Best Single-Engine Turboprops to Buy in 2026

The Best Single-Engine Turboprops in 2026

Single-engine turboprops bridge the gap between owner-flown piston aircraft and twin-engine business turboprops. PT6A reliability has made single-engine turboprop operations practical for owner-pilots; modern Garmin avionics, Autoland systems and FADEC engines have made them safer than at any time in history. This guide narrows the choice based on mission profile.

Best overall single-engine turboprop: Daher TBM 940 (or 960)

The Daher TBM 940 (and current production TBM 960) is the safest single-engine turboprop ever certified — HomeSafe Autoland (autonomous landing if pilot is incapacitated), E-copilot envelope protection, Garmin G3000 NXi avionics with synthetic vision, proven PT6A-66D (940) or PT6E-66XT FADEC (960) turbine. ~330 kt cruise, ~1,730 nm range, six-seat pressurised cabin. The TBM 960 represents the current production flagship at the cutting edge of single-engine turboprop technology.

See also: TBM 940 safety, TBM 940 vs PC-12.

Best cabin-class single-turboprop: Pilatus PC-12

The Pilatus PC-12 is the cabin-class single-turboprop segment leader — 9-10 seat pressurised cabin, cargo door, rough-field capability (gravel, grass, dirt), ~280 kt cruise. Where the TBM is the owner-flown high-performance cross-country single, the PC-12 is the cabin-class utility/corporate platform. Honeywell Apex avionics (NG) or modern ACE Garmin-based cockpit (NGX). The PC-12 is the workhorse of fractional ownership programs (PlaneSense), medevac, regional cargo and corporate operations.

See also: PC-12 safety, PC-12 vs King Air 200.

Best owner-pilot value: Piper M500 / M600

The Piper M500 (formerly Meridian) and M600 offer single-engine turboprop ownership at materially lower acquisition cost than TBM or PC-12. PA-46-based airframe (familiar to Malibu/Mirage owners stepping up), Garmin G1000 NXi (M500) or G3000 (M600), six-seat pressurised cabin. The M600 SLS adds Garmin Emergency Autoland. ~262 kt (M500) to ~274 kt (M600) cruise. Smaller cabin than TBM/PC-12 but proven PA-46 platform with established service network.

See also: M500 vs PC-12, Meridian vs PC-12.

Best value-entry: Daher / Socata TBM 700

The Socata TBM 700 is the value-entry to TBM ownership and the most affordable path into a pressurised single-engine turboprop. PT6A-64 turbine (700 shp), Bendix/King or retrofit Garmin/Avidyne avionics, 1990s-2003 production. Older airframes require thorough pre-buy but mandate-current 700s with ESP-enrolled engines are capable cross-country turboprops at a fraction of modern TBM acquisition cost.

See also: Socata TBM 700 safety.

How to decide

Match the aircraft to your mission: - Owner-flown cross-country, latest safety equipment: TBM 940/960. - Cabin-class utility, rough-field capable: PC-12. - PA-46 step-up, lower acquisition cost: Piper M500/M600. - Value entry to single-turboprop ownership: Socata TBM 700.

See Piston vs Turboprop for the broader piston-to-turbine step-up framework.