Beechcraft Kingair Denali vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls
All five are single‑engine turboprops aimed at owner‑operators and small business travel, except the Beechcraft Denali and (depending on configuration) the King Air family, which are positioned as larger, more premium utility/business platforms with typically more cabin volume and flexibility. For range, the Daher TBM 960 is generally the long‑leg, high‑speed choice in this group, optimized for efficient point‑to‑point trips; the Pilatus PC‑12 NGX also offers strong range but emphasizes versatility and payload. The Piper M600 SLS and Piper M500 sit in a lighter category with shorter typical ranges than the TBM 960 and PC‑12, with the M600 SLS usually offering more capability than the M500. On passenger capacity, the PC‑12 NGX and Denali/King Air category aircraft typically accommodate the most people in comfort, commonly around 6–9 seats depending on interior, while the TBM 960 is usually configured around 4–6 passengers plus pilot. The M500 and M600 SLS typically seat about 4–6 passengers plus pilot, prioritizing efficiency and operating cost over maximum cabin size.
| Spec | Beechcraft KingAir Denali | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.08 | $ 2.25 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 11 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | GE® Aerospace | Daher TBM | Pilatus | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir Denali | TBM 960 | PC-12 NGX | M500 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1600 | 1730 | 1803 | 1000 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.68 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 9 | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3280 | 2908 | — | 1698 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,111 | $ 744 | $ 793 | $ 579 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 285 | 330 | 290 | 260 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,150,000 | $4,450,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — | — | — |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | No | Optional | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 11 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 9 | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | FWD | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 5 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | — | No | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 11065 | 14390 | 13100 | 12600 | 12600 |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — | MID | MID |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8244 | 8644 |
| Engine | |||||
| Model | Catalyst™ | TBM 960 | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A |
| No. of Engines | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| FADEC | — | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| TBO (hrs) | — | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | — | 850 | 1200 | 500 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 402 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | — | 170 | 260 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 14.86 | 35.3 | 47.25 | 29.6 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 54.3 | 42.1 | 53.33 | 43.2 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 13.4 | 16.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 4.65 | — | 14 | 11.3 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | 4.25 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 12.6 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 48 | — | 40 | 20 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | — | 165 | 165 |