Photograph:
Socata TBM-850 VH-MRJ5 (c/n 389) at Avalon, VIC in March 2009 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Single-engine business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
One Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D turboprop
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 12.68 m (41 ft 7 in)
- Length: 10.64 m (35 ft)
- Height: 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 18 m² (193.75 sq ft)
- Max speed indicated: 493 km/h (306 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 7,925 m (26,000 ft): 590 km/h (367 mph)
- Time to 7,925 m (26,000 ft): 15 mins
- Time to 9,449 m (31,000 ft): 20 mins
- Fuel capacity: 1,066 litres (234.5 Imp gals)
- Range at long-range cruising speed: 2,810 km (1,746 miles)
- Range at max cruising speed: 2,525 km (1,568 miles)
- Empty weight: 2,132 kg (4,700 lb)
- Max payload: 605 kg (1,334 lb)
- Max baggage capacity: 135 kg (298 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,354 kg (7,394 lb)
History:
The TBM-850 (known also as the TBM-700N) was an up-rated variant of the TBM-700 business aircraft to take a more powerful PT6A-66D turboprop and was aimed at the market to provide a higher cruising speed and journey times typical of light jets but with better economics from the use of a turbine. The programme was launched in December 2005 and by late 2006 the manufacturer had received orders for 80 aircraft.
The TBM-850 was a six-seat, fully-pressurised, high-altitude and high-speed single-engine turboprop. The engine had single-crystal turbine blades enabling higher operating temperatures and had a new compressor first stage, thus enhancing high-altitude performance. It also had a revised engine bleed-air system using a lower-pressure compressor bleed source. Up-graded avionics were installed. It was fitted with a Hartzell four-blade, fully feathering, constant-speed propeller.
On 22 December 2006 the first TBM-850 VFT (Very Fast Turboprop) was delivered to a French customer, some 42 having been delivered by that time to operators in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. A total of 320 TBM-700s was delivered from Socata’s Tarbes facility in south-west France from 1990 before production switched to the TBM-850. The TBM-850 first flew in February 2005 and European certification was obtained in November that year, with US certification in January 2006. Orders for the type came 70% from the USA, 20% from Europe and 10% from the rest of the world. The aircraft was certified to operate from tarmac, grass or semi-prepared strips. The undercarriage was hydraulically actuated and electrically signalled. Basic aircraft structure was aluminium.
EADS Socata stated it hoped to revolutionise its manufacturing processes by using new manufacturing techniques for the TBM-850 and stated it would employ advanced composites. It also announced it would manufacture a composite fuselage demonstrator based on the TBM-850 produced by using vacuum pressure to inject liquid resin into dry fibre in a closed mould, these new manufacturing methods allowing new materials to be used and reducing production cycles and manufacturing costs.
First of the type seen in this region was displayed at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon, VIC in March 2007, the first for a local operator becoming VH-MRJ5 (ex F-HBGD) in July that year with Strategic Air Charters of Central Park, WA.