Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer

The Beechcraft King Air 360ER and Daher TBM 960 are pressurized fixed‑wing turboprops, while the MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a twin‑engine helicopter, optimized for vertical access rather than cruise efficiency. In category terms, the King Air 360ER is a twin‑engine, multi‑passenger business/utility turboprop; the TBM 960 is a single‑engine, high‑performance owner‑flown/business turboprop; and the 902 Explorer is a light twin helicopter suited to missions like corporate shuttle, public safety, and EMS support. On range, the King Air 360ER is generally the longest‑leg option among the fixed‑wing aircraft, commonly quoted around 1,800 nautical miles with typical reserves, making it better for longer stage lengths and higher payload flexibility. The TBM 960 is also long‑range for its class, typically around 1,400–1,700 nautical miles depending on loading and speed settings, but it trades cabin volume for speed and efficiency. The 902 Explorer’s range is much shorter, typically only a few hundred nautical miles. For passenger capacity, the King Air 360ER typically seats about 6–9, the TBM 960 about 4–6 plus a pilot, and the 902 Explorer commonly about 5–7.