I get asked from time to time, “What is your favorite aircraft to fly?” In over 30 years of flying, that’s always been a tough question to answer because I’m genuinely passionate about aircraft, no matter how simple or complex. For the last 11 years, I’ve been flying Bombardier Globals. I absolutely love them. I could easily finish my career in the cockpit of a Global and be completely satisfied.
However, for the first third or so of my career, it was all things Beechcraft. I’ve flown nearly every model Beech has built from the Bonanza forward, including the infamous Starship. The King Airs are the epitome of what turboprops should be. They got the design right in 1964 and have only found improvements since. My favorite within the King Air family has always been the 350 line. I have about 500 hours in them, having flown across the North Atlantic, throughout North America, EMEA & APAC regions. Talk about capability — the King Air 350 line is nothing short of amazing.
So when people ask about the newest within that line, the King Air 360, I can say from experience: it represents everything that has made the King Air a legend and more. Allow me to share with you why the King Air 360 is arguably the best turboprop aircraft in the market today.
A Proven Platform, Perfected
The Beechcraft King Air 360 refines the time-tested 350-series platform with significant advancements in avionics, cabin comfort, and automation while staying true to the durability and reliability that define the King Air brand.
Power comes from two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A engines, each producing 1,050 shaft horsepower and driving four-blade, fully feathering, reversible Hartzell propellers. This twin-engine configuration isn’t just about power; rather, it’s about peace of mind.
While single-engine turboprops like the Pilatus PC-12NGx are efficient, operators consistently value the redundancy and safety margin of a twin-engine turboprop, especially when operating over mountainous terrain, open water, or at night. The King Air 360 combines that security with class-leading performance, cruising at 312 knots and stretching out to a 1,800-nautical-mile range.
Simply put, it goes faster, farther, and higher with more payload than most competitors in its class.
Smarter Systems, Simplified Workload
One of the biggest leaps forward in the King Air 360 is its Collins Aerospace ProLine Fusion touchscreen flight deck. As a pilot who’s spent thousands of hours behind everything from analog gauges to the latest Global Vision flight decks (which is also Collins ProLine Fusion), I can tell you the Fusion system is an absolute pleasure to operate.
It’s clean, intuitive, and remarkably capable, featuring touchscreen control, synthetic vision, graphical flight planning, and massively improved situational awareness. Perhaps most importantly, the digital pressurization system automates cabin pressure changes throughout climb and descent. This reduces workload for the pilot and provides a smoother and more refreshing flight experience for passengers.
Compared to the PC-12NGx, which still requires some manual attention to pressurization and systems management, the King Air 360 truly feels more jet-like in its automation and flow. It’s an aircraft that lets the pilot focus on flying instead of managing systems, and passengers experience jet-level comfort and style.
Versatility That Outperforms
The King Air 360’s greatest strength has always been its versatility. Whether you’re flying corporate executives, medical patients, or cargo, it performs nearly any mission with confidence in any environment and region one can imagine.
With its robust landing gear, the 360 can operate from short or unimproved runways, reaching over 14,000 airports worldwide — nearly double what most light jets can access. That’s more than a number; it’s operational freedom.
And when it comes to carrying capability, the King Air 360 shines with a 1,500-pound-plus full-fuel payload, significantly greater than the PC-12 NGX’s roughly 1,100-1,200 pounds. In real-world terms, that means you can fill the seats and the tanks — without compromise.
It’s the rare aircraft that’s as comfortable at FL350 as it is on a remote airstrip in the Rockies or a gravel runway in northern Canada.
Comfort Elevated: The Cabin Experience
The King Air 360’s interior represents a major step forward for Textron Aviation. The new cabin blends inspired luxury with modern functionality, featuring handcrafted materials, elegant finishes, and flexible seating for eight to ten passengers.
Thanks to its squared oval fuselage, the King Air 360 offers a sizable improvement in headroom, something no single-engine turboprop can match utilizing round fuselages. The improved pressurization system delivers a 5,960-foot cabin altitude at 27,000 feet, reducing fatigue and keeping passengers comfortable on longer trips.
The cabin is noticeably quieter than previous King Airs with its passive noise-canceling feature, and certainly quieter than any single-engine alternative, transmitting its low-frequency noise from the nose-mounted engine and propeller down the fuselage. Advanced soundproofing, LED lighting, and thoughtful ergonomics create an environment that’s refined yet purpose-built for productivity.
Whether your mission is business, family travel, or air ambulance, the King Air 360’s cabin adapts effortlessly. It’s the definition of functional luxury.
Maintenance, Support, and Predictability
Beechcraft’s worldwide support network is one of the best in general aviation. The King Air 360 features a 200-hour or 12-month inspection interval, with the major Phase 1–4 inspections easily combined to reduce downtime.
The result is predictable maintenance, streamlined scheduling, and excellent parts availability supported by Textron Aviation’s extensive global infrastructure. In contrast, the PC-12NGx’s smaller service footprint can mean longer AOG times in certain regions.
In daily operations, the 360 is a dispatch reliability leader. The systems are simple, robust, and field-proven, designed for both corporate operators and owner-pilots who demand uptime and low total cost of ownership.
Competitive Edge: Why the King Air 360 Still Leads
When you compare the King Air 360 to the PC-12NGx, both aircraft offer compelling strengths. But when the mission calls for more passengers, greater redundancy, higher payload, and broader support, the King Air 360 still reigns supreme.
King Air 360 advantages include:
- Twin-engine safety for overwater, mountainous, or night operations.
- Larger cabin with more usable space and headroom.
- Higher full-fuel payload and better climb performance.
- Quieter, smoother ride thanks to dual-engine balance.
- Broader global support network and lower downtime risk.
- Simplified automation, enhancing pilot confidence and comfort.
It’s an aircraft that outperforms in every measurable way while maintaining the unmatched versatility that made the King Air name legendary.
The Evolution of a Legend
The Beechcraft King Air 360 embodies six decades of continuous King Air family refinement. It honors the heritage of the world’s most successful business turboprop while integrating the technology, comfort, and safety that modern operators demand.
For private owners, it’s a confident step into twin-engine performance and comfort. For corporate flight departments, it’s a proven, flexible workhorse. And for charter operators, it remains one of the most trusted aircraft names among passengers.
Simply put, the King Air 360 remains the gold standard in turboprop aviation; the one aircraft that truly can do it all.
If you’re seeking a platform that combines efficiency, range, payload, and peace of mind, there’s only one King.
Ready to Experience the King Air 360 Difference?
Whether you’re evaluating your next aircraft purchase or exploring the capabilities of the King Air 360, the team at Tern Jet Sales brings the operational insight and transaction expertise to help you make an informed decision.
We happen to have a King Air 360 listing, and to learn more about this 2022 Beechcraft King Air 360 or to discuss how it fits your mission needs and profile, please reach out to:
- Christopher Dean — christopher@ternjetsales.com
- Michael Pintor — michael@ternjetsales.com
Read other blogs from Tern Jet Sales at www.ternjetsales.com/blog.