Ooh, want !!

Congratulations !!

Thanks Florian!

Lots to learn. Landings are challenging. I'm used to the Bonanza. Love the performance.

I heard that they are a bit stiff-legged with the high pressure tires. Part of if may just be to adjust your expectations.

Back in the early 90s I saw an A model, have been lusting for one ever since. I used to say that I wanted a 700C2 when I grow up. Now I want a 900

The 900's are spectacular. I saw one at Avex when I was doing my training in California.
Yeah.....gear is very stout and stiff legged. Rather small high pressure tires combine to have " arrivals" not many landings yet. Floats forever if you are a little fast as well.

Michael,
The TBM will not float if you nail the speed on final, 85 heavy and 80 kts when im light.

Also, if your idle torque is above 11% your aircraft will float, your primary blade angles are set incorrectly.

Thanks Marc,
I'll take a look at the idle torque. Last set of landings much better. Doing my damnest to nail speeds!

Took the TBM to state college today to take the kid to a late lunch. Turned around and home for a late dinner. Ground speed on the way out was 367! Unfortunately that was only about 245 on the way home. Landings were actually respectable today! Burning 53 gallons at 28k. Dodged thunderstorms, had a little ice got a chance to actually use the radar. Great day!

Nothing feels more comfy than re-padding with Oregon Aero! I kept the same interior but had the seats re-cushioned with Oregon Aero cushions and it was comfy. I also carried a travel cushion for some of the beater rentals I flew. It was great. ...and then I found out they made brain bucket inserts for my Kevlar and replaced the Army issue with cushy Oregon Aero inserts.

It's been 7 years since I have bought anything from Oregon Aero but I really loved their stuff.

Picked up my wife and daughter from Boston yesterday. Baby girl exhausted after a weeks work at a college prep seminar. Can you imagine laying like that for 3 hours!?! Not many lobster's here in the Midwest. My wife picked these up and the whole gang had one helluva feast. Trip time out and back was 5:40!

When I was in college, I worked the line at KSTF and one of the jobs was to wash a customer's C-90. Back then we used Ivory Snow laundry detergent and it absolutely melted the soot off without any work whatsoever. Unfortunately, P&G reportedly changed the formula and now it doesn't work anymore. I have hear rumors that you can microwave a bar of regular old school ivory soap and it turns into dry whipped cream. Supposedly if you crush that up it is almost identical to the original Ivory Snow. It might be worth a try since they are only about 3/$1.

Update on the TBM. Our milk run has become the 460nm from KIKK - KUNV. Average time enroute has been about 1:40. We just finalized our RSVM and flew out at 31,000. We lose about 5 knots TAS but fuel burn drops to about 45 gal per hour. We have been very pleased with the plane. We have G600 and dual GTN 750's. Not exactly the G1000 but works quite well. Landings continue to improve. You need to have your speeds down or the plane floats quite a bit. It has been interesting comparing the onboard radar with the XM weather. Works great together.

Just a quick update on the TBM. I have about 50 hours in the plane. My wife also has about 45 hours in the left seat as well. At 31,000 feet TAS is about 285 knots burning about 48 gal per hour. I'm very impressed how well the plane decelerates especially when going into larger airports and we are requested to keep our speed up with the "big boys". The plane is RVSM certified and I have been amazed how many times the extra altitude has helped with the weather. We have been very impressed with the capabilities of the plane. With full fuel we have about 850 pounds of useful load. Our plane has the pilots door that I find very convienent for the pilot to exit the plane. I find it awkward as hell to climb into the plane via the pilots door. I think it would be beneficial in an emergency. We are still learning on every trip. But the "gotcha's" are becoming less and less. Plane handles beautifully and is built like a tank. So far....... very pleased!

Michael,

the whole point of the pilot door is that it can allow for you to load up the passengers, close the hatch, then board the plane without bringing the tail way out of CG on the ground and sometimes cause a wheelie.

Same thing when you land. you can get out and get the passengers out without having to awkwardly squeeze through the inside of the cabin and again move the CG way back even more now that most of the forward fuel weight has been spent.

It's my single most favorite feature of the TBM and i don't understand how it can even be optional.

I'll take the airplane and you can drive the Duke for a while if you're not sure!

Marcus,

The TBM wont crash the tail on the ground even if you fill all back seat and not put any crew up front.

The pilot door as mixed reviews. A lot of of owners dont want it as its heavier and colder at altitude. Also its one more source of pressurization to fail or leak.
Its standard on the 900 but you can still not order it if you want.
There is about 5-6 TBM 900 delivered without the pilot door.

For myself I dont have one on mine but which I had it when I have a full cabin and then some days I dont want it mostly for the maintenance part of it. I would probably get it on my next TBM.

I agree Michael, the TBM is great and for me its the perfect plane.
I have about 450 hrs flown on mine in the last 2.5 years and Im still impressed by its capability all the time.

Marcus,

I usually have someone in back ( wife or kids that are comfortable / trained in closing the rear door. I'm probably just too damn fat to be comfortable climbing in the front!?! Working on that as we speak.

Marc,

You are right...... It does get cold around the pilots door. Pilot we fly with says in the 850 he flies without the pilots door it does not seem to be as cold.
Love the plane!