EADS Socata has brought the latest version of its TBM850 “very fast turboprop” to EBACE for the first time, and chief executive Jean-Michel Léonard says the company will launch a larger model next year.
“We are looking to grow the family and are looking at launching a new aircraft in early 2009,” he says. “It will be bigger than the TBM850 and have two more seats. We haven’t decided between turboprop or jet, but we know it’s going to be a twin and it will be incorporating new technology,” he says.
“There are four things we need to look at before we can launch – a market, which we think we have found, design optimisation, a business model – which will be ready by year end and finally the investment,” says Léonard.
There are currently 99 of the single-engined TBM850s in service, with a total of 155 on order. Léonard says this represents a backlog until mid-2009. “We are progressing well along the roadmap path for the TBM850 and have already delivered two of the 2008 models this year. We expect to deliver 12 by year-end. This is double what we have previously done,” he says.
The aircraft features an all-glass cockpit based on the Garmin G1000 for reduced pilot workload and ease of maintenance.
It also has the Global Air Control System from Liebherr Aerospace which allows the aircraft a “true dual-zone temperature control”. EADS Socata claims this is a first for aircraft in what it calls the “TBM category”.
The cabin interior been redesigned to offer more space. There is a 50mm (2in) width increase and a 20mm ceiling rise too. “The TBM850 is the perfect aircraft for Europe, and it clearly address the concerns over increasing operating costs – especially with high fuel prices,” claims Nicholas Chabbert, vice president, sales and marketing.
Léonard adds: “After a successful launch, we are convinced the 2008 model year TBM 850 will strengthen our market position in Europe. We already have received an increased level of orders in Europe, and we look forward to supplying more aircraft to the corporate market. EBACE is an important show for us.”
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Source: Flight Daily News
