Daher has delivered the 1,300th aircraft from its TBM family, nearly 36 years after the first example entered service.
The milestone aircraft was a TBM 980 delivered to a U.S. customer, the company said during AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany, where it is also showcasing the latest version of the aircraft.
The program began in 1990 with the TBM 700, originally developed through a partnership between France’s Socata and U.S.-based Mooney. The aircraft became known for combining cruise speeds of around 330 knots with lower operating costs than light jets and the ability to use shorter runways.
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That formula helped the TBM create a segment of high-performance single-engine turboprops aimed at owner-pilots and business aviation customers. Competitors include the Pilatus PC-12 — which offers more cabin space but lower cruise speeds — and the Beechcraft Denali, which is still in development.
The product line later evolved into the TBM 850 before Daher took full control of the program in 2014. Since then, the manufacturer has focused on incremental upgrades rather than launching a replacement aircraft, introducing several variants within the TBM 900 series.
Nearly half of all TBMs delivered belong to the 900-series family, which includes the current TBM 960 and TBM 980 models.
Both aircraft use Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engines paired with five-blade Hartzell propellers and digital engine controls. Recent upgrades have also focused on avionics and cabin improvements as Daher seeks to keep the aircraft competitive while extending the life of one of general aviation’s longest-running turboprop programs.
