Daher TBM 980

Overview

The Daher TBM 980 is the current flagship of the TBM single-engine turboprop family, unveiled in January 2026 as the sixth model in the TBM 900 series and the successor to the 960. It carries over the proven aerodynamic airframe and the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engine with single-lever EPECS digital control, so its performance is unchanged from the 960: 330 KTAS at FL280, 1,730 nm of range, and a 31,000 ft ceiling. What sets the 980 apart sits in the cockpit and cabin. It is the first production TBM to fly behind the Garmin G3000 Prime integrated flight deck, a third-generation system built around three 14-inch edge-to-edge multi-touch displays with substantially more processing headroom and an app-style interface that shortcuts the most-used functions.

Beyond avionics, the 980 adds a Starlink Mini terminal for satellite cabin connectivity, 100-watt USB-C charging at each seat, and an upgraded passenger display, alongside the e-copilot safety suite with emergency descent mode and HomeSafe emergency autoland. It received EASA certification with FAA validation in January 2026 at a list price of $5.82 million, positioned just above the still-offered 960. For a buyer, the 980 is the choice when the latest flight deck and cabin technology matter; the 960 and used 900-series airframes deliver nearly identical speed and range on earlier avionics for less money.

Key Features for GA Buyers

• Garmin G3000 Prime flight deck. The first production TBM with Garmin’s third-generation deck: three 14-inch multi-touch displays, more processing headroom, and an app-style interface that reduces single-pilot workload.
• Single-lever digital turbine. The PT6E-66XT’s EPECS reduces engine and propeller management to one e-throttle with full FADEC-like exceedance protection, carried over from the 960.
• HomeSafe emergency autoland. Garmin’s autoland can land the aircraft at a suitable airport if the pilot is incapacitated, part of the e-copilot safety suite.
• Connected cabin. A Starlink Mini terminal, per-seat 100-watt USB-C charging, and an upgraded passenger display bring the cabin experience up to current expectations.

Trade-offs

• Newest-flight-deck premium. At a $5.82 million list price the 980 sits above the 960, which flies the same speed and range on the prior G3000 deck; the premium buys avionics and cabin technology, not performance.
• Single-engine in the flight levels. Like every TBM, the 980 flies a high-altitude single-engine mission; buyers cross-shopping the PC-12 or a light twin accept one engine for the speed and economics.
• Transition cost for the owner-pilot. Moving into a turbine at this hull value brings a steep insurance and recurrent-training requirement, typically the largest early fixed cost.
• Early-production unknowns. As a 2026 introduction, the in-service maintenance history and resale behavior of the 980 and its G3000 Prime deck are not yet established.

See Also

• Daher TBM 960 – the immediate predecessor; same airframe and PT6E engine, prior G3000 deck. Compare
• Daher TBM 940 – the earlier autothrottle model on the manual-lever PT6A. Compare
• Socata TBM 900 – the airframe origin of the series. Compare
• Pilatus PC-12 – the single-turboprop competitor with a larger cabin and slower cruise. Compare
• Epic E1000 – composite single turboprop matching the TBM on speed. Compare