Certification of the single-turboprop TBM850, EADS Socata’s answer to very-light jets (VLJ), has been awarded by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
EADS Socata says approval was achieved “after a slow start” and promises that deliveries will begin in “early 2006”. The company declines to say how many sales have been made so far, although it is understood that three TBM850s have been sold in Europe.
The six-seat TBM850 was launched in December as a turboprop rival to VLJs and to open the way to the special-mission aircraft market. Based on the 15-year-old TBM700, but with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine, the aircraft will, says EADS Socata, have 50% lower direct operating costs than a VLJ and only be marginally slower, with a maximum cruising speed of 320kt (590km/h) at 26,000ft (7,900m).
Source: Flight International
