Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Cessna Citation Cj3 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500
The Beechcraft King Air 360 and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are pressurized turboprops, while the Cessna Citation CJ3+ is a light business jet and the Piper M500 is a pressurized single‑engine piston aircraft. In typical use, the CJ3+ offers the fastest travel and a practical range around 2,000 nautical miles, making it best suited to longer point‑to‑point trips at higher cruise altitudes. The King Air 360 is a premium twin‑turboprop with strong all‑around capability and a range commonly in the ~1,500–1,800 nautical mile class, with seating that usually accommodates about 6–9 passengers depending on configuration. The PC‑12 NGX emphasizes efficiency and cabin flexibility with similar or slightly greater real‑world range potential (often ~1,700–1,800 nautical miles) and typically seats about 6–9. The M500 is in a different category: a high‑performance piston single, generally suited to shorter missions, with range roughly around 1,000–1,200 nautical miles and typically 4–5 passengers in comfort (up to 6 with tighter loading).
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Cessna Citation CJ3+ | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.20 | $ 4.05 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna Citation | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 350i | CJ3+ | PC-12 NGX | M500 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1560 | 1898 | 1803 | 1000 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.53 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 8 | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 5145 | 5530 | — | 1698 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,311 | $ 1,680 | $ 793 | $ 579 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 312 | 415 | 290 | 260 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $7,650,000 | $9,915,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | Optional | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | Optional | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 |
| Galley Location | FWD | FWD | — | MID |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 8 | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 8.9 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Optional | Galley | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 23586 | 13100 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8244 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A-60A | FJ44-3A | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 5000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1050 | — | 1200 | 500 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 11 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 539 | 703 | — | 170 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 2820 | — | — |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | 624 | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 402 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 46.7 | 51.2 | 47.25 | 29.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 53 | 53.33 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 19.5 | 15.7 | 16.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.4 | 15.2 | 14 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 3.1 | 4.25 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 19.5 | 12.2 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 71 | — | 40 | 20 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.4 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 65 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 165 |