Daher announced its delivery of the 500th TBM 900-series aircraft, underscoring the continued global market demand for this best-selling family in the highly efficient and fast TBM turboprop-powered product line.
This accomplishment was detailed during Daher’s press conference at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The milestone aircraft was a high-end TBM 960 version delivered to a private owner in the United States.
“The latest TBM program achievement underscores the success of Daher’s constant enhancement policy in maintaining the competitiveness of our aircraft portfolio, with an emphasis on listening to the customer and a commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division.
With more than 100 TBM 960s on order – exceeding two years of production – Daher sees a sustained interest in the aircraft from professional operators and private owners, especially with the introduction of enhanced safety features, along with improved efficiency and upgraded cabin comfort, Chabbert added.
The 500 deliveries to date for TBM 900-series aircraft surpass the totals of both previous-generation TBM airplane types: 324 aircraft were produced in the TBM 700 configuration, while 338 TBM 850s were manufactured. The TBM 850 was the initial version that rolled out under Daher management of the TBM product line. Daher’s introduction of the first TBM 900-series aircraft was in 2014 with the TBM 900 configuration, featuring such aerodynamic improvements as new engine cowlings, the addition of winglets and the integration of Hartzell’s five-blade scimitar propeller.
In 2016, the TBM 900-series family was augmented by the higher-end TBM 930 version, equipped with Garmin’s touchscreen-controlled G3000 integrated flight deck. This variant incorporated the initial elements of the TBM’s e-copilot functionality, which lowers pilot workload and provides better situational awareness. Daher further evolved the TBM 900 series in 2018 with its TBM 910, featuring Garmin’s G1000 NXi avionics. The TBM 910 continues to be available from Daher on customer request.
In 2019, the TBM 930 was succeeded by Daher’s TBM 940 with autothrottle. In 2020, it became one of the first aircraft equipped with the revolutionary HomeSafe emergency autoland system.
Daher’s latest high-end TBM version is the TBM 960, unveiled by the company in 2022, and integrating the new PT6E-66XT turboprop engine – purpose-built by Pratt & Whitney Canada for this aircraft, as well as Hartzell Propeller’s five-blade composite propeller with the Raptor lightweight hub. Both the engine and propeller system are linked to the TBM 960’s dual-channel digital Engine and Propeller Electronic Control System (EPECS).
The EPECS optimizes powerplant performance from the engine’s startup to landing, while reducing pilot workload by integrating all functions and protecting the engine’s life. It also enables the aircraft to be flown with more precise settings: at Daher’s recommended cruise setting of 308 kts., the fuel consumption is only 57 U.S. gallons per hour – a 10 percent fuel economy for more sustainability when compared to the maximum cruise setting.
Daher’s use of digital power for the TBM 960 extends into the aircraft’s Prestige cabin, featuring an all-new environmental control system. Other enhancements include LED ambience strip lighting integrated into both sides of the overhead ceiling panel, and electronically-dimmable windows – all controlled by a Passenger Comfort Display (PCD). Other enhancements for the cabin’s style and comfort are the ergonomically enhanced seats, USB-A and USB-C power plugs, along with individual cupholders and headset hangers for each occupant.
The TBM 960 benefits from a full range of TBM e-copilot functions: icing protection system; flight envelope monitoring through the Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and the Under-speed Protection (USP) systems; the Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) function; as well as the game-changing HomeSafe emergency autoland system.