SOCATA TBM
The SOCATA TBM700 (also marketed as the TBM850 and TBM900) is a high performance single-engine turboprop light business and utility aircraft manufactured by SOCATA. An aerodynamically refined version of the 700 N is marketed as the TBM900 from March 2014.
Design and development
In the early 1980s, the Mooney Airplane Company of Kerrville, Texas designed a six-seat pressurised light aircraft powered by a single 360 hp (268 kW) piston engine, the Mooney 301, which made its maiden flight on 7 April 1983. Mooney was purchased by French owners in 1985, which resulted in talks between Mooney and the French company Socata to build a turboprop derivative of the 301. The result of these discussions was the TBM 700, which was much heavier than the 301 with more than twice the power, with a joint venture, TBM International, being set up in June 1987 between Mooney and Socata's parent company Aérospatiale to design and build the new aircraft. In the designation TBM, "TB" stands for Tarbes, the city in France in which Socata is located, the "M" stands for Mooney.
The TBM 700 is a single-engined turboprop, six to seven-seat low-wing monoplane of mainly aluminium and steel construction, but with the tail surfaces built of Nomex honeycomb. It has a retractable tricycle landing gear and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 engine delivering 700 shp (522 kW). The first prototype TBM 700 made its maiden flight on 14 July 1988, with French certification following on 31 January 1990 and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification achieved on 28 August 1990.
It was planned that two production lines be set up, one at Kerrville to cater for the American market and the other at Socata's factory at Tarbes to build aircraft for the rest of the world. A shortage of money resulted in Mooney withdrawing from the project in May 1991. The TBM 700 also comes in a cargo variant.
The TBM 850 is the production name for the TBM 700N, an improved version with the more powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D engine flat rated at 850 shp (634 kW). The TBM 850 is limited to 700 shp (522 kW) for takeoff and landing, but in cruise flight the engine power can be increased to 850 shp (634 kW). This extra power gives it a higher cruising speed than the TBM 700 models, especially at high altitudes (due to the flat-rating). The outside appearance of the TBM 850 has remained the same as that of the TBM 700. The TBM 850 has a typical range of 1,520 nautical miles (2,820 km).
Beginning with the 2008 model, the TBM 850 is equipped with the Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck as standard equipment.
Introduced in 2014, the TBM 900 is an improved version with 26 modifications including winglets, a redesigned air intake and a 5-blade propeller, for better aerodynamic and performance.
Production
- 1990-2005 : 324 TBM 700.
- 2006-2013 : 338 TBM 850.
Variants
- TBM700 A : Initial production version with one Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 turboprop engine.
- TBM700 B : Variant with wide entrance door, increased maximum zero fuel weight and other improvements.
- TBM700 C1 : Improved version with rear unpressurised cargo compartment, reinforced structure, new air conditioning system and other improvements.
- TBM 700C2 : C1 with increased maximum takeoff weight.
- TBM700 N : Variant with increased maximum cruise/climb power, one Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D turboprop engine, marketed as the TBM850 and with modifications as the TBM850 G1000 and TBM900.
- TBM850 : Marketing name for the TBM700 N.
- TBM850 G1000 : Marketing name for the 700 N with a G1000 Intergated Flight Deck and a fuel tank extension modification.
- TBM 850 Elite : An updated version of the TBM 850, priced at $3.46 million USD. This model includes a 4-place cabin forward-facing seating configuration, allowing for an increased cargo area aft of the cabin.
- TBM 900 : Marketing name for the TBM700 N with improved version with aerodynamic and performance optimization, priced at US$3.711M. Max cruise speed is increased to 330 kts at 64 gph. A range of 1,730 nm (with 45-minute standard IFR reserves) using long-range cruise speed is capable at 250 kts while burning 30 gph or 1,585 nm at 290 kts while burning 35 gph. Improvements to the prop have been made as well. A five-bladed carbon fiber Hartzell prop adds performance to the airplane.
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