Interactive comparison
Compare ownership, not brochures
Purchase price is only one part of the decision. Figures are indicative estimates at the typical market year for each model.
| Decision factor | Fairchild Swearingen Merlin IIIAView aircraft profile | Piper PA-31T Cheyenne IIView aircraft profile | Beechcraft King Air B100View aircraft profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical market year | 1980 | 1980 | 1980 |
| Estimated purchase | €480k | €900k | €777k |
| Annual cash cost at 80 h | €552k | €488k | €481k |
| Five-year cash outlay | €3.24m | €3.34m | €3.18m |
| Cruise speed | 260 kt | 270 kt | 258 kt |
| Advertised range | 1409 nm | 1400 nm | 800 nm |
| Seats | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Realistic payload | 540 kg | 414 kg | 540 kg |
| Runway need | 950 m | 800 m | 900 m |
| Data confidence | Preliminary — verify source data before deciding | Preliminary — verify source data before deciding | Preliminary — verify source data before deciding |
| Main trade-off | The Merlin IIIA combines 8-seat turboprop capability with about 1,409 NM reported range and about 260 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. | Strong performance for the acquisition price, but an ageing pressurized airframe and limited support require specialist ownership. | The King Air B100 combines 7-seat turboprop capability with about 800 NM reported range and about 258 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. |
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