Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Piper M600 Sls
By category, the Beechcraft King Air 360ER, Piaggio Avanti EVO, and Piper M600 SLS are fixed‑wing turboprops, while the MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a twin‑engine helicopter aimed at vertical access and short-hop utility. For range, the King Air 360ER is the longest‑leg option, typically around 2,000+ nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, making it the best fit for extended regional missions. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is also a strong long‑range turboprop, commonly in the ~1,700–1,900 nm class, emphasizing higher cruise speed for the segment. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine personal/owner‑flown turboprop with a shorter typical range, roughly ~1,400–1,600 nm. The MD 902 Explorer generally has the shortest range, often only a few hundred nautical miles, but compensates with hover and point‑to‑point flexibility. For passenger capacity, the King Air 360ER usually seats the most (commonly 6–9), the Avanti EVO and M600 SLS typically carry about 5–7, and the MD 902 usually seats about 6–7 depending on configuration.
| Spec | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Piaggio | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Avanti EVO | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1530 | 1406 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3775 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 400 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 7,695,000 | $3,081,400 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.19 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.55 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 603 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 24000 | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | 6600 | 8644 |
| Galley Location | — | MID |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | No |
| Model | PT6A–66B | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 28 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | 100 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 47.3 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 47.1 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 6.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.8 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 14.9 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 35.2 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 165 |