Owner Ian Blair Fries has taken delivery of a Daher TBM 980, representing the sixth consecutive TBM family aircraft acquired by this long-time owner during a relationship that spans more than two decades.

Fries is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and an FAA-qualified senior HIMS (Human Intervention Motivational Study) aviation medical examiner. He utilises the TBM in travel to his offices in Vero Beach, Florida and Brick, New Jersey, as well as for patient consultations, speaking engagements and his ongoing commitment to advancing aeromedical education, flying with his wife, Susan, who manages his professional offices.

Recognised for the red carnation that he wears in honour of his patients, Fries once again selected a distinctive paint scheme for his newest aircraft, which was designed by Craig Barnett, the CEO of Scheme Designers. The carnation motif is featured on the aircraft's nose: an emblem that has become closely associated with his TBM aircraft and the dedication to his profession.

“Dr Fries is a highly valued member of the Daher Aircraft aviator community, and his acquisition of the latest TBM 980 version reflects the confidence he places in our airplanes, as well as the strength of our relationship,” says Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft. “Additionally, his professional insights and passion for aviation continue to inspire our entire team.”

The TBM 980's delivery to Fries followed the aircraft's transatlantic ferry flight from Daher Aircraft's headquarters in Tarbes, France. It marked the 10th TBM 980 to arrive in the US since the company's official unveiling of this new version in January.

“Having owned TBMs with the previous-generation Garmin 1000 and Garmin 3000 avionics, I'm excited about the Garmin G3000 Prime as the next significant step in further enhancing a single pilot's ability to fly the aircraft,” Fries explains.

He added that his long-term relationship with the TBM goes well beyond the airplanes themselves, reflecting the after-sales support provided by Daher Aircraft: “This is significant for me, as I always can count on the high level of service and the expert maintenance that I've experienced throughout my TBM ownership.”

The TBM 980 represents the latest evolution of Daher Aircraft's high-performance single-engine turboprop airplane product line, providing an unprecedented piloting experience while incorporating cabin enhancements that further increase passenger comfort, earning the tagline: ‘Fly Differently’.

Its Garmin 3000 Prime avionics touchscreen-controlled flight deck revolutionises the interface with pilots, delivering enhanced processing power and improved system integration. Three 14-inch touchscreen displays enable seamless control of flight functions, with significant improvements in screen and image quality. Pilot workload is reduced through customisable presets and the intuitive user interface.

Precision piloting and excellent operational efficiency are ensured with TBM 980 technologies adopted from Daher Aircraft's best-selling TBM 960 version, including the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT intelligent turboprop engine and five-blade Hartzell composite propeller, both of which are managed by a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system.

Passengers benefit from the comfort enhancements in the TBM 980's six-seat cabin, including the factory installed interface for a Starlink Mini internet terminal, along with 100-watt USB-C ports for the rapid charging of mobile devices. An upgraded passenger display controls the electronically dimmable windows and has been upgraded with the addition of enroute flight data.

The TBM 980 is the sixth aircraft launched by Daher in the TBM 900 series since the company acquired the TBM product line in 2014.