Aircraft King Air 360, 2021

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 600 meters, making thousands of landing sites accessible 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 PRO seats up to nine and ranges 3,400 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 fully loaded aircraft 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 piston class transition starts with $1–1.5 million (Piper M350), turboprop single-engine aircraft: used TBM 850 — $2–2.5 million, PC-12 NG — $3–5 million, new TBM 960 and PC-12 NGX — $4.5–6.5 million. Twin-engine King Air 250/350 — $3–6 million. The price is determined by the remaining service life of the PT6A before overhaul ($400–600 thousand), the condition of the propeller, avionics and the history of airframe corrosion.

Maintenance costs depend on the intensity of use and the aircraft class. When purchasing an aircraft, consider the following regular expenses:

- Crew and service personnel;
- Aviation fuel and navigation fees;
- Maintenance and insurance;
- Hangar storage and airport fees.

Choosing the right aircraft to purchase is based on key parameters:

- Capacity and comfort of the cabin;
- Flight range and route characteristics;
- Acquisition and operating budget.

Our specialists will offer the best business jet options with a detailed comparison of characteristics.