DAHER
DaherTBM 960: the single-turboprop that can land itself
The TBM 960, Daher's latest single-turboprop launched in 2022, stands out for combining high performance, cutting-edge digital technology and simplified operation. Equipped with the PT6E-66XT electronically controlled engine, Raptor composite propeller and Garmin G3000 avionics with automatic landing, the model reinforces Daher's leadership in the light business aviation segment and especially serves owner-pilots.
Since taking over the TBM program, Daher has promoted constant improvements in the single-turboprop family, incorporating a series of innovations in recent years. The most recent, the TBM 960, was launched in 2022, during Sun 'n Fun, and presented several new features aimed mainly at serving owner-pilots in the United States and standing out among its main competitors, especially Piper's PA-46 family.
It is no coincidence that the TBM family leads Daher's sales and deliveries. In 2024, 56 TBM 960s were delivered, more than half of which were to recurring operators. The United States leads the market, but Brazil is considered by Daher to be one of the most dynamic markets, having received four aircraft last year. In recent years, the light single-turboprop segment has grown steadily, with the category totaling more than 140 deliveries last year.
The TBM originally emerged as a response to the demands of private operators seeking to combine capacity, range and speed at a low cost, initially having pressurized piston single-engine aircraft as an option.
The market's advancement and the emergence of new technologies, especially the reliability of PT6 engines, have allowed the launch of new aircraft, such as the Caravan, a do-it-all aircraft with good capacity and that can operate on short, unprepared runways.
Faced with the positive market outlook and a unique opportunity, the then French company SOCATA, heir to the legendary Morane-Saulnier, and the American company Mooney Aviation (now Mooney International Corporation) created a joint venture to develop a new turboprop aircraft. The basic premise of the project was precisely to meet the growing interest of owners in fast, efficient and easy-to-operate aircraft.
In the 1980s, general aviation faced legal barriers in the United States, which extended liability for accidents to manufacturers. This made the production of light aircraft with piston engines unfeasible, leaving a market vacuum. Mooney had worked years earlier on the Mooney 301, a high-performance six-seater pressurized aircraft with retractable landing gear and equipped with a 360 hp Lycoming TIO-540 engine. The highlight was that it was a pressurized model, at the time a segment that was well-received by owners in the United States. The first and only aircraft made its maiden flight in April 1983, and two years later, despite legal restrictions, the project was revised to offer a superior and unprecedented aircraft. The solution was to take advantage of the original idea, replacing the engine with a turboprop. In the end, the aircraft was heavier than the original design, but with more than twice the available power. Thus, the TBM 700 was born, which inaugurated a new phase in general aviation, competing directly with models such as the Piper PA-46, which still used a piston engine but offered excellent performance figures.
The name was inspired by the partnership between the new owners and Mooney, with TB referring to Tarbes, the city in France where SOCATA was then headquartered, and the M an allusion to Mooney. When it entered service in 1990, the TBM 700 set a new standard in the light single-engine aircraft segment, with high levels of reliability and speed, and was able to fly higher, faster and further.
After Daher took over the project entirely, the TBM family began to incorporate constant developments, aiming to meet the needs and demands of the main users. The TBM 960 is the most recent version, which was highlighted by the adoption of the new PT6E-66XT engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada, integrated with the so-called e-throttle and digital management controls, as well as improved cabin control, a renewed environmental system, LED ambient lighting and electrically adjustable windows.
Despite the various improvements, the highlight was the engine, which features dual-channel electronic control (EPECS) and is coupled to the Raptor five-blade propeller, manufactured in composite material by Hartzell Propeller. Thanks to EPECS, the PT6E-66XT is computer-controlled and requires only a switch to start. The e-throttle, with a single lever, also facilitates operation and maintenance. The system allows for better management of the engine speed in all phases, from takeoff to landing, in addition to reducing the pilot's workload and extending the engine's useful life.
Another important point was the new Raptor propeller, specifically designed to reduce the total weight and improve the TBM 960's takeoff, climb and cruising speed. In addition, rotating at 1,925 rpm during maximum power, it helps to limit noise and vibration, with a noise level of 76.4 decibels during takeoff.
In addition, the aircraft has an ice protection system, flight envelope monitoring through the Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and Under-speed Protection (USP) systems, the Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) function, and is also equipped with the Garmin GDL 60, which allows automatic database upload and interconnection with mobile devices. The TBM 960 is also equipped with Garmin's 4G LTE/Wi-Fi datalink transmitter, allowing automatic database upload and flight/engine data log upload.
The improvements also include new ergonomically improved seats, one of the most talked about points by owners who fly with executives or family members. Due to their limited dimensions, and the dynamics of the six-seater category, the seats are items of special attention among users. Despite praise for their comfort, engineers and designers have been working with the latest trends in ergonomics and posture to offer more comfortable seats, especially for medium and long-haul flights.
Following a trend that has been common for several years, Daher has included new USB-A and USB-C power ports — the latter should be standard in the electronics industry. The individual cup holders and headphone holders for each occupant have also been redesigned, seeking to improve ergonomics and functionality. Aesthetics have also been relevant in the updates, with exclusive paint options for each launch.
The adoption of a new engine and new features in the avionics suite are part of Daher's strategy to especially serve owner-pilots, who use the aircraft as a work and leisure tool, in private operations. And also keep TBM competitive against rivals that are continually evolving.
Vivaero
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