Nice! Congratulations!

Wow Tony congrats! I'm so happy for you. The TBM is the ultimate personal transport/time machine. The time machine part really comes into play with a turbine airplane. You will find that WX rarely impacts your plans. You have radar, lots excess power, pressurization and deice as tools to get through things that you probably used to go around or just wait until they passed.

Brian,

I'm a complete Noob. All I have done so far is 12 hours in the sim. I have some traveling I have to do which is delaying the start of my in aircraft training for another week unfortunately.

Congrats, Tony. Great aircraft and great panel.

IMO the GTN 750s offer an advantage over a G1000 install (not that it would be possible in a legacy 850) with touch screen capability. With the G600 and GAD43e, it seems that the 325 autopilot should be well integrated into the system. Great way to get around the sky.

RM

I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning. Congrats Tony. Keep living the dream!!

Simply beautiful! Congratulations!

Thanks Rick.

Actually I think Daher offers the G1000 as an upgrade. But it certainly isn't cost effective.

I am really impressed with how easy it is to use the 750's.

How much smaller is the baggage compartment of the tbm vrs the bagagge area of the ka 90?

Rgs

Patrick

The KA 90 is 26.5 cubic feet with aft lavatory installed and a weight limit of 350 lbs. The TBM interior baggage compartment is about 18 cubic feet with a weight limit of 220 lbs. There is a forward non pressurized storage with a limit of 110 lbs. and a larger rear non pressurized storage compartment with a limit of 70 lbs.

I think the KA wins on size and ease of access for luggage. But for my uses its irrelevant.

Muncie Aviation did the panel. It's a really nice installation except for one small detail. The Garmin RVSM STC requires one of the original digital transponders and they were both removed during the upgrades. So, to get RVSM I'm going to have to buy one and put it back in.

Tony, congratulations on the new plane. I'm surprised more TBM owners have not upgraded to the G600. Your new airplane looks absolutely amazing.

Edit: I forgot to ask, does the pilot step automatically retract?

Tony, that's awesome!
On my bucket list as well.
Keep us updated on your training. Like you I have zero turbine experience but still want to do this.

Thanks Chad. It does not. So, it's something to be cognizant of before shutting the door! It's going to be interesting to see whether I actually like the door or not in actual use. My thought was that I make a lot of solo trips and that the door would make it easier to get in and out of the plane. Sitting in the pilot's seat though it does take a little bit of leg room away and there are reports that it's colder.

Wow, What a Good Looking Plane! Looks like your going to have Fun!

Congrats, what a milestone as a pilot to wake up, go the airport and minutes later you're miles above the land,,,and weather. Just gorgeous!
You made a great choice, I love Cirrus but like Marc B says ,,,gas is for tractors.
Ride reports and pics please.
MC