From Pioneering Turboprop to Timeless Performer: The TBM 700’s Lasting Legacy

High-tech machine evolves from unlikely Mooney prototype to fastest turboprop on the ramp.

Jonathan Welsh

Monday, August 03, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

TBM 700 in flight [Credit: Jessica Ambats]

Key Takeaways:

The TBM aircraft series, from its TBM 700 ancestor to the latest models, is a highly desirable, class-leading single-engine turboprop celebrated for its superior speed, performance, and refined design.
Originating from a partnership between Mooney and French aerospace companies, the TBM 700 played a crucial role in revitalizing general aviation after the "lost decade" of the 1980s.
Models like the 700C2 are lauded for their enhanced payload and range, with older TBMs continuing to offer high performance and value compared to newer versions.
Pilots transitioning to a TBM require a significantly higher level of training and commitment, including consistent flight hours (e.g., 100 annually) and specialized maintenance, due to its speed and complex systems.

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The open cabin door and airstair beckoned. On a cloudless July morning in 2014, with temperatures rising steadily through the 80s, this inviting sight drew me and my two sons, aged 10 and 7, from the comfortable shade of a hangar and onto the sun-drenched ramp for a closer look.

We had arrived early to a major fly-in at Plymouth Municipal Airport (KPYM) in Massachusetts with plans to check out the new aircraft on display ahead of the crowd.