Daher Tbm 960 vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Daher TBM 960, Piper M500, and Piper M600 SLS are all single‑engine turboprops typically used for personal, business, and owner‑flown travel, but they sit in different performance tiers. The TBM 960 is generally positioned as the fastest and most premium of the three, emphasizing higher cruise speeds and longer legs, making it well suited to frequent point‑to‑point business trips. The Piper M500 is the entry-level option in this group, usually offering the shortest range and lowest overall performance, but still delivering efficient turboprop capability for regional travel. The Piper M600 SLS sits between them, commonly offering more range and payload flexibility than the M500 while remaining below the TBM 960 in speed and long‑range capability. In passenger capacity, all three are broadly similar in typical real‑world use, commonly configured for one pilot plus four to five passengers depending on cabin layout and how much fuel and baggage are carried, with the M600 SLS often marketed around a six‑seat cabin arrangement.
| Spec | Daher TBM 960 | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 2.25 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Daher TBM | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | TBM 960 | M500 | M600 |
| Aircraft Type | Turbo Prop | — | — |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1730 | 1000 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.56 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2908 | 1698 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 744 | $ 579 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 330 | 260 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $4,450,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | No | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Galley Location | MID | MID | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.2 | 5.5 | 5.6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 14390 | 12600 | 12600 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8244 | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | No | No |
| Model | TBM 960 | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3600 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 500 | 600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 49 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 |
| No. of Engines | — | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 170 | 260 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 35.3 | 29.6 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 42.1 | 43.2 | 43.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.1 | 4 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 13.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 123 | 165 | 165 |
| Overall Height (ft) | — | 11.3 | 11.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 | 20 |