Daher TBM 960 INTRODUCTION
This is the TBM, one of the most important personal planes in aviation today, a serious
creation of French engineering, performance that is second to none, better than single engine jets,
highly practical, fast, and efficient, and a pilot's better alternative to the Vision Jet, This
is the Daher TBM-930; a hero of general aviation. Currently produced by Daher, a French aircraft
manufacturer and industrial equipment supplier with more than a century of innovation behind it,
it is the heir to the legendary Morane Saulnier company, which got into the aircraft manufacturing
business in 1911. This makes Daher the oldest (still operating) aircraft manufacturer in the
world. So, if there is one thing that characterises the company's aircraft,
it is the experience and reliability of its products. The company specialises in single-engine
turboprop aircraft and has produced two types of these birds: the Kodiak series, a family of
all-terrain and multipurpose aircraft widely used around the world by humanitarian organisations,
government agencies, and air ambulance operators; and the TBM series, one of the fastest
single-engine turboprop aircraft families in the world and a true benchmark in the aviation sector.
Daher TBMs offer freedom to take to the skies, providing jet-like speeds while ensuring ease
of operation and maintenance. The newest member of the TBM family is the 960 model, unveiled on
April 5, 2022, at the Sun 'N Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, USA. The 960 sets new standards
of excellence, ensuring precision piloting in all phases of flight and benefiting from its advanced
new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engine and Hartzell Raptor five-blade composite propeller.
Interested in learning more about this bird? Of course, you are, it is an aviation legend. Let's
see its characteristics in detail, shall we? DESIGN/EXTERIOR
The Daher TBM 960 could be without any problem James Bond's favourite aircraft—it’s stunning!
Its exterior appearance is captivating, with aggressive but stylized lines that give it an
attractive and fast appearance, which transmits a feeling of solidity and confidence when
flying. This bird measures 35.2 feet long, has a 43-foot wingspan, and stands at a height of 14.29
feet. Its structure is made mostly of composite materials, with the special presence of aluminium,
steel, and carbon fibre to ensure a light weight while maintaining the aerodynamic profile that
allows it to achieve great flying performance. The wing has a very efficient fowler flap that
comprises 80% of the trailing edge span, in order to reduce the stall speed of the aircraft during
flight operations. The retractable tricycle landing gear is equipped with reinforced wheels
and tough tires, which means you can bounce it all day on the runway with no problems (not the
Ryanair kind of bounce, haha). TBM offers a range of five standard paint schemes for the exterior,
and they have a configuration tool on their website that offers the client a variety of
up to 105 colours to customise the exterior appearance of their aircraft and be able to
appreciate the results in 3D, with simulations of in-flight, ground, daylight, or night conditions.
It is a perfect tool for those who like to be different. With the launch of the TBM 960,
a new exterior paint scheme was included in the aircraft's customization possibilities. This new
style, called "Sirocco," is based on a study by French designer Alexandre Echasseriau. The level
of customization is such that it offers customers two finishes for the aircraft's propeller:
a standard polished aluminium finish and a premium matte black finish. Of course,
if you want the latter, you will have to pay an additional 1,500 dollars, but there is no
doubt that the distinction is worth it, and it is these small details that make the difference.
INTERIOR It is an aircraft
specially designed to be operated by a single pilot; its interior is focused on offering
comfort to all occupants and facilitating the use of operations by the pilot. Access to and from
the aircraft is through a large door located just behind the left wing of the plane. For the pilot,
there is a front door that makes crew access a breeze. Internally, the TBM measures 13 feet,
3 inches in cabin length, 3 feet, 11 inches in width, and with a height of 4 feet,
you certainly can’t stand inside this plane. As it could not be otherwise, its cabin is fully
pressurized. Leg room is relatively good but not exceptional. In a club seating arrangement,
you won’t be particularly comfortable if the person sitting in front of you has long legs.
The control of all cabin lighting uses LED technologies and is fully digital. This,
combined with superior cabin soundproofing, offers greater comfort for everyone on board.
Its fully ergonomically designed seats are electrically heated, and each occupant can
adjust the heating option as desired. There are individual cup holders and headphone holders for
each passenger, as well as hangers behind the rear seats. Other conveniences include a side
folding table to facilitate in-flight work days. Its 123 cubic feet of space can accommodate a
pilot and five passengers in its elegant Prestige cabin, which elevates user comfort to new heights
with its touchscreen-activated environmental control system, ambient lighting to make it always
pleasant, and electrically regulated windows. Its windows are adjustable thanks to the electrically
variable blind system that darkens the windows and manages individual or simultaneous control,
allowing the cabin to be darkened to protect it from the sun's rays and heat. The TBM 960 provides
its users with interior customization with up to eight different unique styling configurations. As
part of the Prestige package, top-grain leather is used on all seating surfaces and panels, combined
with ultra-suede on the sides of the seats. The cabin configuration is completed by an adjustable
air conditioning system and dimmer portholes. The reconfigurable seats allow an internal arrangement
of only four seats to increase the available cargo space to 507 pounds. Maximum luggage
volume stands at 35 cubic feet. Oh, I forgot to mention something important. The TBM 960
makes it easy to stay connected and entertained while flying, thanks to its SiriusXM satellite
radio and 14/24-volt ports with USB-A and USB-C interfaces for connecting mobile devices. From
every angle you look at it, this aircraft has the most advanced technology available;
you won't be short of anything. ENGINE
The TBM 960 is powered by a novel and advanced intelligent engine, specifically the PT6E-66XT
from Pratt & Whitney Canada. The set is completed by Hartzell Propeller's five-bladed raptor
propeller, a fully integrated propulsion system designed specifically to reduce overall weight,
improve the aircraft's performance on short runways, and contribute to fuel economy. Not
bad! The engine has a thermodynamic power of 1,844 hp and a nominal power of 850 hp,
while the propeller reaches 1,925 rpm, resulting in a reduced noise impact,
in line with international noise standards. Both the propeller and the engine are linked
to the aircraft's Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System, so starting can be done
automatically by activating a single switch. The Electronic Propeller and Engine Control
System optimises performance during each phase of flight, thus reducing the pilot's workload.
The intelligent engine parameters are fed by more than a hundred intelligent data inputs.
An important new feature is that the complete engine data is accessible on multiple platforms,
including mobile devices using an app, taking the query of engine performance data to new levels.
Another highlight is that the engine's scheduled maintenance intervals were optimised.
The electronic control system eliminates engine hardware, resulting in a combined 40% reduction
in scheduled maintenance. Pratt & Whitney sets a period of 5,000 flight hours between overhauls.
With this, Daher seeks to take full advantage of its technology to develop products that
are low-carbon, thus reducing their environmental footprint and positioning themselves as one of the
leading aviation manufacturers in environmental responsibility. Now, that's what I call a win-win!
PERFORMANCE Its 850-hp PT6E-66XT engine
gives the 960 a maximum cruise speed of up to 330 knots at 28,000 feet. For long-range flights,
a cruising speed of 252 knots allows you a maximum range of 1,730 nautical miles,
while the range decreases to 1,440 nm if the maximum cruise speed of 326 knots is used.
The climb rate is excellent, and the time to 31,000 feet is 18 minutes. The maximum payload is
1,446 lb, and the fuel capacity is 292 gallons. It needs a runway distance of 2,535 feet to takeoff,
while for landing it needs about 2,430 feet of runway distance. Daher claims that under the
recommended speed configuration, the aircraft has a fuel consumption of 57 gallons per hour,
representing up to 10% fuel savings over previous versions. That's
something! AVIONICS
The avionics provide a completely superior piloting experience thanks to the Garmin
G3000 suite, controlled by three touch screens that present synoptic graphics for electrical,
airframe, and fuel systems, thus enabling better monitoring and faster and easier
problem resolution. This avionics system enables e-copilot functions as well as flight envelope
monitoring through the Electronic Stability and Protection and Under Speed Protection systems,
as well as the Emergency Descent Mode function and the revolutionary HomeSafe
automatic emergency landing system. What do you think so far? And we haven't reached the
best part yet... SYSTEMS
Another major new feature of the TBM 960 is Garmin's GWX 8000 doppler weather radar,
which incorporates advanced surveillance and safety features such as turbulence detection,
hail and lightning prediction, as well as ground clutter suppression and zero blind range for close
returns. The TBM 960 has also become the first aircraft to apply Garmin's next-generation GDL 60
data transmitters, which enables and facilitates interfacing with mobile devices and automatic
database upload. VARIANTS
As mentioned above, Daher's TBM series has focused on the development of fast aircraft,
but has not neglected other aspects; in fact, it offers aircraft with a very competitive
cost-performance ratio compared to the existing options on the market. Although the manufacturer
currently only produces the TBM 960 and TBM 910 models, these have a significant number
of predecessors that have evolved over the years to reach the configurations currently offered.
Starting with the TBM 700 series, with its A, B, C1, C2, and N models, this series was
the initial production version and was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 turboprop
engine. This series included variants with a wider entrance door as in the case of the 700B or with a
depressurized rear trunk and reinforced structure as in the C1 model. The TBM 850 series followed,
with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D turboprop engine rated at 850 hp in flight,
giving this series higher performance. Two other variants of this series are the TBM 850 G1000,
which, as the name implies, is integrated with the G1000 flight deck and has a modification
for fuel tank enlargement, and the TBM 850 Elite, a version with four cabin seats in a
forward-facing configuration, thus allowing for a larger cargo area behind the cabin. Finally,
starting in 2013, the 900 series appears on the market, bringing
with it several aerodynamic refinements such as winglets and a redesigned induction system.
In this series, the five-bladed carbon fibre Hartzell propeller was no longer optional and
became standard, increasing performance and reducing cabin noise and vibration during
flight. The TBM 930 enhanced the TBM 900 line in 2016, bringing upgraded interiors and avionics,
including the Garmin G3000 touchscreen suite. Then, the TBM 940, introduced in 2019, included
an auto-throttle and an automatic de-icing system and came to replace the 930 model. The TBM 910,
introduced in April 2017, integrated an enhanced avionics suite, equipping a Garmin G1000 NXi.
It came to replace the TBM 900, and as of June 2022, it is offered alongside the new TBM 960,
which in turn replaced the 940 model. Yeeees! Just when you thought the 940 was the best of them all,
something much better arrived! The TBM 960 and TBM 910 have been designed to perform a wide range of
special missions with the capability to provide fast, all-weather, deployable airborne platforms
as well as surveillance and aerial photography operations. Their versatility and reconfiguration
capabilities also make these aircraft ideal for more traditional flight operations,
such as charter flights, light cargo transport, and medical evacuations. making it clear that
the range of uses for the TBM series is quite extensive. This aircraft just keeps getting better
and better, just like wine. MARKET
Now that we understand better how this aircraft works and know more about its characteristics,
it is time to compare it with another aviation giant and see how much it is worth. For years,
the French manufacturer has had remarkable success in the U.S. market, and it is precisely here where
it sells most of its production; approximately 80% of the TBMs produced fly within the United States,
however, their aircraft can be purchased by customers anywhere in the world,
so you do not have to worry. But the important question is: how much does this beauty cost?
If you want to purchase a TBM 960, you must be willing to shell out 4.8 million dollars
for the standard version. The price of the aircraft exceeds $5million with
customizations. And do you want to know what the estimated cost of a flight per hour is?
Well, it is around 1,100 dollars. While the TBM 960 is a standout aircraft in
the single-engine turboprop segment, it is not the only heavyweight representative;
one of its closest competitors is the Epic E1000. The performance characteristics are quite similar;
the Epic E1000 started commercial production in 2020, so it is a modern and recent aircraft. It
is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67 turboprop engine, which equips
a 4-bladed Hartzell propeller with full reverse. It achieves a maximum cruise speed of 325 knots,
although its recommended flight speed is 265 knots for best fuel economy.
Depending on the speed at which it operates, its range varies between 1,385 and 1,650 nautical
miles. Also, its service ceiling is 34,000 feet, slightly higher than that of the TBM 960.
Although the TBM 960 and the Epic E1000 are one-to-one competing aircraft, they are intended
for different audiences, and that is evident in their prices. As the Epic E1000 is a kit option,
its cost is significantly lower than the TBM 960, at around 2.25 million dollars.
The TBM 960 is undoubtedly emerging as a more complete option with technological innovations
that will set the standard in aviation in general, but this does not mean that the Epic
E1000 is a bad option by any means, offering quite outstanding performance, almost on a par, in some
aspects, with the 960. In this way, the price may cause you to reconsider, but it is up to you to
define what you would use this plane for—that is, what is your ultimate goal—to make short
trips or to diffuse yourself at high speed among the clouds. The important thing is that when you
make your decision, the aircraft you choose should fit your budget, but above all, your needs. Money
can’t buy you happiness, but maybe a pleasure like this will haha!. The TBM is by far more sorted out
than the Epic E1000. Epic aircraft haven’t been in business for long, but that doesn’t mean that
the E1000 is underdesigned by any means. With this modern design and manufacturing techniques,
years in business don’t make any difference to the product, but when it comes to the maintenance
network and finding mechanics that are versed in your plane, age plays a significant role, which
means the TBM wins hands down in that aspect. CONS
Despite the versatility of the TBM 960, despite the fact that it is designed to be fast and to
cover medium distances at high speed, there is a certain group of aviators, especially
Cirrus fanboys, that wouldn’t be comfortable in a single engine plane without a parachute,
and then there are those who wouldn’t fly single engine at all; if it’s not a twin-engine plane,
it’s not for them. Will a whole airplane parachute come to a plane like the TBM? Cirrus has already
exemplified that there is no limit to the extent to which safety should be prioritised. The TBM,
despite being a turboprop, outperforms the Vision jet in every direction. Cirrus
already pushed the threshold for innovation to a higher level, and it’s cheaper than the
TBM. The two planes don’t directly compete with each other, but sooner or later, the Vision Jet
will start enticing customers who genuinely need a master of versatility like the TBM.
If other single engine high-speed plane manufacturers like Daher, Piper,
and Epic don’t adapt to the current market standards set by Cirrus, they will surely
see their market share decline in the near future. The hardest part of this adaptation
will be that it will be seriously expensive to re-design these planes to accommodate a parachute,
but it is not impossible. PROS
Now let's take a look at the advantages, because this bird is insaaaaane. The Daher TBM 960 is
an aircraft that stands out in a great number of aspects, one of which is safety, in fact, it has
the most advanced cockpit currently available for aircraft of its type. The inclusion of its
innovative automatic emergency landing system, Home Safe, which can guide the aircraft to a safe
landing in the case of pilot incapacitation during flight, is an aspect that makes this
aircraft something different, providing that extra safety so important for many users. better said,
for all of them. All this has made it possible that, to date more than 1,070 TBM aircraft have
been delivered around the world in their different variants. An additional advantage is that there
is the option of equipping the aircraft with an internal lavatory for long-haul flights,
but only by sacrificing interior space for luggage and occupant capacity. It has a tonne of amazing
features all rolled into one! CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the TBM 960 brings to light all the years of history that the company has behind it,
resulting in a model that has been able to evolve and adapt quickly to modern times,
offering new and more attractive features than its competitors. And let me tell you,
this has to be the sexiest looking single engine aircraft out there! Don’t you think?
Daher never ceases to amaze me… Undoubtedly, this is an aircraft worth flying, especially
if you are a lover of speed, adrenaline, and strong emotions, since taking to the
skies in this aircraft with an intelligent engine will be a totally new and mind-blowing
experience. Let’s just say this is the best in the market, would you be willing to give this
Daher TBM 960 a chance? If you ask me, I want one! This has my name written all over it haha.