Tue, Oct 07, 2008
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.
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