After 25 years with my Mooney 252/Encore I may have an opportunity to move up to a TBM700. Can anyone tell me if the TBM700A profile in Foreflight is realistic? Are the numbers for speed, range, fuel burn and payload close to real life?


Mike

Don’t know about FF, but definitely check out the differences between the “A” model and “C2” models. Off the top of my head, 800# less GTOW, also small cabin door.

Buddy had a B model it was real nice. Heat didn't work great in the back, think that got changed at the C2 ?

From a mooney you'll think its perfect heck most of us piston drivers would. Compared to an 850 you'll think it doesn't have good enough environmental, big enough door, or enough useful load.

I think the C2 has the best value. Same gross weight as the later models, not quite as fast, very upgradeable.

If $'s where not a consideration the C2 or 850 or ... would be my choice. Other than the increased operating costs I don't think a 700A would be a disappointment compared to My M20K. If this does happen it will be with a partner that is coming from a C340 (reduced operating costs) so any surprise maintenance will be lessened by half.

According to the Foreflight 700A profile Toronto to Fort Lauderdale with the wife and our clubs should be a 4 hr none stop flight on most days.

I use fltplan.com and find it to be very accurate. Using previously filed routes YYZ to FLL at FL280 for tomorrow gives me 4:17 in the air and 236 gal used. We are taught in the TBM to plan for 60gal at destination so tomorrow with an average headwind of 17 kts it doesn't quite make it (47 gal at dest). And that is with no alternate. But with any tailwind it likely will be fine.

I would double check that endurance. I never planned a stop more than 3.5 hours away.

Search on line, seems like a 700A POH is out there. It’s a smaller engine than 850 so maybe the fuel economy is better, but the fuel capacity is also lower and I would check payload. In the 850 I could do 4 adults and two 10 yo boys with full fuel but I don’t know about the A model.

I owned a TBM and found the Foreflight flight planning pretty accurate, in the ball park anyway. At cruise altitudes, the software was much more predictable and accurate.

The problem I had with software flight planning with my TBM was ATC keeping me low coming in and out of busy terminal airspace. Fuel economy sucks and it is hard to anticipate or plan for how long it would take me to get to the flight levels.

I relied on the fuel totalizer and the fuel at destination calculated by the avionics. If it ever showed less than 60 gallons at destination, I was landing and getting fuel. I never deviated from that rule ever.

These are traveling machines and I miss mine. Would still have it, but I got too old according to the aircraft insurers.

Yeah, same for me.

What model did you have?

I have not had as much trouble with this in the jet as I expected. I think ATC puts jets up high fast and keeps turboprops under them. I did have issues like this in the MU2. It sometimes seemed I was vectored and held low for long periods of time.


Buy something cheap enough you don't have to insure it.

At some age, you start to feel less encumbered by things you thought were necessary before, thus you can do what you want with the time you have left.

Mike C.

Foreflight is a bit more optimistic for tomorrow.
FL280, 4:01 flight time, 203 gal used, 78 remaining with a 5 kt headwind. Route is 1081 NM. Seems like the fuel used should be higher. 700A POH for Normal cruise on an ISA-5C day at FL280 and 6173lbs is 50.1 GPH, 286 TAS.

Foreflight is a bit more optimistic for tomorrow.
FL280, 4:01 flight time, 203 gal used, 78 remaining with a 5 kt headwind. Route is 1081 NM. Seems like the fuel used should be higher. 700A POH for Normal cruise on an ISA-5C day at FL280 and 6173lbs is 50.1 GPH, 286 TAS.

Not an AD, just the prop limitation. If you are not taxiing you can go to ground idle and feather the prop to keep it out of the yellow band. You do have to turn off bleed air. That gets you down to 25gph

At 280 the cabin alt will be 7800'. It's 310 that gets it to 9000'

B model didn't like 280 much, 260 & 270 I think was about it. No RVSM for the A & B? Don't think there's much point to it.

Again, bet you'll love it. Slow down to go farther if 4 plus hour legs aren't a concern for you. Mooney owners love efficiency right?
Even with a fuel stop(s) you'll never fly airlines again once you own a TBM. Buddy with a B traded to an 850 after 3 years he loved those planes, bet your spouse will too.