Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Cessna Citation Cj3 vs Cessna Citation M2 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Embraer Phenom 300e vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Beechcraft King Air Denali and Pilatus PC-12 NGX are single‑engine turboprops aimed at versatile utility flying; both typically seat about 6–9 passengers, with the PC‑12 NGX known for strong short/rough‑field practicality and the Denali positioned as a newer, high‑performance entrant. The Daher TBM 960 is also a single‑engine turboprop but is generally a smaller, owner‑pilot “fast personal transport” category airplane, usually carrying about 4–6 passengers with excellent efficiency and speed for its class. The Cessna Citation M2 is an entry‑level light jet, commonly configured for about 4–5 passengers, optimized for shorter trips and lower operating complexity. The Cessna Citation CJ3+ steps up to a larger light jet, typically around 6–8 passengers and longer legs than the M2. The Embraer Phenom 300E sits at the top of this group as a high‑performance light jet, usually around 6–9 passengers, and generally offers the longest range and highest cruise among the jets listed. Overall, turboprops tend to trade a bit of cruise speed for runway flexibility and efficiency, while the jets prioritize faster point‑to‑point travel, with the Phenom 300E and CJ3+ leading range within the jet subset.
| Spec | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Cessna Citation CJ3+ | Cessna Citation M2 | Daher TBM 960 | Embraer Phenom 300E | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.08 | $ 4.05 | $ 3.45 | $ 2.25 | $ 3.88 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | GE® Aerospace | Cessna Citation | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Embraer | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir Denali | CJ3+ | M2 | TBM 960 | Phenom 300E | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1600 | 1898 | 1400 | 1730 | 2,010 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.68 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 8 | 7 | — | 10 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3280 | 5530 | 3810 | 2908 | 6914 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,111 | $ 1,680 | $ 1,395 | $ 744 | $ 1,758 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G3000 | Prodigy Touch (G3000) | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 285 | 415 | 404 | 330 | 464 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,150,000 | $9,915,000 | $5,150,000 | $4,450,000 | $9,650,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | — | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 1 Enclosed Flushing | Optional |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 8 | 7 | — | 9 | 9 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | AFT | — | AFT | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 5 | 8.9 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 9.4 | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Galley | No | — | Galley | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 11065 | 23586 | 22027 | 14390 | 25560 | 13100 |
| Crew Rest | — | No | No | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | No | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | MID | FWD | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||||
| Model | Catalyst™ | FJ44-3A | FJ44-1AP-21 | TBM 960 | Canada PW535E1 | PT6E-67XP |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 |
| FADEC | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBO (hrs) | — | 5000 | 3500 | 3500 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 11 | ISA + 7 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 15 | ISA + 35 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 2820 | 1965 | — | 3360 | — |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | 624 | 516 | — | 757 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 703 | 492 | — | — | — |
| Horsepower | — | — | — | 850 | — | 1200 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 14.86 | 51.2 | 42.6 | 35.3 | 51.2 | 47.25 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 54.3 | 53 | 47.3 | 42.1 | 52.16 | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 15.7 | 11 | 13.4 | 17.2 | 16.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 4.65 | 15.2 | 14 | — | 16.75 | 14 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | — | 3.6 | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 12.6 | 12.2 | 8.8 | — | 14.8 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 48 | — | — | — | 10 | 40 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.4 | 0.4 | — | 0.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 65 | 46 | — | 74 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 123 | — | — |