FL Ceremony Included Fireworks, Acrobats, And Planes (Oh
My!)
Aero-News has learned the first two EADS Socata 2008,
G1000-equipped TBM 850s were delivered to customers last Thursday,
marking the formal entry of the upgraded single-engine turboprop
into the commercial aviation market.

EADS Socata Chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Léonard handed
over the TBM 850s during a delivery ceremony at Florida's Orlando
Executive Airport, which was attended by more than 200 guests, and
included presentations by performers from the Cirque du Soleil and
Nova Era orchestra. In the company's typically understated style,
the event concluded with a fireworks finale.
"Today's event culminates a major effort by EADS Socata to build
on the TBM 850's already considerable success, further enhancing
this aircraft's operability and capability in response to customer
demand," Léonard said. "Our work doesn't stop here. EADS
Socata's top priority will continue to be customer satisfaction,
and we will intensify our efforts to increase customer service. In
addition, we want to expand our core US market while also
increasing the TBM 850's presence in other regions of the
world."

The first 2008 TBM 850 was received by John LaBonte, the Chief
Executive Officer of Big Bike Parts, a leading designer and
distributor of touring motorcycle accessories based in Rice Lake,
WI. LaBonte participated in the TBM 850's ferry flight to Florida,
having completed his training on the new aircraft at EADS Socata's
Tarbes, France production facility.
The ceremony came one week after the TBM 850's public unveiling
at Tarbes, which was followed by the departure of the first two
aircraft to the United States -- the largest market for the
six-seat business transport.

"Last week's official public debut of our new TBM 850 definitely
boosted its already strong product recognition," said Nicolas
Chabbert, the President of EADS Socata North America. "We have
surpassed the 60 aircraft order total for this year, which locks in
the entire 2008 production. We are now into 2009 for the next
available delivery slots."
As ANN reported, upgrades in
this latest variant of the TBM 850 include an integrated all-glass
flight deck based on the last-generation Garmin G1000 system --
which replaces traditional instruments with large liquid crystal
display (LCD) screens. It integrates primary flight, navigation,
weather, traffic, ground proximity and technical information on the
aircraft, fully associated with a digital autopilot.
Chabbert underscored the TBM 850's speed and "eco-efficiency,"
which brings together two key features for owners and operators.
"The TBM 850 is proving to be the perfect solution for the
pilot/owner group segment, and we clearly anticipate it will
attract other market sectors, such as small business and on-demand
operations."
Aerobatic champion Mike Goulian was the guest of honor at the
delivery ceremony, describing his impression of the new aircraft's
features to the audience after flying as the 2008 TBM 850's first
guest pilot.

"The Garmin G1000-equipped TBM 850 with its digital autopilot is
fascinating and amazing," said Goulian, whose "day job" is a
turboprop charter pilot. "The TBM 850's cockpit layout is superb
and well engineered. This is the most advanced turboprop I have
ever flown, and the handling characteristics are close to fighter
aircraft I have had the opportunity to fly. It's a phenomenal
aircraft with its speed, sturdy structure and incredible
stability."
EADS Socata states TBM 850 is world's fastest single turboprop
aircraft, with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at flight level
260 (in ISA conditions).