FLYING's First Look: Daher TBM 960

Subtle changes now should reap large benefits for this turboprop’s pilots over the long term.

Monday, April 11, 2022 at 01:41 PM ET

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Editor-in-chief Julie Boatman took a satisfying first flight in the Daher TBM 960, the latest in the TBM lineage. [Photo: Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The TBM 960's most notable new feature is an automated engine start, powered by the new Pratt & Whitney PT6E-66XT engine.
The new engine includes digital data capture and contributes to an extended 5,000-hour TBO.
The aircraft refines its predecessor, the TBM 940, by integrating existing capabilities into a more cohesive and valuable package for pilots.
The author's flight experience emphasizes the 960's smooth performance and positive feel during various flight maneuvers.

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The most obvious change lies in the automated engine start—and we sequenced through that procedure first.

After that, the differences between the 960 and its predecessor, the 940, are subtle ones, integrations of various elements and capabilities that the series collected. They now come together in a package that should prove its worth to pilots and owners.