Daher's TBM 980 makes its European how debut at AERO Friedrichshafen

Daher Aircraft highlighted its new flagship TBM 980 at this week’s AERO Friedrichshafen show, marking the airplane’s first participation in a major European event.

The aircraft represents the latest evolution of the TBM family, integrating Garmin’s third-generation G3000 PRIME avionics with a new level of processing capability, system integration and pilot interface.

The touchscreen-controlled flight deck with three 14-inch edge-to-edge interactive displays ensures seamless control of flight functions, with significant improvements in screen and image quality. Pilot workload is reduced through customizable presets and a streamlined user interface.

“Customer feedback to the TBM 980 has been unanimous: the aircraft is living up to its ‘Fly Differently’ tagline by providing pilots with a next-generation flight deck that elevates operational capability, the ease of use and overall flight safety,” said Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft.

Daher Aircraft displayed its newly launched TBM 980 on the company’s exhibit stand at AERO Friedrichshafen.

The G3000 PRIME architecture incorporates faster processing speeds, more responsive system performance and expanded data management capabilities - enabling seamless interaction between avionics, navigation, communication and aircraft systems. Its advanced human-machine interface is designed to reduce pilot workload while enhancing decision-making and operational safety.

Complementing the advanced avionics is the TBM 980’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engine, which is equipped with the dual-channel digital engine and propeller electronic control system (EPECS) that has been in service on the TBM 960 version. This combination enables optimized power management, improved fuel efficiency and simplified engine operation.

Inside the cabin, the TBM 980 offers an enhanced passenger experience with refined ergonomics, including 100-watt USB-C ports for the charging of mobile devices, an upgraded passenger display with enroute flight data, and a factory-installed terminal interface for Starlink Mini satellite-based Internet connectivity.

Since the TBM 980’s official launch on January 15 at Daher Aircraft’s Tarbes, France headquarters, the company has delivered 13 of these aircraft to the U.S. and Europe. The TBM 980 is the sixth version in the TBM 900-series launched by Daher since it acquired the product line in 2014.

New milestone for the TBM family: Daher Aircraft delivers the 1,300th airplane from product line

In further news, Daher announced its delivery of the 1,300th TBM family airplane, marking the latest achievement for this high-performance, efficient turboprop-powered product line.

The delivery achievement reflects sustained global demand for the TBM series among private owners, business aviation operators and in utility operations. The aircraft stands out for its ability to efficiently deliver high cruise performance while operating from shorter runways than many jets - offering a highly versatile transportation solution across a wide range of applications.

The milestone 1,300th TBM family airplane is a TBM 980 version, shown at Daher Aircraft’s Tarbes, France headquarters and final assembly facility prior to its delivery to a US customer.

The TBM entered service in 1990 with the TBM 700 version. Stepped improvements to the TBM 700 series were followed by the higher performance TBM 850 in the mid-2000s. Daher acquired the product line in 2014, and the company has underscored its commitment to continual improvement by introducing six consecutive versions in the TBM 900-series - with the TBM 980 representing the latest evolution.

Overall, the combined TBM fleet has logged more than 2.78 million flight hours in operations around the world. The milestone 1,300th TBM is a TBM 980 version, which was delivered to a US-based customer.

Launch of Kodiak 900 European tour

The Kodiak 900 is also making its European debut at this week’s AERO Friedrichshafen show, underscoring the capabilities of Daher Aircraft’s “go anywhere” Kodiak airplane family in utility operations across Europe.

The aircrfat's presence at the show marks the start of a multi-month European tour, with planned stops to demonstrate the Kodiak product line’s unique combination of short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance, payload capacity, operational flexibility and low operating costs.

The Kodiak 900 displayed on Daher’s AERO Friedrichshafen stand prior to its European tour.

Designed for demanding environments, the turboprop-powered Kodiak 900 and the cornerstone Kodiak 100 are tailored for a full spectrum of operations, especially at low and medium altitudes. Their ability to operate from short runways, off-airport sites and unimproved strips further enhances deployability.

“The Kodiak 900 and Kodiak 100 bring a new level of capability to operators who require both performance and versatility,” said Nicolas Chabbert. “Bringing the Kodiak 900 to Europe provides an opportunity to introduce customers to an aircraft that can operate where others cannot - including many grass fields - delivering the reliability and efficiency that the Kodiak family is known for.”

Launched in 2022 as a larger and faster evolution of the Kodiak 100, the Kodiak 900 features a 3.9-foot (1.18 meter) fuselage stretch, a cruise speed of 210 KTAS and increased useful load, along with a maximum range of approximately 1,130 nautical miles. Operating economics also are improved, with a nine percent reduction in specific fuel consumption - equating to a double-digit advantage compared with competing aircraft.

A distinguishing feature of both the Kodiak 900 and Kodiak 100 are their “discontinuous leading edge” wing design that enhances handling across all flight regimes and provides strong resistance to aerodynamic stalls, including at low speeds and during maneuvering. Their tight turn performance enables operation within a small Area of Responsibility (AOR), comparable to that of a helicopter.

Daher Aircraft continues sustained production of the Kodiak 900 and Kodiak 100 on a shared final assembly line in Sandpoint, Idaho. To support growing demand, a new final assembly line for both the Kodiak and TBM product families will be established at Daher’s facility in Stuart, Florida.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 23rd April 2026 | Issue #839