Fresh from a 20,000-nm trip to Australia, including a week at the Australian International Airshow, the newest model of EADS Socata’s TBM 850 single-engine turboprop was on display last week at Aero 2007, in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The latest iteration of the company’s flagship business turboprop is dubbed the TBM 850 VFT (Very Fast Turboprop) and includes a latest-generation Garmin GMX 200 multi-function display (MFD) as standard equipment. The GMX 200 integrates a moving map, radar, traffic and terrain into a single display. At long-range cruise settings, the 850 VFT will deliver 252 KTAS; pump up the power, though, and you’re in VLJ territory, cruising at 320 KTAS, according to company specifications.
“The TBM 850 interest from our prospective buyers indicates clearly that our strategy is right and not only in the USA, our main market. Last year we had delivered five aircraft to European customers out of a total of 42 aircraft. This year we have already nine orders from European customers. This will be another record year for the TBM program, said Stphane Mayer, chairman and CEO of EADS Socata. “The range, useful load and speed of the TBM 850 plus its environmental-friendliness and lower cost of operation will continue to make it a preferred option for many buyers.
