Another FrancoAmerican Treat

Daher—the French industrial conglomerate with focuses in the aerospace, defense, nuclear, and automotive sectors and parent company of both SOCATA and Quest Aircraft—has begun customer deliveries of its TBM-960 aircraft. 

Daher unveiled the 960–the latest, high-end version of its pressurized, single-engine turboprop aircraft—at Sun ‘n Fun 2022 in Lakeland, Florida. The aircraft is motivated by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6E-66XT powerplant and Hartzell five-blade Raptor composite propeller, both of which are linked to a dual-channel, single-lever, digital Engine and Propeller Electronic Control System (EPECS). 

The EPECS facilitates fully automated, single-switch start-up of the PT6E-66XT. The cockpit’s power lever is an e-throttle, utilizing a single forward position from takeoff to landing—with the EPECS fine-tuning powerplant performance throughout the flight envelope—thereby reducing pilot-workload and safeguarding engine health and longevity. 

Up front, the composite Raptor propeller—by reducing weight and maximizing thrust throughout its pitch-limits—improves the TBM-960’s takeoff distance, climb performance, and cruise speed. At maximum power, turning 1,925 takeoff RPMs, the Raptor produces a mere 76.4-decibels—about the same volume as a noisy restaurant and well within even the most restrictive noise standards. 

In addition to the money they’ll save not having to litigate airport noise-infractions, TBM-960 owners will enjoy banking the fuel savings inherent the miserly, 57-gallon/hour fuel burn they’ll realize at Daher’s recommended cruise setting of 308-knots.

The TBM-960’s cockpit is handsomely outfitted with the G3000 integrated flight deck. The suite affords pilots a touchscreen interface that intuitively presents flight and engine instrument displays and communication and navigation radio interfaces.

The system includes, ADS-B, dual transponders, TCASII, synthetic vision technology, weather radar, and a host of data-management features which function—more or less—as a virtual co-pilot. The TBM-960 is the first aircraft to make use of the GDL-60 next-generation data transmitter, which facilitates automatic database uploads and interconnectivity with mobile devices. 

The commencement of deliveries follows certification of the TBM 960 by both the FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

To date, Daher has delivered more than 1,080 TBMs in twelve different versions.

FMI: www.daher.com/en/