If James Bond ever got tired of ejector seats and just wanted to fly to Bali in style while saving on fuel, he’d probably pick the Daher-Socata TBM 850. Why? Because this sleek turboprop is like the iPhone of small aircraft: fast, stylish, and expensive enough to make your accountant cry.
What is the TBM 850, Anyway?
The TBM 850 is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by Daher-Socata (now Daher Aerospace). Launched in 2006 as an upgrade to the TBM 700, the TBM 850 offers jet-like performance while still being technically a propeller-driven plane. Think of it as a Toyota Prius that suddenly decided it wanted to run in Formula 1.
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Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D (basically the rockstar of turboprop engines).
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Max Cruise Speed: ~320 knots (about 593 km/h yes, faster than some budget airlines).
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Range: ~1,500 nautical miles (around 2,780 km enough to escape your relatives).
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Ceiling: 31,000 ft (just shy of airliners, but still above annoying weather).
Why Pilots Love It (Besides Showing Off at the Hangar)
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Speed Demon with a Prop
The TBM 850 isn’t shy about outrunning small jets. It cruises faster than some business jets but burns less fuel. It’s like owning a Ferrari that only drinks one glass of wine instead of a whole barrel. -
Economical-ish
Sure, it costs around $3 million new, but once you’re in the club, it’s cheaper to operate than a jet. Flying 300 knots while sipping Jet-A feels like cheating physics. -
Single Pilot Certified
Yep, you don’t need a co-pilot. Just you, the autopilot, and maybe your dog. It’s literally a one-person private airline.
TBM 850 vs. Jets: The Sibling Rivalry
While your friend brags about his Citation Mustang jet, you can flex with the TBM 850:
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TBM 850: "I can land on shorter runways, use less fuel, and still beat you there."
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Citation Mustang: "But I’m a jet."
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TBM 850: “Yeah, but my maintenance bills don’t look like your divorce settlement.”
Fun Fact: The Name TBM
The name TBM stands for Tarbes (the city in France where it’s built), B (for Bia, the early partner), and M (for Mooney Aircraft). In short, it’s a French-American hybrid. Basically, a croissant that speaks Texas drawl.
The Turboprop That Thinks It’s a Jet
The Daher-Socata TBM 850 proves you don’t need two engines to be fast, luxurious, and business-class fancy. It’s sleek, fuel-efficient, and a favorite for pilots who want to fly like a jet owner without having to sell both kidneys.
So if you see a prop plane zoom past you at 30,000 ft, don’t be surprised it’s probably a TBM 850 laughing at the jets while sipping Jet-A like fine wine.
