Milestone Airplane A TBM 900

Daher-Socata has delivered its 700th series production TBM very fast turboprop aircraft. The milestone airplane, a TBM 900, was provided to a private customer in Illinois, USA through a sale organized by Muncie Aviation – the authorized TBM distributor based at Muncie Municipal Airport, Indiana.

“This 700th TBM’s delivery demonstrates the full acceptance of the single-engine turboprop concept, which is the flagship of DAHER’s aerospace activities,” stated Stéphane Mayer, President and CEO of Daher-Socata. “We are now setting our sights on the next milestones.”

Daher-Socata’s TBM 700 version was the first series-production pressurized single-engine aircraft to be certified, and after several evolutionary steps, the 300th TBM of this type came off the assembly line in June 2004. A total of 324 TBM 700s – all powered by a 700-shp engine – were built and delivered worldwide.

The program gained additional momentum with Daher-Socata’s 2005 launch of the TBM 850, equipped with an 850-hp engine. A glass cockpit TBM 850 incorporating Garmin G1000 avionics was introduced in 2008. Deliveries of the TBM 850 totaled 338 through the end of 2013, and included the 500th TBM-series aircraft in 2009 and 600th in 2011.

Daher-Socata unveiled its latest version, the TBM 900, in March 2014, rapidly logging 50 initial sales – of which 35 already have been delivered. The TBM 900 delivers superior performance with low fuel consumption, offering a maximum cruise speed of 330 kts, and 1,730 naut. mi. maximum range.

Retaining the TBM 850’s proven airframe, engine and avionics, the TBM 900 is enhanced by an aerodynamic optimization that includes the addition of winglets, Hartzell’s new five-blade composite propeller, a complete nose-to-firewall redesign for improved engine airflow circulation and an improved human-machine interface in the cockpit and a completely revamped electrical system.

This latest TBM version incorporates a single-control throttle, associated with a new torque limiter to enable the use of 850 hp. engine power at takeoff. By applying the available 850 shp. engine power from takeoff, the aircraft’s ground roll is reduced – even in hot-and-high conditions – while its improved climb rate enables the 31,000-ft. ceiling to be reached in 18 minutes, 45 seconds.

Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice-President of Daher-Socata Airplane Business Unit and President of SOCATA North America, noted that the global TBM fleet has now accumulated nearly 1.2 million flight hours in 35 countries. “The TBM family’s success can be explained by its designed-in cost/performance ratio, as well the commitment and passion of Daher-Socata’s employee teams to providing high-quality aircraft,” he said.

(Image provided by Daher-Socata)

FMI: www.tbm.aero