When French company Socata launched the single-engine turboprop TBM 700 with Mooney in 1989, many observers wondered if the airplane would ever be anything more than an aerial oddity. That’s before people began to operate it and realized the many benefits of having a single Pratt & Whitney PT6 up front. That first TBM was long on range and speed — around 290 knots at high cruise — and miserly on operating costs.
We Fly: Daher-Socata TBM 900
Key Takeaways:
- The TBM 900 is the latest and most significant evolution in the TBM series, boasting a higher cruise speed of 330 knots (approaching light jet performance) while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency.
- Its enhanced performance is due to a "Century Project" involving extensive use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for drag reduction, a redesigned carbon fiber cowling, and the addition of efficiency-boosting winglets.
- Key operational improvements include an upgraded five-blade propeller, a new torque limiter for increased takeoff power, a simplified single power control lever, and a standard pilot door, all contributing to a better flying experience and increased utility.
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