Aircraft King Air 260

The King Air 260 is a twin-engine turboprop Beechcraft, produced in the USA since 2020. It seats eight, has a range of approximately 3,185 km, and a cruising speed of up to 560 km/h (355 mph). It is powered by Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 engines. The successor to the world's most widely produced turboprop line (7,600+ aircraft), it operates confidently from short and unpaved runways. Typical routes are regional flights of 500–1,500 km. There is no flight attendant or hot meals, so the cabin is compact. Baggage access is available in flight; some baggage is loaded into the cabin. Typical routes include Moscow–Zurich, Almaty–Baku, and Tashkent–Dubai. Submit a request—we will prepare a proposal, calculate the content, and analyze options tailored to your needs.

King Air 260 benchmarks: average used price is $5.5 million; new price is $8 million. Maintenance with 300-400 flight hours per year is approximately $865,000/year; flight hours are $2,163/hour. The final price depends on the year, flight hours, engine life, and configuration. Send us a request – we will prepare a proposal, calculate maintenance, and analyze options tailored to your needs.

Beechcraft (part of Textron Aviation) is the creator of the King Air, the most produced twin-engine turboprop in history, with over 7,600 aircraft produced since 1964. Currently in production are the King Air 260 (6-8 seats, ~3,100 km) and King Air 360ER with a range of up to 5,000 km, and the single-engine Denali is in development. The brand's niche is reliable turboprop aircraft for short and unpaved airstrips.

The King Air is considered the benchmark for survivability in the turboprop class: Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines with over 500 million operating hours, a 3,600-hour TBO, and are certified for ground-launched flights. A fleet of over 6,000 aircraft means spare parts are readily available, from the US to Central Asia, and routine maintenance is performed by any Textron service center.

More stable than most jets: a ten-year-old 350-series King Air sells for £81T4–6 million, compared to a new 360 for around £81T8.8 million—a loss significantly less than £50% over a decade. Liquidity is provided by government agencies, air ambulance services, and cargo operators, who buy used aircraft. Aircraft with a new interior and engines with up to half their lifespan sell the fastest.

The main difference is the number of engines: the King Air is twin-engine, while the PC-12 is single-engine. The King Air 260 climbs faster, is licensed for commercial night flights over difficult terrain without restrictions, and can carry up to eight passengers. The PC-12 is approximately 30% cheaper to operate and has a larger cargo door. The choice comes down to philosophy: engine redundancy versus ownership economy.

Turboprops are ideal for flights of up to 1,500–2,000 km: Almaty–Tashkent, Moscow–Kazan, Astana–Almaty. They thrive on short, unpaved runways: the Pilatus PC-12 lands at 750 meters, making them accessible to thousands of sites that a jet simply can't reach. They cost one and a half to two times less per hour than a jet, and over distances of up to 1,000 km, the time penalty is only 15–25 minutes.

Single-engine aircraft carry 4–9 passengers: the TBM 960 seats six and ranges 3,200 km, and the Pilatus PC-12 NGX seats up to nine and ranges 3,300 km. The twin-engine King Air 360ER carries eight passengers for almost 5,000 km. The cruising speed of this class is 500–610 km/h. A rule of thumb: a full seat load reduces the maximum range by 20–301 TP80T.

The jet is faster—750–850 km/h versus 500–610—and flies higher, avoiding turbulence. The turboprop offers better fuel economy: 220–350 l/h versus 500–700, an hourly rental from $1,800 versus $3,000+, plus access to short unpaved runways. On routes up to 1,000 km, the time difference is less than half an hour, so it's better to fly a turboprop for short legs, and a jet for long ones.

The fleet includes 13 models: the high-speed Daher TBM 960 and Piper M700 Fury (556–611 km/h, 5–6 seats), the spacious Pilatus PC-12 NG/NGX/PRO with a cargo door and nine seats, the twin-engine King Air 260 and 360ER for long-haul flights up to 5,000 km, the business Piaggio Avanti Evo with jet speed and a stand-up cabin, and the affordable Piper M350/M500/M600SLS.

Start with two figures: the typical route length and the number of passengers. Up to 1,000 km and 4 passengers – a turboprop or light jet; 2,000–4,000 km – a medium jet; nonstop intercontinental flights – a long-haul jet. Add adjustments for short runs, baggage volume, and berths. We'll select a model that matches your profile and calculate the economics of ownership. Send us a request – we'll prepare a proposal, calculate the content, and analyze options tailored to your needs.

A new aircraft comes with a factory warranty and a 1-3 year waiting list, but the price is maximum. A used aircraft offers immediate delivery and a lower price for the 30-60%, but it's important to check the engine life and history. For most buyers, a new aircraft, 3-7 years old, is optimal: the main discount has already been applied, and the aircraft still has a long service life. We consider both options. Send us a request – we'll prepare a proposal, calculate the cost, and analyze the options for your needs.