French manufacturer Daher has delivered the 900th TBM single-engined turbo-prop.
The G3000-equipped TBM 930 was delivered to a customer in Jacksonville, Florida, last month.
Daher manufactures the TBM 900-series aircraft–the sixth evolution from the original TBM 700–which are offered in two production versions: the TBM 930, incorporating Garmin’s G3000 integrated flight deck and touch screen controls, and the TBM 910, with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics.
According to Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the Daher Airplane Business Unit, the TBM platform was in for the long haul.
“We are committed to maintaining the TBM as best-in-class for the long-term, and will continue a sustained production rate for the aircraft,” he said “This will be supported by our extensive in-house design, development and engineering capabilities, backed by the full support of our Daher parent company’s technical and financial resources.
“For the past 30 years, our TBM family has set the standards in its class, becoming business aviation’s second-best selling aircraft.”
The TBM 900 family has become the fastest-selling TBM versions ever with 238 aircraft produced since the series was unveiled in March 2014, eclipsing the original TBM 700 and 800 series. The maiden flight occurred in July 1988, with its 30-year milestone of the original TBM 700's initial take-off being recognised during Daher’s participation at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in this year.
The design of the TBM range reaches back to the Mooney 301 concept, when Mooney and Socata collaborated in the early 1980s to produce a fast single-engined, pressurised aeroplane. Although Mooney dropped out of the program, Socata persisted, changing the original 360-hp piston engine to a PT6-A turbine.
According to Daher, the only legacy of the Mooney 301 in the TBM 900 series is the spoilers.