Ferry Flight: Daher TBM 940

The TBM turboprop makes quick and comfortable work of the North Atlantic track.

Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 04:25 PM ET

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The Daher TBM 940 can glide up to 70 nm when operating at 120 kias at FL 310, in the event of an engine malfunction, according to its POH. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The article recounts the author's journey accompanying veteran ferry pilot Margrit Waltz on a transatlantic delivery flight of a new Daher TBM 940 from Tarbes, France, to Groton, Connecticut.
The multi-leg flight demonstrated the TBM 940's impressive performance, speed, and comfortable cabin, enduring challenging mid-November North Atlantic weather, including strong crosswinds and frigid temperatures, with only a minor inflight "DOOR" warning quickly resolved.
The experience offered an inside look at the routines and realities of ferry piloting, contrasting the well-equipped new aircraft with the more arduous tasks of transporting older planes, and highlighted the TBM's exceptional handling capabilities, especially its climb and descent rates.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a three-part series on the Daher TBM 960. Read more about the aircraft and the manufacturing process behind Daher’s flagship TBM series.

It was an incredible invitation. Daher and veteran ferry pilot Margrit Waltz asked me to join her on the flight that would bring serial No. 1400, a 940—from its final position in the hangars at Daher in Tarbes (LFBT) across the Atlantic Ocean to Columbia Aviation, in Groton, Connecticut (KGON).