Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Piper M600 Sls vs Piper Seneca
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin‑engine turboprop in the light business/utility category, typically used for corporate transport and special missions. It generally offers the most flexible cabin for people and bags, commonly seating about six to nine passengers depending on interior and mission fit, and delivers solid medium range suitable for regional trips. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop optimized for speed and efficiency; it’s usually configured for about four to six passengers, with long range for a single, often enabling nonstop trips that push beyond many typical regional city pairs. The Piper M600 SLS is also a single‑engine turboprop, positioned as a personal/business aircraft with advanced safety features; it typically seats five to six and offers medium‑to‑long range, generally less than the TBM but competitive for owner‑flown missions. The Piper Seneca is a twin‑engine piston aircraft in the light twin category; it commonly seats about five to six, with shorter range than the turboprops, best suited to shorter regional flights and training/utility roles.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Daher TBM 960 | Piper M600 SLS | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.69 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Daher TBM | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | TBM 960 | M600 | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1730 | 1406 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.28 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | — | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 2908 | 2200 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 744 | $ 603 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 330 | 274 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $4,450,000 | $3,081,400 | $1,095,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | No | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.6 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | — | Refreshment Centre | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 14390 | 12600 | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | MID | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8644 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | TBM 960 | PT6A-42A | TSIO-360-RB |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3500 | 3600 | 1800 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 850 | 600 | 220 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 55 | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | — | 260 | 122 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | — | AvGas |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 35.3 | 29.7 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 42.1 | 43.2 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 13.4 | 12.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | — | 11.3 | 10 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | — | 20 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 165 | — |