Twin (Something) Program To Be Launched Next Year

Confirming -- sort of -- long-standing rumors of a new aircraft project, EADS Socata unveiled a few tantalizing details Monday about the upcoming "NTx" twin-engine aircraft, at NBAA 2008.

And we mean "few"... as apart from that twin-engine configuration, there's little hard information yet on the new plane -- only that it will be larger than the company's successful TBM 850, and "aims at completing Socata's range on the upper end," according to a company release.

Socata notes the plane will also "have greater useful load, more payload capability and a bigger cabin than the TBM 850"... a pronouncement that will likely surprise few.

"As business aviation is a small community where it’s difficult to keep a secret for a long time, I am pleased to confirm that our engineering team is actively working on a new aircraft project," said EADS Socata Chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Léonard. "Its NTx code-name stands for 'New Twin.' This aircraft is an exciting project that we hope to launch in 2009 to complement the TBM 850 from the top. We believe the general aviation market will welcome our project, which will build on the current success of the TBM 850."

Note that even powerplant applications are nebulous are this point... we don't know whether it will be a turbofan-powered aircraft, or a twin turboprop.  Possible engine configurations "are still under discussion."

Launch date for the new aircraft has not yet been determined, though EADS Socata says it is working on a schedule and expects to be able to officially launch the program before the end of 2009.

FMI: www.socata.eads.net