We Fly TBM 930

With the addition of Garmin G3000 touch-screen avionics and interior improvements,Daher has created another masterpiece.

- Stephen Pope

Daher’s TBM family of airplanes has attracted a cult following of passionate owners — nearly 800 of them and counting since the original TBM 700 emerged almost 30 years ago — for reasons that should be a mystery to no one. Distilled to their essence, the current production TBM 900 and the brand-new TBM 930 hold the distinction of being the fastest single-engine production airplanes in existence. They can operate from remarkably short runways and have the range to skip intermediate fuel stops required of lesser airplanes. Inside, the 930 is stylish and comfortable with room for six in an elegantly remodeled Elite interior that rivals those of many light jets. It’s not hyperbole to proclaim this is the best TBM yet. morning

The biggest change to the 930, of course, is the addition of its version of Garmin’s G3000 avionics, the same system found in various forms today in the HondaJet, Cessna M2 and CJ3+, Embraer Phenom 300, Cirrus Vision Jet and Piper M600. Besides including two user-friendly touchscreens for interfacing with the avionics, technology enhancements to the TBM 930 also bring Garmin’s electronic stability protection (ESP), under speed protection (USP), emergency descent mode (EDM), and voice warnings for stalls, landing-gear extension, over speed and cabin pressure, which replace beeps, horns and chimes used before with attention-grabbing verbal warnings such as “stall, stall,” “check gear” and “use oxygen mask.”

PUTTING THE 930 TO THE TEST