (ft)14.815.113.1
Cabin Width - Floor (ft)4.13.5
Cabin Length - Seating (ft)16.7
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)553235.2