IDWEST FLYER M AGAZINE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010

Published For & By The Midwest Aviation Community Since 1978

midwestflyer.com to fly and has superior performance The DAHER-SOCATA TBM 850... characteristics across the entire flight envelope.” The French Armed The Very Fast Turboprop! Forces have accumulated up to 600 f you are looking to get around nuclear and defense. DAHER flight hours per year per aircraft in in a hurry, with the capability SOCATA is one of the world’s leading accomplishing a wide range of VIP of trans-continental flight, yet general aviation manufacturers, passenger and light-cargo missions areI not yet ready for a pure jet, with more than 17,000 aircraft built in varied operating environments, then the DAHER-SOCATA TBM since its creation as Morane-Saulnier including operations in combat zones. 850, nicknamed the “Very Fast in 1911. Current products include Certified in 1999, the TBM 700B Turboprop,” may be your answer. The the TBM 850 turboprop aircraft, model added a larger cargo door and TBM 850 is the world’s fastest single aero-structures for civilian airliners, an optional pilot entry door. While its turboprop aircraft, with a maximum military transports, business and commercial success was growing in cruising speed of 320 KTAS at Flight regional jets, and helicopters. the U.S., the French Army Aviation Level 260 (in ISA conditions). It In 1990, DAHER-SOCATA took delivery of three B model aircraft, combines the cruising speed and trip certified with the FAA and French bringing the total military aircraft to 28 times of a light jet with the economic DGAC (now EASA) the first, fully- TBM 700s in 2002. With the addition direct operating costs, range and the pressurized, single-engine, turboprop of a gaseous back-up oxygen system moderate environmental signature of (with EROS quick donning masks), the a turboprop. The maximum range and service ceiling of the TBM 700B was useful load – which are enhanced on raised to 31,000 ft. the current model – and the capability In 2003, the TBM 700C2 was to land at small airports, are some of certified with an increased maximum its customers’ favorite features. takeoff weight of 7394 lbs, allowing At $3 million, the TBM 850 is for an increased payload of 865 lbs not for everyone, but nice if you can with full fuel. This modification afford one. It’s an owner-operator included reinforced airframe and aircraft. The U.S. is the largest single DAHER-SOCATA TBM 850 landing gear, crashworthy seats market for TBM family aircraft. In certified to 20 Gs, new interior, 2009, more than 70 percent of all and a new rear external luggage TBM 850 deliveries were for U.S. aircraft in the world, the TBM 700A. compartment. The TBM 700C2 was owner/operators. The TBM 700 airframe design also certified at 31,000 ft, thanks to In 2009, DAHER-SOCATA incorporated a variety of aluminum the gaseous oxygen system. introduced the FAST (Fly And Share and steel alloys, including Titanium, In 2006, DAHER-SOCATA Your TBM) co-ownership program, as well as advanced composite introduced the TBM 850. Strictly which provides days of exclusive use materials that come together in an identical to the airframe of the TBM per year on an unlimited flight hour airframe of unmatched structural 700, the TBM 850 aircraft is also basis, which differs from traditional strength and durability at the lowest powered by the Pratt & Whitney fractional programs requiring the possible weight at an affordable cost. PT6A turboprop engine. The new purchase of annual flight hours used Design engineers employed failsafe PT6A-66D powerplant produces or lost. design techniques on the TBM 1825 eshp flat rated to 850 shaft airframe including the use of multiple horsepower and gives the TBM 850 TBM History load paths, a crack-stopper band and jet-like performance with turboprop a minimum number of smaller access efficiency and economy. Founded in 1863, DAHER is an panels to maximize structural life and During the last 20 years, DAHER independent international group, sub-system reliability, as well as to SOCATA has delivered more than with more than 7,000 employees and minimize repair-cycle times. 500 TBM aircraft and accumulated 12 international installations (four In 1992, to replace the obsolete more than 600,000 flying hours of in Western Europe, three in Eastern Morane MS 760 Paris Jet, DAHER- reliable and safe operations without Europe, two in North America, two in SOCATA began an on-schedule a single structural airframe failure. Africa and one in Australia). and on-budget delivery of the TBM DAHER-SOCATA’s TBM 850 defines DAHER is a European integrated 700A to the French Air Force and a new class of airplane, the Very Fast equipment and services supplier. French Army Aviation. According to Turboprop (VFT), breaking new speed In addition to , DAHER feedback from French military pilots, records against its predecessor, the specializes in two other sectors: the TBM is “simple to master, a dream TBM 700. www.tbm850.com q 18 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE