PlaneFox tracks 1 Grumman TBM Avenger aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Grumman / Grumman American Grumman TBM Avenger flies about 982 nm, roughly 1,819 km, which is about 6 h 41 min in still air at typical cruise.
The Grumman / Grumman American Grumman TBM Avenger is a large single engine torpedo bomber developed for the U.S. Navy in the Second World War. The original Grumman XTBF first flew in 1941, with service production beginning in 1942. Grumman built the early TBF models, while the TBM designation was used for Avengers produced by General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division from 1942 to 1945. Although listed here under the broader Grumman / Grumman American name, the Avenger is a wartime Grumman design, not a later Grumman American light aircraft.
Its importance comes from its operational role: carrier based torpedo attack, bombing, reconnaissance and anti submarine work. Today, surviving TBM Avengers are historic warbirds, valued for authenticity, rarity and presence rather than practical transport utility.
The Avenger was built around a crew of three: pilot, radio operator or bombardier, and turret gunner. It has no conventional passenger cabin. Occupant space is divided among military crew stations, a large internal weapons bay and equipment compartments. Access, visibility and ergonomics reflect naval combat requirements, not business or personal touring standards.
Original avionics were wartime radio, navigation and mission systems. Civilian registered examples usually carry modern minimum equipment for safe operation, often including VHF communication, transponder with altitude reporting, intercom and a portable or panel mounted GPS. Some restorations use Garmin GNS or GTN type navigators, but integrated suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical for this aircraft.
The used market for the Grumman / Grumman American Grumman TBM Avenger is highly specialized. Buyers compare individual aircraft by provenance, restoration standard, airworthiness status, originality and parts support rather than by production year alone. Many surviving examples are TBM-3 or TBM-3E variants, with the TBM-3E being a later, lighter postwar configuration often seen in surviving warbirds.
Pre purchase review should focus on the Wright R-2600 engine, propeller condition, corrosion, wing fold mechanisms, landing gear, hydraulics, fuel system, control cables, turret structure and compliance with civil operating limitations. Documentation is critical: military history, restoration logs, major component times, spare engine status and availability of qualified maintenance providers all affect value. The Avenger sits in the heavy warbird segment, with high operating costs, limited supply and value driven by authenticity, condition and museum grade presentation.