SOCATA TBM
The TBM 700 is an aircraft model of the French manufacturer Socata. These are business jet aircraft with a single turboprop engine.
Development
The TBM 700 was developed by Socata in collaboration with the American manufacturer Mooney, Mooney said later from the program withdrawing. The first flight took place on 14 July 1988. The TBM 700 consists essentially of conventional materials with only a small proportion of fiber composites. It was developed as a high performance turboprop aircraft and offers a comparable size and flight performance as twin-engine turboprops, such as the Beechcraft King Air series. Due to the elimination of a motor but the acquisition and operating costs are lower.
Use
From the basic model TBM 700, which is the fastest of the series, a total of 100 units were built. The following models TBM700a, TBM700b, TBM700c, TBM700c2 were always luxurious and therefore heavier. That this has had an impact on the flight performance, has the reputation of TBM not harmed. At the TBM falls on the left wing on the weather radar which allows the pilot to monitor the current weather situation ahead in the direction of flight. Furthermore, characteristic are the two large exhaust pipes that are to the left and right behind the propeller.
A further development is the Socata TBM 850 with the same cell and leistungsstärkerem drive. There is also a cargo version is referred to as TBM 700C.
Competition pattern, for example, the Piper Meridian and the Pilatus PC- 12th
Military user
- French Air Force: 16x
- French army: 12x
- National gendarmerie: 15x