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 original 700 model to the latest 980, is highly acclaimed for its class-leading speed, superior performance, and attractive design, setting a benchmark for single-engine turboprops in general aviation.
Originating from a unique collaboration between Mooney and French aerospace companies, the TBM 700 successfully debuted in 1990, revitalizing general aviation during a period when many other promising turboprop projects failed.
Owning a TBM offers a significant upgrade in performance and efficiency but demands a serious commitment to intensive training, frequent flying, and complex maintenance due to its high speed and advanced systems.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.