Aircraft
Pilot Report: TBM 850
The TBM is a clear alternative to a pre-owned piston twin and the few high-performance piston singles left on the market.

There were more than a few moments during my three-and-a-half hours flying the Socata TBM 850 when it was easy to imagine the conversation I’d soon have with a couple of friends who own piston twins. The TBM is a suitable replacement for their aircraft–a Cessna 421 and a B55 Baron. Although both aircraft are GPS equipped, neither can take full advantage of new technology as sophisticated as the Garmin G1000 avionics system that comes standard on the TBM. The Socata is also certified for flight into known icing using inflatable boots on the leading edge of the wings and the horizontal stabilizer.