Photograph:
Socata TBM-900 VH-LZJ (c/n 1016) at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC in February 2015 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Executive utility aircraft
Power Plant:
One 522 kw (700 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D flat-rated turboprop
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 12.66 m (41 ft 6 in)
- Length: 10.65 m (34 ft 11 in)
- Height: 4.38 m (14 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 18.02 m² (194 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed: 611 km/h (380 mph)
- Long-range cruising speed: 463 km/h (288 mph)
- Range with 45 minute standard IFR reserve: 3,204 km (1,991 miles)
- Take-off over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 725 m (2,380 ft)
- Service ceiling: 9,449 kg (31,000 ft)
- Payload with full fuel: 327 kg (720 lb)
- Fuel weight: 917 kg (2,021 lb )
- Empty weight: 2,112 kg (4,656 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,370 kg (7,430 lb)
History:
The TBM-900 is a development of the business and executive / utility aircraft series produced in France since it was introduced to the market in 1990, examples being operated over the years by the French Army and Air Force, with 324 TBM-700s being delivered, followed by 338 TBM-850s, being replaced on the production line by the TBM-900.
Aerospatiale, the parent company, set up a company known as TBM International to build a high-performance derivative of the Mooney 301 series at Tarbes in south-western France. Seating was for six or seven in a low-wing monoplane constructed mainly of aluminium and steel, the tail surfaces being of Nomex honeycomb. Power for the series was initially the 522 kw (700 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 engine, the first of the TBM-700 series being flown in July 1988.
Initially plans were to have two production lines, one in the Mooney facility at Kerrville in Texas for the American market and the other at Tarbes in France for the rest of the world. However, all production aircraft have been built in France and production continues. Development led to the TBM-850 with a PT6A-66D engine flat rated at 634 kw (850 shp), the 2008 model having a Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck as standard equipment. Further development led to the TBM-900, introduced to the market in 2014, having a number of modifications including a five-blade Hartzell carbon-fibre propeller to improve aerodynamics and performance. Changes have included carbon fibre cowlings, a new dorsal fin, a new tailcone light, new undercarriage doors, composite winglets, a new de-iced air inlet, a new inertial separator and a new exhaust.
First of the type registered in this region became VH-LZJ (c/n 1016 – ex N198JJ), arriving at Jandakot, WA on 10 June 2014, being registered on 26 June that year and shown at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC in February 2015 before commencing operations in Western Australia, being described as the world’s fastest certified pressurised single-engine turboprop. In mid-2015 the type became known as the Daher TBM-900.