Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER and the Daher TBM 960 are pressurized, high-performance turboprops, but they target different missions: the King Air is a twin‑engine utility/business aircraft optimized for carrying groups, while the TBM 960 is a fast single‑engine business aircraft focused on owner‑pilot or small‑team travel. The King Air 360ER typically offers longer endurance for turboprop operations and commonly seats about 6–9 passengers in executive layouts, whereas the TBM 960 is usually configured for around 4–6 passengers with strong range for its class but less cabin volume than the King Air. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a rugged single‑engine utility turboprop aimed at short/rough-field work and regional haul; it typically carries more people than the TBM, often up to about 9 passengers, but with shorter range and lower cruise speed than the King Air 360ER or TBM 960. The Leonardo AW189 is a medium twin‑engine helicopter; compared with the fixed‑wing turboprops it generally has the shortest range but can carry the most passengers (commonly around 12–16) and uniquely offers vertical lift and offshore/EMS-style flexibility.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | AW189 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 19 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 21 |
| Galley Location | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 19 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | TBM 960 | CT7-2E1 |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1983 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | — |
| Fuel Type | — | JetFuel |
| No. of Engines | — | 2 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 57.8 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | 395 |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 85 |