The First Three Production TBM 900s Are Provided To Their U.S. Pilot-Owners During A Ceremony In Florida

Daher-Socata has delivered the first two production versions of the newest member in its TBM family of very fast, single-engine turboprop business aircraft: the TBM 900. They were presented to their pilot-owner customers last week during a ceremony at Fantasy of Flight Park, Polk City, Florida, which was hosted by Patrick Daher, chairman and CEO of DAHER; Stephane Mayer, CEO of DAHER-SOCATA; and Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher-Socata’s Airplane Business Unit.

One of the TBM 900’s first customers is Larry Glazer, who also is chairman of the TBM Owners and Pilot Association (TBMOPA).  “Our organization appreciates its excellent relationship with Daher-Socata – which has been responsive to our requests and continued willingness to go the extra mile – or should I say kilometer – to make the customers happy,” Glazer said at the delivery ceremony.  “The new TBM 900 is aligned with this commitment, and has everything a customer could expect. It incorporates an all-glass cockpit, cruises faster, climbs faster, is quieter, better looking and just plain sexier.”

The Polk City event was attended by a large audience of aviators, officials, the news media and TBM enthusiasts. It followed Daher-Socata’s official TBM 900 unveiling during the previous week at the company’s Tarbes, France headquarters.

The TBM 900 offers superior performance: a maximum cruise speed of 330 kts, and 1,730 nm maximum range with five adult passengers – the  result of aerodynamic improvements, a fuel consumption reduction to 37 U.S. gallons per hour, along with other aircraft enhancements. 

Developed during a more than three-year program involving 160,000 research and development hours, along with 200 hours of flight testing, the TBM 900 incorporates 26 modifications that build on the solid basis of its Daher-Socata very fast turboprop aircraft family. 

Based on its enhancements, the TBM 900 has generated significant interest among pilots, owners and operators, with more than 40 already ordered.
 
Changes incorporated by Daher-Socata in the TBM 900 include:

• Aerodynamic optimization through the addition of winglets and a vertical tailfin strake, as well as a new tail cone;
• The use of a five-blade composite propeller and redesigned spinner;
• A complete nose-to-firewall redesign for improved engine airflow circulation – featuring a banana-shaped air intake, carbon-fiber cowlings and new exhaust stacks;
• Enhanced human-machine interface features, ranging from an ergonomic control yoke with new functions to the restyled cockpit panel for increased visibility and interaction with secondary system controls;
• A revised cockpit center pedestal that incorporates a single-control throttle operation, associated with a new torque limiter that enables the use of 850 hp. engine power at takeoff;
• A completely revamped electrical system with 300-amp starter generator that allows new avionics and electronic devices to be incorporated on the aircraft.  Its new electric core enables a semi-automatic start-up, while the new-generation 100-amp stand-by alternator provides electrical input in case of power supply loss;
• Increased passenger comfort, benefitting from lower cabin noise levels, an automated pressurization system and new-design seats.

Retaining primary airframe commonality with the predecessor TBM 850 – including its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D powerplant – the enhanced TBM 900 version ensures a proven airframe/engine combination.

By using the available 850 shp. engine power from takeoff, the aircraft’s ground roll is reduced – even in hot-and-high conditions – while its improved climb rate enables the 31,000-ft. ceiling to be reached in 18 minutes, 45 seconds.

(Images provided by Daher-Socata)

FMI: www.tbm.aero