TBM 940 Turboprop Aircraft

The TBM 940 turboprop aircraft was launched in March 2019. Credit: Daher.

The EASA granted airworthiness certificate for the TBM 940 in May 2019. Credit: Daher.

The turboprop aircraft features Garmin G3000 touchscreen glass flight deck. Credit: Daher.

The TBM 940 is a new single-engine turboprop business aircraft that Daher launched during the Safety Seminar meeting of the TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA). The event took place in Pompano Beach, Florida, US, in March 2019.

In May 2019, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted the airworthiness certificate for the TBM 940 aircraft at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) at Geneva, Switzerland. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the aircraft in October 2019.

Daher received 35 orders for the TBM 940 aircraft. The company delivered more than 20 aircraft orders to undisclosed customers by October 2019.

TBM 940 design and features

The TBM 940 follows the launch of the TBM 930 business aircraft, which was unveiled in April 2016. The aircraft features a fail-safe airframe made from aluminium, steel alloys, titanium and advanced composite materials.

The low-mounted wings incorporate 2ft-high winglets that enhance handling at high angles and low speeds. The restructured tail cone further reduces drag and improves airframe efficiency. The aircraft has a retractable landing gear with electro-hydraulic actuation.

TBM 940 is the world’s first 5.7t-class production turboprop aircraft to feature an automated icing detection system and an automated throttle.

The wheelbase of the TBM 940 is 2.91m, while the tailplane span is 4.98m. The length, height and wingspan of the aircraft are 10.73m, 4.35m and 12.83m respectively.

Flight deck and avionics of the turboprop aircraft

The cockpit is equipped with Garmin G3000 touchscreen glass flight deck and ice detector. It offers multiple features such as Surface Watch, Baro VNAV and visual approach assistance for the pilot.

The avionics and instrumentation in the cockpit include an autopilot, dual flight controls, a control wheel with seven integrated functions, rudder trim and electric pitch trim, rudder pedals, parking brake and a central console with single-lever power control.

The control systems incorporate an alternate ram air source control, alternate static source control and an automatic environment and pressurisation control system.

TBM 940 cabin details

The cabin of the TBM 940 turboprop aircraft can accommodate six people. It measures 4.05m-long, 1.21m-wide and 1.22m-high, with a space of 3.5m³.

New aerial design seats and armrests integrate a new heating function that enables passengers to select specific heat settings. The cabin design also features new practical amenities and storage options.

The elite privacy compartment in the cabin replaces the two rear seats on a quick change mode to enhance comfort during long trips.

Engine and performance

The TBM 940 aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Canada PT6A-66D turboprop engine that offers 850 shaft horsepower (shp) and 1,825shp thermodynamic power. The engine drives an electrically de-iced five-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller with a polished spinner cone and over speed limiter.

The aircraft features a dual polished exhaust system, a dual-engine chip metal detector and a flight data acquisition storage and transmission system (FAST).

The long-range cruise speed of the jet is 467km/h, while its maximum range is 3,204km. The cruise can reach 611km/h speed at an altitude of 28,000ft.

The aircraft has an empty weight of 2,097kg, while its maximum ramp and take-off weight are 3,370kg and 3,354kg respectively and the maximum payload capacity is 636kg.

The TBM 940 has a certified ceiling of 9,449m and takes 18 minutes and 45 seconds to climb to 31,000ft. The take-off runway distance required for the aircraft is 726m, while the landing distance is 741m.