The True Operating Cost of Beechcraft King Air 350
The Beechcraft King Air 350 is the gold-standard twin-engine turboprop offering 13-seat capacity, 35,000-foot altitude, and industry-leading reliability. Plan for $95,000–$120,000 annually in operating costs at 100 flight hours, or $950–$1,200 per hour. The King Air 350 dominates the twin-turboprop market with unmatched payload, range, and multi-engine safety. Perfect for charter, corporate, special operations, and commercial missions.
Quick Specs: Beechcraft King Air 350i
| Specification | King Air 350i |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A (1,000 shp each) |
| Fuel Burn | 55–70 gal/hr cruise |
| Cruise Speed | 260–290 mph |
| Service Ceiling | 35,000 ft |
| Useful Load | 4,800–5,200 lbs |
| Seats | 13 (high-density to luxury) |
| Range | 2,200–2,700 nm |
TL;DR: King Air 350 Annual Operating Cost Summary
- Fixed costs: $40,000–$52,000/year (insurance $9,000–$14,000, hangar $10,000–$12,000, annuals $6,000–$8,000, turboprop systems)
- Variable costs at 100 hours: $55,000–$68,000/year (Jet-A fuel, oils, engine reserves)
- Total at 100 hours: $95,000–$120,000/year (~$950–$1,200/hour)
- Finance a $1,000,000 King Air 350: Add $14,700/month ($176,400/year) at 6.5% over 10 years
- At 50 hours: ~$77,500–$96,000/year (~$1,550–$1,920/hour)
- At 200 hours: ~$150,000–$188,000/year (~$750–$940/hour)
Twin-Engine Turboprop Operating Costs
Fixed Costs
- Insurance: $9,000–$14,000/year for $1,500,000–$1,800,000 hull with 500+ pilot hours
- Hangar: $10,000–$12,000/year (twin-turboprop climate-controlled facility)
- Annual inspection: $6,000–$8,000 labor (turboprop complexity)
- Condition monitoring: $2,500–$4,000/year
Variable Costs (per flight hour)
- Jet-A fuel: 62 gal/hr × $5.50/gal = ~$341/hour
- Oil and hydraulic fluid: $10–$14/hour
- Engine reserves: $13–$17/hour ($55K per engine ÷ 3,500 TBO × 2)
- Prop maintenance: $15–$20/hour
- Turboprop maintenance: $75–$95/hour (gearbox, governors, fuel systems)
- Landing fees: $30–$75/landing
Jet-A Fuel & Operating Economics
Fuel Cost by Hours
| Annual Hours | Gallons Jet-A | Cost @ $5.50/gal | $/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 3,100 | $17,050 | $341 |
| 100 | 6,200 | $34,100 | $341 |
| 150 | 9,300 | $51,150 | $341 |
| 200 | 12,400 | $68,200 | $341 |
Maintenance & Turboprop Engines
Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A
- PT6A-60A: 3,500 hours TBO (industry-leading reliability)
- Overhaul cost: $55,000–$65,000 per engine
- Combined reserve: $120,000 ÷ 3,500 = $34/hour
- Parts availability: Worldwide support network
Turboprop-Specific Maintenance
- Fuel heater maintenance: $600–$1,000/year
- Propeller governor overhauls: $3,000–$4,000 each
- Gearbox inspections: $1,000–$1,500/year
- Condition monitoring trending: $2,000–$3,000/year
- Budget: $80–$100/hour for all maintenance
Insurance & Storage
Turboprop Insurance
- $1,500,000 hull, 500+ hours, turboprop typed: $10,000–$12,000/year
- $1,800,000 hull, 100–250 hours: $13,000–$16,000/year
- Commercial/charter: +40–60% premium
Storage Costs
| Option | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Climate-Controlled Hangar | $800–$1,000 | $9,600–$12,000 |
| Standard Hangar | $650–$850 | $7,800–$10,200 |
Annual Ownership Scenarios
Operating Cost (Not Financed)
| Hours/Year | Fixed | Variable | Total | $/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $46,000 | $31,500 | $77,500 | $1,550 |
| 100 | $46,000 | $63,000 | $109,000 | $1,090 |
| 200 | $46,000 | $126,000 | $172,000 | $860 |
Total Cost of Ownership (With Financing)
Assume $1,000,000 King Air 350, 6.5% APR, 10 years = $176,400/year debt service.
| Hours/Year | Operating | Finance | Total | $/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $109,000 | $176,400 | $285,400 | $2,854 |
| 200 | $172,000 | $176,400 | $348,400 | $1,742 |
Financing the King Air 350
- Purchase price: $800,000–$1,400,000 (depends on year, avionics, hours)
- Down payment: 15–20%
- Loan amount: $750,000–$1,200,000
- Term: 10–15 years
- APR: 5.75–7.0% (2025)
- Monthly payment: $11,000–$18,500
Lender Requirements: 650+ credit, commercial/ATP rated, $500,000+ annual income, comprehensive business plan, hull insurance $1.5M+. Lenders like JakenAviation specialize in King Air 350 financing for charter and special operations.
King Air 350 vs. Competitors
- vs. King Air 250: 350 faster and higher-capacity; 250 more economical (~$25K/year savings)
- vs. Cessna Grand Caravan: Grand Caravan single-turboprop; King Air 350 twin-engine safety and payload
- vs. Daher TBM 900: TBM 900 single-turboprop; King Air 350 twin-engine with multi-engine safety advantage
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Sources: Beechcraft King Air Specs | AOPA Owner Reports | FAA TCDS