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.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 3.15 | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | Grand Caravan EX | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 964 | 1530 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.39 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3332 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 614 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 195 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $2,695,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 7 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 24000 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-140 | PT6A–66B |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 867 | 850 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 28 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 335 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 41.6 | 47.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 | 47.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 16.8 | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 15.1 | 13.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 32 | 35.2 |