Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Piper M350
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a pressurized, twin‑engine turboprop positioned as a fast, versatile business and utility aircraft. It typically offers a practical range around 1,700–2,000 nautical miles depending on load and reserves, and commonly seats about 6–9 passengers in executive layouts. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop optimized for rugged, short-field and high‑payload regional work; its range is generally about 900–1,200 nautical miles, and it commonly carries 9–14 passengers (with higher-density commuter configurations possible). The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a pressurized, twin‑engine turboprop focused on high cruise speed and efficiency, often delivering roughly 1,700–2,000 nautical miles of range and seating about 6–8 passengers. The Piper M350 is a pressurized, single‑engine piston aircraft aimed at owner‑pilots and personal/business travel; it typically ranges about 1,000–1,300 nautical miles and seats up to 6, with 4–5 passengers plus pilot being common in real-world missions.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Piper M350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 3.15 | — | $ 1.34 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Piaggio | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | Grand Caravan EX | Avanti EVO | M350 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 964 | 1530 | 1343 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.39 | — | $ 0.22 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 7 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 3332 | 3775 | 1308 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 614 | — | $ 285 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 195 | 400 | 213 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $2,695,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $1,195,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | No | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 7 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | 9 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | No | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 24000 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 6600 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-140 | PT6A–66B | TIO-540-AE2A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 | 3600 | 2000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 867 | 850 | 350 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 24 | ISA + 28 | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 335 | — | 120 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 100 | — |
| Fuel Type | — | — | — | AvGas |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | — | 12 |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 41.6 | 47.3 | 29 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 | 47.1 | 43 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 16.8 | 14.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 15.1 | 13.1 | 11.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | 3.5 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 32 | 35.2 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 13 |