Daher TBM 980: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide
Pros:
The aircraft is among the fastest single-engine turboprops on the market. It is equipped with modern Garmin technology, and has one of the strongest manufacturer support networks out there.
Cons:
The 980 has a smaller cabin restricting passenger comfort compared with competitors. It also has a single engine set up which means it lacks redundancy versus its twin-engined competitors.
Flying:
The TBM 980 cruises at max speed of 330 KTAS with a max range of 1,730nm. These numbers place it among the top of the single-engine turboprop class. Its closest competitor, the Epic E1000GX which cruises just over 330 KTAS only offers a max range of around 1,560nm at maximum cruise, meaning the TBM 980 has a significant range advantage despite flying a similar maximum speed. Additionally, against the Pilatus PC-12 NGX, which cruises at 290 KTAS with a max range of 1,803nm, the TBM trades distance for being slightly faster.
The 980 has the proven PT6E-66XT engine and a five-blade Hartzell composite propeller which was on the TBM 960. This is controlled by a full authority digital engine control system; this means real world reliable data already exists across hundreds of airframes. The FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system controls the engine electronically; this massively reduces the pilot’s workload. This makes the aircraft more accessible for owner-pilots.
The TBM’s service ceiling is 31,000ft. The Epic E1000 GX reaches 34,000ft, while the PC-12 NGX is limited to 30,000ft.
Owning:
The TBM 960 is listed at $5.82m (£4.34m), pricing it competitively against the likes of the Epic E1000 GX. Daher includes a factory maintenance package covering the first five years or 1,000 hours of planned maintenance, including annual inspections. This gets rid of a large portion of stress and financial uncertainty on first-time turboprop owners.
The PT6E-66XT engine gains from one of the most extensive support networks in business aviation. This is a serious positive over more niche competitors where acquiring available parts can become a headache. Daher’s global reach means that wherever your aircraft is based, maintenance won’t be far away.
The TBM 980 features the new Garmin G3000 Prime integrated flight deck. It contains three 14-inch edge-to-edge touchscreen displays, with an app-based interface which allows pilots to access radios, transponder, flight plans etc, without navigating multiple menus. It has a cockpit that feels closer to an iPad compared with a traditional aircraft avionics suite.
The TBM 980’s modern features also make it one of the safest turboprops on the market. It has an e-copilot safety suite that comes as standard; which includes an emergency descent mode. Its major safety feature is the HomeSafe emergency Autoland feature. This is a button in the center of the cockpit; when pressed and held if a pilot is incapacitated, the aircraft will communicate with the nearest suitable airport and land itself. These safety features are what can really make an owner transitioning from twin-engine to single feel safer.
The cabin pressure at higher altitudes makes the 980 shine versus the competition. At the TBM’s maximum ceiling of FL310, the altitude is around 8,500ft. This is noticeably lower than the PC-12 NGX at around 9,400ft, and the Epic E1000 GX’s at 9,700ft.
Travelling:
The biggest weakness that the TBM 980 possesses is its cabin size. Compared to its more spacious competitors, it makes it impossible for the TBM 980 to match the level of comfort over longer-distance flights. It is 4ft high and 3ft 11in wide, this makes it a narrow intimate space. This is one of the major consequences of its aerodynamic designed fuselage. If your plan is to typically carry a few passengers, then the cabin space is more than adequate, but if someone takes 5-6 passengers it can become claustrophobic. Compared with the PC-12 NGX which seats up to 10 people and is 4ft 10in high and 5t wide, the compromise for speed is clear.
Even with the lack of space the TBM 980 makes up for it with the interior quality. The cabin features customisable ambient lighting, heated seats and a touchscreen-controlled environment. Passenger comfort controls include electrically dimmable windows and LED ceiling lighting, as well as live flight data via a screen. A Starlink Mini satellite comes standard with the aircraft, enabling a productive environment for business.
Hard Facts: Daher TBM 980
- Range: 1,991mi/3205km/1730nm
- Maximum Speed: 380mph/611kmph/330KTAS
- Service Ceiling: 31,000ft
- Typical Passengers: 5 PAX + Pilot
- Typical Crew: 1 Pilot
- Typical Price (new): $5.8 / £4.3 million