Eight-to-twelve-seat high-performance pressurized twin turboprop · Twin-engine turboprops · production 1984–1994 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Beechcraft King Air 300 costs approximately $1.74m (€1.61m) to $2.08m (€1.92m) to buy at 1986 market values, and about $602k (€557k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $7,520 (€6,963) per flight hour all-in. It seats 12, cruises at 320 kt (368 mph) and has a published range of 1,560 nm (2,889 km), needing about 3,281 ft (1,000 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The King Air 300 is the powerful predecessor of the ubiquitous 350: fast, cabin-capable and fitted with the PT6A-60A engines that give it strong performance, making it a value route into serious cabin-class turboprop capability. It is a lot of aeroplane. It is also firmly professional to own, because phase inspections, landing-gear maintenance and two large PT6s demand real oversight and budget, and programme coverage governs used value. For an operator who needs the cabin and payload and will maintain it properly, the 300 offers 350-class capability at a lower entry point.
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 | 6,396 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 2,040 L |
| Maximum operating altitude | 35,000 ft |
| Baggage weight | 249 kg |
| Engine | 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprops |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 12 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 1,693 lb (768 kg) |
| Published planning range | 1,560 nm (2,889 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 1,045 nm (1,935 km) |
| Cruise speed | 320 kt (368 mph) |
| Runway need | ~3,281 ft (1,000 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | Yes |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 |
| Fixed annual base | $227k (€210k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $2,052 (€1,900) |
Powerful, fast and cabin-capable, but phase inspections, landing gear and two PT6A-60A engines demand professional oversight.
Indicative cash costs at 1986 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 | $519k (€481k) | $12,987 (€12,025) | $4.48m (€4.15m) |
| 80 h / year | $602k (€557k) | $7,520 (€6,963) | $4.89m (€4.53m) |
| 120 h / year | $684k (€633k) | $5,697 (€5,275) | $5.3m (€4.91m) |
| 180 h / year | $807k (€747k) | $4,482 (€4,150) | $5.92m (€5.48m) |
Every figure above is built from a $227k (€210k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $2,052 (€1,900) 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 $426k (€395k) 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 300 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 1986 market price for a Beechcraft King Air 300 is $1.74m (€1.61m) to $2.08m (€1.92m). 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 300 works out at roughly $602k (€557k) annually, which is about $7,520 (€6,963) 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 $2,052 (€1,900).
Published range is 1,560 nm (2,889 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 1045 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Beechcraft King Air 300 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 3,281 ft (1,000 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.
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