Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing airplane, while the Leonardo AW109 Grand New and AW109 Trekker are twin‑engine light helicopters. In category terms, the King Air 260 is typically chosen for point‑to‑point regional travel from runways, whereas the AW109 variants emphasize vertical access to sites without prepared runways and flexibility for short hops, EMS, and VIP missions. On range, the King Air 260 generally offers the longest reach among the three, making it better suited to longer nonstop legs between cities. The AW109 Grand New and AW109 Trekker usually have shorter ranges than the King Air because of helicopter efficiency limits, with the Grand New often optimized for fast VIP transport and the Trekker aimed at utility roles; their real‑world range depends heavily on payload, reserves, and routing. For passenger capacity, the King Air 260 typically carries more people, commonly configured for about 7 to 9 passengers. The AW109 Grand New and AW109 Trekker generally seat fewer, often around 6 to 7 passengers in typical passenger/VIP layouts, with configurations varying by mission equipment.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 7.31 | $ 7.40 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | AW109 Grand New | AW109 Trekker |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 464 | 450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.93 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,125 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | EFIS | Genesys Aerosystems |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 156 | 152 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $6,950,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | — | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PW207C | PW207C |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 735 | 735 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 152 | 152 |
| Fuel Type | — | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 11.5 | 11.5 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | — | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | 35.5 | 35.5 |