French manufacturer Daher this week delivered the 600th example of the TBM 900-series single-engined turbo-prop (STEP).
The milestone aircraft, a TBM 960 was presented to its new owner Jim Baum at the Paris Air Show for private operations.
Daher developed the TBM 900 series from the original TBM 700 and subsequent TBM 850 variants. The 900 series was introduced in 2014, and has proven the most successful, accounting for nearly 50% of all TBMs made.
"Attributes for the TBM’s success include its combination of jet-like speeds with turboprop performance, opening access to shorter runways, lowering fuel consumption and providing operational efficiency,” said Nicholas Chabbert, CEO of Daher's aircraft division.
“Today’s milestone TBM 960 delivery to Jim Baum is particularly appropriate, as he exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of TBM owners who innovate and propel the world forward.”
In 2016, Daher introduced the TBM 930, equipped with Garmin G3000 touch-screen integrated flight deck, and the mid-category TBM 910 in 2018, which featured G1000 NXi avionics.
IThat model was followed in 2019 by the TBM 940, which became one of the first aircraft equipped with the revolutionary autoland system in 2020.
The TBM 960, unveiled by Daher Aircraft in 2022, integrates the new PT6E-66XT turbo-prop engine developed specifically for Daher.
The TBM series, made at Daher's factory in Tarbes, France, was originally a concept of US-manufacturer Mooney (hence the M in TBM). Since the first TBM 700, the fleet is thought to have completed 2.6 million flight hours around the world.