Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Beechcraft King Air 260 and Piper M600 SLS both occupy the high-end turboprop market, but they target different mission profiles. The King Air 260 is a twin‑engine turboprop in the light business/utility category, designed with redundancy and flexibility for corporate shuttle, special missions, and operations into more challenging airports. The M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop in the personal/business category, emphasizing owner‑pilot simplicity and lower operating complexity while still offering true business-travel capability. In range, the M600 SLS is typically competitive for long, nonstop trips in its class, commonly advertised around the 1,500‑nautical‑mile neighborhood depending on power settings and payload, while the King Air 260 is generally quoted in a similar broad band (often roughly 1,500–1,700 nautical miles) but can vary more with cabin load and reserves. For passenger capacity, the King Air 260 usually carries more people, commonly seating six to nine depending on configuration, whereas the M600 SLS is typically arranged for about five to six seats with a focus on comfort and baggage for fewer occupants.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | 12600 |
| Galley Location | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 260 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 165 |