Eight-seat pressurized business twin turboprop · Twin-engine turboprops · production 2021–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Beechcraft King Air 260 costs approximately $6.75m (€6.25m) to $8.07m (€7.47m) to buy at 2023 market values, and about $382k (€354k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $4,779 (€4,425) per flight hour all-in. It seats 8, cruises at 310 kt (357 mph) and has a published range of 1,720 nm (3,185 km), needing about 2,110 ft (643 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The King Air 200-series is the most proven business turboprop ever built, and the 260 is its modern incarnation: twin PT6 reliability, excellent short-field performance and a cabin that has defined the category for decades. Flight departments buy it because it simply works and everyone can maintain it. The economics are the gate, because two turbines mean fixed and reserve costs that only make sense with meaningful annual utilisation, which is why it lives mostly in charter and corporate fleets. As a used aircraft, programme coverage and engine status drive value.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 5,670 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 1,706 kg |
| Usable fuel | 2,059 L |
| Landing distance | 867 m |
| Maximum operating altitude | 35,000 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 2,437 ft/min |
| Stall speed | 80 KCAS |
| Baggage weight | 249 kg |
| Engine | 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52, 850 shp each |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 8 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 1,590 lb (721 kg) |
| Published planning range | 1,720 nm (3,185 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 1,152 nm (2,134 km) |
| Cruise speed | 310 kt (357 mph) |
| Runway need | ~2,110 ft (643 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | Yes |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 |
| Fixed annual base | $227k (€210k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $1,944 (€1,800) |
A highly proven business platform with excellent runway performance, but twin-turbine economics require meaningful annual utilization.
Indicative cash costs at 2023 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $305k (€282k) | $7,614 (€7,050) | $8.86m (€8.21m) |
| 80 h / year | $382k (€354k) | $4,779 (€4,425) | $9.25m (€8.56m) |
| 120 h / year | $460k (€426k) | $3,834 (€3,550) | $9.64m (€8.93m) |
| 180 h / year | $577k (€534k) | $3,204 (€2,967) | $10.22m (€9.46m) |
Every figure above is built from a $227k (€210k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $1,944 (€1,800) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $417k (€387k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Beechcraft King Air 260 cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2023 market price for a Beechcraft King Air 260 is $6.75m (€6.25m) to $8.07m (€7.47m). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Beechcraft King Air 260 works out at roughly $382k (€354k) annually, which is about $4,779 (€4,425) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $1,944 (€1,800).
Published range is 1,720 nm (3,185 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 1152 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Beechcraft King Air 260 requires multi-engine rating, type rating, complex airplane endorsement and high-altitude training. An airplane multi-engine land class rating. Insurers add their own minimum: multi-engine time, time in this make and model, and often a checkout with a named instructor before you fly it solo. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 2,110 ft (643 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.
Direct comparisons against the models buyers most often weigh against this one.