Very Fast Turboprop Will Supply Corporate Transportation

Daher-Socata said Tuesday it has delivered its first G1000-equipped TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft to an Australian customer. The TBM 850 was delivered to Warwick and Katrina Hawksworth of Capstone Financial services. This independently owned and operated organization was formed in July 2002 and has rapidly grown to become one of Australia’s leading financial planning licensees.

“We selected the TBM 850 after several years of marketing research, which determined that Daher-Socata’s very fast turboprop was the best in speed, low operating costs and short-field operations,” Hawksworth said. “A meeting with Daher-Socata representatives at the 2009 Avalon Air Show ensured us of the company’s commitment to support and reliability.”

The TBM 850 for Hawksworth is a model year 2010, equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, which replaces traditional instruments with large liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. It integrates the primary flight, navigation, weather, traffic, ground proximity and technical information on the aircraft, and is fully associated with a digital autopilot. This reduces pilot workload and eases maintenance – making the TBM 850 one of the world’s most advanced light business aircraft. The Garmin G1000 avionics suite has been integrated as standard equipment on the TBM 850 since 2008.

Hawksworth flew his new TBM 850 from Daher-Socata’s production facility in France to Australia with Capstone Aviation company pilot Rodney Irvine. This 10,850 nm trip took 37 hours 15 minutes, with stopovers in Kerkira (Greece), Hurghada (Egypt), Dubai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata (India), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Bali Den Pasar (Indonesia), Darwin, Mt Isa and Melbourne (Australia).

Capstone Financial Services has grown from  five offices to more than 70 locations in Australia. This fast growth generates a significant travel requirement across Australia from its Melbourne headquarters, which ultimately created the need for a new aircraft.

“The recognition of the TBM 850’s efficiency and operational attributes by a company such as Capstone Financial Services is a real endorsement of our aircraft’s value for entrepreneurs.” said Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher-Socata’s Airplane Division. “We expect further growth of the TBM fleet in Australia – a large country that is well suited to our very fast turboprop’s capabilities in corporate transportation.”

FMI: www.tbm850.com