Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Daher Tbm 910 vs Piper M350 vs Piper M500
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin‑engine turboprop in the light business/utility category, generally offering the most cabin flexibility and payload capability of this group. Typical range is roughly 1,500–1,700 nm depending on reserves and loading, and it commonly seats 6–9 passengers (with configurations that can go higher in utility layouts). The Daher TBM 910 is a single‑engine high‑performance turboprop optimized for speed and efficiency in the owner‑pilot/business category. Its typical range is about 1,500–1,700 nm, and it is usually configured for about 4–6 passengers. The Piper M350 is a pressurized single‑engine piston aircraft in the personal/business category. It generally has the shortest range here, around 1,000–1,300 nm, and typically carries 4–6 occupants. The Piper M500 is a single‑engine turboprop positioned between the M350 and TBM in performance. Typical range is about 1,000–1,300 nm, with seating commonly around 4–6 occupants.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Daher TBM 910 | Piper M350 | Piper M500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 2.25 | $ 1.34 | $ 3.11 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Daher TBM | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | TBM 910 | M350 | M500 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1730 | 1343 | 1000 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.78 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | — | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 2908 | 1308 | 1698 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 744 | $ 285 | $ 579 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 330 | 213 | 260 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,250,000 | $1,195,000 | $2,122,600 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | — | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Centre | — | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 14390 | — | 12600 |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8244 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-66D | TIO-540-AE2A | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3500 | 2000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 850 | 350 | 500 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 49 | — | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 291 | 120 | 170 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 37 | — | — |
| Fuel Type | — | — | AvGas | — |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | 12 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Fuel Injected | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 35.3 | 29 | 29.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 42.1 | 43 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.3 | 11.4 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 30 | 20 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 165 | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 13 | — |