French industrial conglomerate and aerostructures company Daher has dropped the Socata branding from its TBM single-engined turboprop line, ending a 26-year association between two well-known names in the business and general aviation industry.
The move comes six years after Daher acquired a 70% stake in the Tarbes, southwest France-based airframer, which currently produces the high-speed TBM 900.
“The main reason was to keep the branding simple,” explains Daher’s director of product marketing, airplane business unit, Philippe de Segovia. “Aerospace activity represents roughly 70% of Daher’s sales.”
Daher has produced over 700 TBM turboprop singles since the first iteration – the TBM 700 – entered service in 1990.
The TBM 900 entered service last January and by the end of the year, Daher had smashed its six-year delivery tally, shipping 51 of the $3.7 million types. The company also holds a record order backlog of 64 of the seven-seat models.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D-powered TBM 900 is an upgraded version of the TBM 850, featuring improved efficiency and performance thanks to aerodynamic modifications including winglets, a vertical tail-fin strake and a new tail cone. Top cruise speed has been increased by 10kt (18km/h) to 330kt at 28,000ft, while the maximum range has been extended by more than 300nm (560km).
Source: Flight International
