What is it like to fly a TBM?

FloridaPilot

FloridaPilot

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I noticed the constant advertisements for a TBM. They look awesome but does anyone know how they fly? Which version did you fly. Seems like a fun, (Expensive) plane to fly!


What are your thoughts?


Thanks!
 
I have not flown one.

It is smaller and faster than a PC-12. It has a much smaller cabin than the PC-12 as well as no restroom. It has a 200-knot limitation on the operation of the inertial separator (wtf?). A friend of mine flew one for about 200 hours. He says he was never completely comfortable in it, especially in marginal conditions.

He's in the PC-12 now, aka the Turbine Suburban.
 
It has electric dick massage !
 
Rode in a TBM-3e once. The wing fold is pretty neat but it is loud and really drafty. :D


Jim R
Collierville, TN

N7155H--1946 Piper J-3 Cub
N3368K--1946 Globe GC-1B Swift
N4WJ--1994 Van's RV-4
 
It's a bit of an odd plane, too small for charter, too big for personal use. Never flown one myself, can't speak from personal experience, I however keep hearing that they require more maintenance than other singles (Meridian or PC-12).
 
It's like flying an Apollo Saturn 5 booster rocket as far as I know.

As far as I'll ever know...
 
There's one hangared near me. It requires a big hangar, and a big tug.

Owner flies himself plus wife and dog. He mentioned once flying nonstop from Oregon to Iowa, but having to refuel in the opposite direction. That's about 1400 NM. I'm sure it's a faster door-to-door experience than flying on the airlines.
 
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I know a guy who is on his second TBM (obviously he likes them, and can afford them). Flew with him 3 times. Plane is fast, and fancy, very stable, and comfortable. I would not want to feed it though... or pay the insurance.
 
We have the west coast dealer at my home airport. A friend was one of the guys who trained new owners there. He loved them, really didn't have much to bad to say about them at all. We usually have a couple dozen around their shop each day, mostly new ones and annuals.
 
Cpt_Kirk said:
I have not flown one.

It has a 200-knot limitation on the operation of the inertial separator (wtf?)
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The specification is 200 KIAS.....so pretty much anywhere in the envelope you would be operating at TBM at.:rolleyes::dunno:

There is nothing better at the moment for a (certified) turbine single. We shall see what the M600 brings to the table but it will probably come up a little short on the numbers compared to the TBM. M600 might be better with overall cost to own....little slower...less gross weight compared to TBM. Meridian downfall has always been gross weight and range. Piper has listened to their customers and will be interesting to see.

PC-12....yes a turbine single....but personally don't consider it to be comparable....its huge. Typically not an owner/operator type of aircraft. Whereas you see many more TBM/Meridian owner operators.
 
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Muttley said:
Turbine singles are the easy to fly alternative for pilots who can afford it but don't maintain their abilities to a professional level.
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Yeah I can think of at least one private TBM and one PC12 who would disagree, well if there was anything left of them.
 
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.
 
Cpt_Kirk said:
I have not flown one.

It is smaller and faster than a PC-12. It has a much smaller cabin than the PC-12 as well as no restroom. It has a 200-knot limitation on the operation of the inertial separator (wtf?). A friend of mine flew one for about 200 hours. He says he was never completely comfortable in it, especially in marginal conditions.

He's in the PC-12 now, aka the Turbine Suburban.
Click to expand...


The PC-12 doesn't have a bathroom either and I think they are two different airplanes. I believe, (I could be wrong) that it's more comparable with the Piper Meridian, (Both planes are pressurized). But most of the specs the TBM blows it out of the water and the price justifies that! If you want speed you have to pay for it! :yesnod:

http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/turboprops/daher-socata-tbm-900-versus-world-comparison-specs
 
First of all When posting to serious questions you would think if you haven't actually flown the TBM Turbo prop you would not post these rediculous answers! I have flown all models 700- 850 - and 900 with over 2000hrs in them. The aircraft is by far the best single engine turboprop on the market. I have flow the Piper, Cessna, and PC12 singles. However, All aircraft has its purpose. The TBM 900 flys well over 315 kts TAS. Which does not have the 200 kts limitation listed in one of the comments. Even with the 850 or 700 the 200 kt is not a cruise restriction. once it is out you are back to the aircrafts red line at 266kts. This aircraft has far less limitations than most and is overwhelming capable for a single engine aircraft. The reliability of the aircraft is great when comparing all other models. Any other real comments please but save the ridiculous posts for another aircraft less capable.

The aircraft is smooth, responsive, and is like the sports car, the PC12 although a great aircraft as well is like flying the family conversion van.

The 5 way Hartzell is amazing and has given the older aircraft a great addition to performance. I have flown all three available propellers and the Hartzell is by far superior!! Would not have it any other way!!
 
Fly900 said:
First of all When posting to serious questions you would think if you haven't actually flown the TBM Turbo prop you would not post these rediculous answers! I have flown all models 700- 850 - and 900 with over 2000hrs in them. The aircraft is by far the best single engine turboprop on the market. I have flow the Piper, Cessna, and PC12 singles. However, All aircraft has its purpose. The TBM 900 flys well over 315 kts TAS. Which does not have the 200 kts limitation listed in one of the comments. Even with the 850 or 700 the 200 kt is not a cruise restriction. once it is out you are back to the aircrafts red line at 266kts. This aircraft has far less limitations than most and is overwhelming capable for a single engine aircraft. The reliability of the aircraft is great when comparing all other models. Any other real comments please but save the ridiculous posts for another aircraft less capable.

The aircraft is smooth, responsive, and is like the sports car, the PC12 although a great aircraft as well is like flying the family conversion van.

The 5 way Hartzell is amazing and has given the older aircraft a great addition to performance. I have flown all three available propellers and the Hartzell is by far superior!! Would not have it any other way!!
Click to expand...

Welcome to POA! Can you talk a little about your experience between the different TBM models? Are they that different?
 
Fly900 said:
First of all When posting to serious questions you would think if you haven't actually flown the TBM Turbo prop you would not post these rediculous answers! I have flown all models 700- 850 - and 900 with over 2000hrs in them. The aircraft is by far the best single engine turboprop on the market. I have flow the Piper, Cessna, and PC12 singles. However, All aircraft has its purpose. The TBM 900 flys well over 315 kts TAS. Which does not have the 200 kts limitation listed in one of the comments. Even with the 850 or 700 the 200 kt is not a cruise restriction. once it is out you are back to the aircrafts red line at 266kts. This aircraft has far less limitations than most and is overwhelming capable for a single engine aircraft. The reliability of the aircraft is great when comparing all other models. Any other real comments please but save the ridiculous posts for another aircraft less capable.

The aircraft is smooth, responsive, and is like the sports car, the PC12 although a great aircraft as well is like flying the family conversion van.

The 5 way Hartzell is amazing and has given the older aircraft a great addition to performance. I have flown all three available propellers and the Hartzell is by far superior!! Would not have it any other way!!
Click to expand...

So what makes it the best single engine turbo prop? You said it has far less limitations than other, can you elaborate?

I don't see how exactly you can compare it to others, everything else is either smaller or bigger, it's kinda the only thing in it's class.
 
WTF?

Tell the chocolate making Swiss to quit naming their planes after our WWII planes.

This is a TBM
361614__tbm-3r-avenger_p.jpg
 
The big difference is between the 700 and the other models. This aircraft only has 700 HP available- the 850 and 900 are 850HP. The 850 is 700 HP for takeoff but once you have the flaps up you can transition to 850HP. The 900 is 850HP all the time. 700 is around 275 Kts Cruise- 850 is 305kts 900 is 315 or more depending on altitude and Temp. The 700 is a great aircraft and still way outperforms the Piper.
 
You are right to a certain point that they are hard to compare. The TBM and Meridian are closer mission aircraft to compare - if you compare them the TBM hands down is more capable. If you are only carrying 6 or less people the TBM is much better in my opinion over the PC12. But if you want a single engine to carry more than 6 and need a restroom then you have to go with a PC12.

I think all the aircraft are great don't get me wrong, but if your mission is 6 or less I would go TBM. Primarily because time is money. Cost per hour is less on the TBM as well. I have not flown the new Piper m600 so I can not compare that aircraft.

I just love to fly and I love flying all of them. The mission is the key to the aircraft !!
 
The Epic e1000 seems like a very nice design and is intended to compete in that 6-place turboprop/turbojet market. Epic as a company has been knocked down but I hope they can get their finances in order and get some aircraft made.

Certification kills.
 
I've been watching SteveO's videos for a while. He regularly flies an 850 for a Part 91 outfit. Here you go:

 
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Fly900 said:
First of all When posting to serious questions you would think if you haven't actually flown the TBM Turbo prop you would not post these rediculous answers! I have flown all models 700- 850 - and 900 with over 2000hrs in them. The aircraft is by far the best single engine turboprop on the market. I have flow the Piper, Cessna, and PC12 singles. However, All aircraft has its purpose. The TBM 900 flys well over 315 kts TAS. Which does not have the 200 kts limitation listed in one of the comments. Even with the 850 or 700 the 200 kt is not a cruise restriction. once it is out you are back to the aircrafts red line at 266kts. This aircraft has far less limitations than most and is overwhelming capable for a single engine aircraft. The reliability of the aircraft is great when comparing all other models. Any other real comments please but save the ridiculous posts for another aircraft less capable.

The aircraft is smooth, responsive, and is like the sports car, the PC12 although a great aircraft as well is like flying the family conversion van.

The 5 way Hartzell is amazing and has given the older aircraft a great addition to performance. I have flown all three available propellers and the Hartzell is by far superior!! Would not have it any other way!!
Click to expand...

I'm not a minivan owner but I'd hardly say the PC12 handles poorly, how much PC12 time do you have and do you work in selling TBMs?

I've seen the PC12 working in every aspect of the world from mini airlines, charter, cargo, military ranging from recon to special ops jump ship to VIP transport, civilian and millitary medevac, Coast guard, Customs, operating on everything from African bush strips to major international airports.

TBMs seem to be rich guy 91 planes with a few 135, it's just different type of plane.

From what I've read the TBM is a nice little family hotrod, but I wouldn't try to compare to to a PC12 or KA.
 
Fly900 said:
The aircraft is by far the best single engine turboprop on the market.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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...

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.
 
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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.
 
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