What is it like to fly a TBM?

drotto said:
I would love to fly a TBM, I have no idea if they are the best at what they do. Do think that the new Piper M600 is going to be a serious contender.
Click to expand...

I was reading the specs on the Piper M600 and I did a side by side comparison:

(PIPER M600)
Pratt Whitney Canada PT6A
Max Cruise 260 Knots
Max Range 1,300 NM
Payload, (With full fuel)1000 Pounds



(TBM 900)
Pratt Whitney Canada PT6A
Max Cruise 330 knots
Max Range 1,730 NM
Payload, (With full fuel) 720

Sources:

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...04-13/piper-launches-new-m600-and-m350-models

http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/turboprops/daher-socata-tbm-900-versus-world-comparison-specs
 
Last edited:
TEFLONSEAN said:
Not sure why you wonder why? Or if "working " is your criteria?

TBM for the most part are owner/operator aircraft. Like Meridians.

Bunch of PC 12 lovers on here trying to compare.....it's a completely different animal. PC -12 has is own niche and really only itself to compare to....which has served it well. Majority of PC 12 are not owner operated.
Click to expand...

Well all I'm saying is, to say it's the best single-engine turboprop is a very broad statement. yes, if you want to go fast it is probably the best, but if your mission is to haul lots of people with lots of stuff it isn't the best.
 
DavidWhite said:
Well all I'm saying is, to say it's the best single-engine turboprop is a very broad statement. yes, if you want to go fast it is probably the best, but if your mission is to haul lots of people with lots of stuff it isn't the best.
Click to expand...

Very much so.
Considering the fact the TBM has the market all to itself, it really is the best in it's market.
 
DavidWhite said:
Well that is an incredibly opinionated statement.

It might be the best single engine turboprop on the market....if you want a TBM.

Theres very few "working" TBMs, I wonder why?
Click to expand...


I see quite a few TBM's at KSPG all of the time refueling. Are you saying that maintenance is quite extensive?
 
I see quite a few PC-12's as well. I would like to get into both airplanes to see for myself. At OSH do they ever have a Pilatus PC-12 display. I will look out for it when I get there in 2016! looking forward to it!
 
FloridaPilot said:
I see quite a few PC-12's as well. I would like to get into both airplanes to see for myself. At OSH do they ever have a Pilatus PC-12 display. I will look out for it when I get there in 2016! looking forward to it!
Click to expand...

Yep. Pc12, Tbm 900, epic, kestrel - pretty much all the SE turbo props

Edit: forgot - and meridian. Probably caravan (for David) as well.
 
FloridaPilot said:
I see quite a few TBM's at KSPG all of the time refueling. Are you saying that maintenance is quite extensive?
Click to expand...

No, I'm saying they are fast, but incredibly expensive to acquire and if your mission is going from paved airport to paved airport quickly with just a few people, then they are fine. Otherwise, the PC12 is a much much much more capable airplane.
 
Last edited:
DavidWhite said:
Otherwise, the PC12 is a much much much more capable airplane.
Click to expand...

Yes it is but if you don't need the additional space, the TBM is less expensive to operate and on top of that faster. I agree it is not a working plane like the PC12 but for a private operator it is hard to beat.

As far as the original question, here is an interesting article where some TBM700 crashes were analyzed:

http://www.bea.aero/etudes/loss.of.....fast.single.engine.turboprop.aircraft.en.pdf

It sounds like it can be a handful when going around. High torque, low speed and being slow to react can be deadly.
 
DavidWhite said:
No, I'm saying they are fast, but incredibly expensive to acquire and if your mission is going from paved airport to paved airport quickly with just a few people, then they are fine. Otherwise, the PC12 is a much much much more capable airplane.
Click to expand...

Why do you say that?
 
FloridaPilot said:
Why do you say that?
Click to expand...

The PC-12 carries (a lot) more, costs less, requires less maintenance, and is just as happy on muddy gravel as it is on manicured concrete. The TBM has a narrow mission profile; it does one thing extremely well. The PC-12 does a lot of things pretty well and still goes decently fast.
 
gasfiltered said:
The PC-12 carries (a lot) more, costs less, requires less maintenance, and is just as happy on muddy gravel as it is on manicured concrete. The TBM has a narrow mission profile; it does one thing extremely well. The PC-12 does a lot of things pretty well and still goes decently fast.
Click to expand...

That is right but isn't the PC-12 a few million more?
 
gasfiltered said:
The PC-12 carries (a lot) more, costs less, requires less maintenance, and is just as happy on muddy gravel as it is on manicured concrete. The TBM has a narrow mission profile; it does one thing extremely well. The PC-12 does a lot of things pretty well and still goes decently fast.
Click to expand...

Costs less??...Less maint??

Gotta love POA.:rolleyes:

PC12 carries a lot more??? Yes possible with configuration....for shorter distance. PC12 is in it own category...not much to compare it with. (Great airplane no doubt)

Payload full fuel....Pc 12 has 70 more lbs than TBM. Range about 200 more nm.

For 1.2 mil more. (Btw mx will be more on the PC12....for those in the know)
 
Last edited:
gasfiltered said:
The PC-12 carries (a lot) more, costs less, requires less maintenance, and is just as happy on muddy gravel as it is on manicured concrete. The TBM has a narrow mission profile; it does one thing extremely well. The PC-12 does a lot of things pretty well and still goes decently fast.
Click to expand...

Quite incorrect. Maybe you're comparing a much older PC12 to a new TBM on acquisition cost?

As for maintenance... Try 50% to 100% increased cost for the PC12 compared to the TBM! I've heard of $80k annuals for the PC12 and I'm not talking about a HSI...

The good news is that anybody seriously considering these two will not be doing their research on POA. At least I hope not. :eek:
 
narchee said:
Quite incorrect. Maybe you're comparing a much older PC12 to a new TBM on acquisition cost?

As for maintenance... Try 50% to 100% increased cost for the PC12 compared to the TBM! I've heard of $80k annuals for the PC12 and I'm not talking about a HSI...

The good news is that anybody seriously considering these two will not be doing their research on POA. At least I hope not. :eek:
Click to expand...

No idea the mx costs, company strokes those checks, but as for weight and range and mission, a /45 will haul a bunch, get something fancy like a NG Spectre and you're not talking about a aircraft that would even be mentioned in the same conversation as a TBM.
 
AKBill said:
My uncle had a TBM and flew it for 2 years then he sold it and got a PC12. I never got to fly in either, he lived in DC and I was living in Alaska.

Asked him why he sold the TBM, he told me Janet (my aunt) wanted a restroom.

He also told me he hired a ATP to fly with him to keep the insurance costs down in the TBM.
Click to expand...

I noticed that not ALL PC-12's have restrooms even the newer ones. Is that an option?
 
You must be looking at the 9 seat commuter configured ones. Anything with a 6 or 8 seat configuration is going to have the lav by the front door.
 
FloridaPilot said:
Why would you have a bathroom by the front door?
Click to expand...


Its actually a pretty neat design. Directly across from the front door is the lav closet. It has double doors hinged in opposite directions. One folds out and closes off the cockpit and the other closed off the cabin, giving the occupant plenty of room and privacy.
 
Sounds like an efficient use of space to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Dave Theisen said:
Its actually a pretty neat design. Directly across from the front door is the lav closet. It has double doors hinged in opposite directions. One folds out and closes off the cockpit and the other closed off the cabin, giving the occupant plenty of room and privacy.
Click to expand...

I'm more of a visual person. Have you seen any photos of it out in internet space?


Thanks!
 
Dave Theisen said:
Google pc12 lavatory. You'll see it.
Click to expand...

Ah I got it,

I rather have the bathroom in the back, (Just me). If I am a pilot I don't want to smell people going in and out of there, (Bad experiences with Commercial I guess)!

Thanks!
 
It would make it easier for the flight crew to use without bothering the pax though...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TEFLONSEAN said:
Costs less??...Less maint??

Gotta love POA.:rolleyes:

PC12 carries a lot more??? Yes possible with configuration....for shorter distance. PC12 is in it own category...not much to compare it with. (Great airplane no doubt)

Payload full fuel....Pc 12 has 70 more lbs than TBM. Range about 200 more nm.

For 1.2 mil more. (Btw mx will be more on the PC12....for those in the know)
Click to expand...

From the manufacturers websites I get,
Pc12 full fuel payload- 1209lbs TBM-891lbs= 318 not 70 lbs.

It's hard to compare range because Pilatus uses NBAA IFR range and Socata uses 45 min reserve.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top