Beechcraft King Air C90SEPhoto: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized · representative variant
Indicative 1996 market price$1.72m (€1.59m) to $2.05m (€1.9m)
Estimated annual cost at 80 h$401k (€372k)
Five-year cash outlay$3.87m (€3.59m)

A Beechcraft King Air C90SE costs approximately $1.72m (€1.59m) to $2.05m (€1.9m) to buy at 1996 market values, and about $401k (€372k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $5,017 (€4,645) per flight hour all-in. It seats 6, cruises at 234 kt (269 mph) and has a published range of 624 nm (1,156 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.

Closest alternatives

Similar aircraft to consider

Compare top alternatives

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats6
Reported payload proxy992 lb (450 kg)
Reported range624 nm (1,156 km)
Practical planning radius (4 people)Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed234 kt (269 mph)
Runway need~3,281 ft (1,000 m)
Landing gearRetractable tricycle
PressurisedYes
FuelJet A-1
Fixed annual base$130k (€120k)
Direct cost per flight hour$1,642 (€1,520)

The ownership trade-off

The King Air C90SE combines 6-seat turboprop capability with about 624 NM reported range and about 234 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

Indicative cash costs at 1996 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 useAnnual cash costEffective cost / hFive-year cash outlay
40 h / year$336k (€311k)$8,392 (€7,770)$3.55m (€3.28m)
80 h / year$401k (€372k)$5,017 (€4,645)$3.87m (€3.59m)
120 h / year$467k (€432k)$3,892 (€3,603)$4.2m (€3.89m)
180 h / year$565k (€524k)$3,142 (€2,909)$4.69m (€4.35m)

What the estimate covers

Every figure above is built from a $130k (€120k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $1,642 (€1,520) 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 $296k (€274k) 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 C90SE 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.

Where it fits well

  • 234 kt (269 mph) cruise supports credible cross-country touring.
  • 624 nm (1,156 km) reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
  • 992 lb (450 kg) reported payload proxy and 6 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

  • The King Air C90SE combines 6-seat turboprop capability with about 624 NM reported range and about 234 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
  • $130k (€120k) fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
  • Approximate 3,281 ft (1,000 m) take-off requirement must be checked against runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading.

Recommended missions

  • Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
  • Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
  • Time-sensitive business travel where dispatch reliability justifies the cost.

What you need to be qualified to fly a Beechcraft King Air C90SE

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.

  • Multi-engine rating. 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.
  • Type rating, if it exceeds 12,500 lb. 14 CFR 61.31(a) requires a type rating for any airplane above 12,500 lb maximum takeoff weight. Most owner-flown turboprops sit below it and the cabin-class types sit above, so this is the line that separates a checkout from a formal type course. PlaneFit does not store maximum takeoff weight, so check this type's certificated weight rather than assuming either way.
  • Complex airplane endorsement. Retractable gear puts this aircraft in the complex class of 14 CFR 61.31(e), alongside flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, which retractable types carry as a matter of course. It is a one-time instructor endorsement in your logbook, but the insurance condition behind it is the part that costs money: underwriters usually want a stated number of hours in retractable-gear aircraft before they will write the risk at standard rates.
  • High-altitude training, if it flies above 25,000 ft. 14 CFR 61.31(g) requires ground and flight training for a pressurised aircraft whose service ceiling or maximum operating altitude is above 25,000 ft. PlaneFit does not store service ceiling, so check this type's certified ceiling rather than assuming either way.

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.

Common questions about the Beechcraft King Air C90SE

How much does a Beechcraft King Air C90SE cost?

An indicative 1996 market price for a Beechcraft King Air C90SE is $1.72m (€1.59m) to $2.05m (€1.9m). 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.

What does a Beechcraft King Air C90SE cost per hour to operate?

Flying 80 hours a year, a Beechcraft King Air C90SE works out at roughly $401k (€372k) annually, which is about $5,017 (€4,645) 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 $1,642 (€1,520).

How far can a Beechcraft King Air C90SE fly?

Reported range is 624 nm (1,156 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.

What do you need to be qualified to fly a Beechcraft King Air C90SE?

Beyond a pilot certificate, a Beechcraft King Air C90SE 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.

What runway does a Beechcraft King Air C90SE need?

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.

Continue your research