EADS SOCATA Unveils The 2008 TBM 850

The 2008 version of EADS Socata’s TBM 850 Very Fast Turboprop (VFT) 6-seat business aircraft was unveiled today by Chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Léonard during a “Discovery Show” held at the company’s factory in Tarbes, France.

Upgrades in this latest TBM850 variant includes its Integrated All-Glass Flight Deck, based on the last-generation Garmin G1000 system – which replaces traditional instruments with large liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. It integrates primary flight, navigation, weather, traffic, ground proximity and technical information on the aircraft, fully associated with a digital autopilot. This reduces pilot workload and eases maintenance. As a result, the TBM 850 is now one of the world’s most advanced light business aircraft.

In addition, the TBM 850’s environmental and vapor control system has been replaced by the Global Air Control System, which is more efficient and offers a dual zone temperature control.

The aircraft’s cabin interior has been entirely redesigned to offer more space and comfort, with a 2-inch (5-cm) width increase and a 1-inch (2-cm) ceiling rise

Changes in the cockpit and passenger cabin also reduce airframe weight, increasing the TBM 850’s useful load by 110 lbs. (50 kg.). Fuel tank capacity is boosted by 11 gallons, benefiting from a transfer in the fuel cap position. Maximum range increases from 1,330 naut. mi. to 1,410 naut. mi. at the maximum recommended cruise of 320 knots (593 km./hr.).

Developed in response to customer feedback, the TBM 850’s 2008 model has already achieved success in the market. Introduced to EADS Socata’s most faithful customers during the past several months, it has received a warm welcome – and the 60 aircraft allocated for production in 2008 already have been sold.

“I’m proud and extremely pleased to present the new TBM,” Léonard told international attendees at the Discovery Show. “With this latest improvement to the best business aircraft in its class, the TBM program reaches even a higher level. And the market has responded: we broke a new sales record last year, and production pace is rising from four to five aircraft per month.”

“The new G1000-equipped TBM 850 is the result of our attention to customers.” explained Nicolas Chabbert, EADS Socata Vice President, and the head of Sales & Marketing. “Thanks to our sales success, we can now accept orders for deliveries mid-2009.”

The TBM 850 is world’s fastest single turboprop aircraft with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at flight level 260 (in ISA conditions). It combines cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and moderate environmental signature of the turboprop engine. Its maximum range and useful load, enhanced on the new model, its talent to land on small airports are its main customer’s favorite features.

EADS Socata is one of the world’s leading general aviation manufacturers, with more than 17,000 aircraft built since its creation as Morane-Saulnier in 1911. Current products include the TBM family of high-speed turboprops, TB GT piston aircraft, aerostructures for Airbus civil airliners, the A400M military transporter, Dassault Falcon jets, Eurocopter helicopters and Embraer regional jets. EADS Socata is expanding its customer service activities, to support its growing fleet of TBM and offer its light aviation expertise for aircraft below 5.7 metric tons through avionics modernization, maintenance, repair and overall package offers. Headquartered in Tarbes, France, with North American operations in Pembroke Pines, Florida, EADS SOCATA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS group.

In 2006, EADS generated revenues of € 39.4 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter, and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.

New Garmin avionics G1000, tailored for the TBM 850 – a true concentration of technology, replacing and integrating instruments, gauges and indicators. It significantly reduces the pilot’s workload and eases maintenance tasks.

This new avionics suite features two 10-inch-wide primary flight displays (PFDs), and one 15-inch multifunction display, the largest on a light business aircraft. This screen integrates navigation, weather, traffic and terrain information. It integrates engine monitoring, main technical information depicting aircraft status, and also airport arrival/departure plates and checklists.

Traditional gyro-based instruments are also replaced by two RVSM-compliant Air Data Calculators and two Air Horizontal Reference Systems (AHRS), complemented by a magnetic sensor. The system is completed by the GMC 710 autopilot, the first entirely digital autopilot.

The TBM’s previous environmental and vapor control system has been replaced by the Global Air System (GAS), produced by Liebherr Aerospace. It is automatically regulated by digital control, with pressurization and cabin temperature through two independent circuits.

An engine-driven compressor provides efficient cooling at engine start, with a 50 percent improvement in performance. The Model 2008 TBM 850 is the first light business aircraft to benefit from a dual zone temperature control, as the pilot and passengers can adjust their temperature separately for their own areas. Its maintenance is eased by the use of airline industry standard components and by a dual built-in test system.

The Model 2008 TBM 850’s cabin has been redesigned by the Catherineau design company, improving its functionality while retaining the “European flair”. New cushions and backrest shapes have been retained after intensive testing performed by a large array of persons with different sizes and statures.

The four main cabin side panels have been designed for quick change. They include compartment and large arm-rests. The passenger table folds entirely between two fuselage sections, offering two additional inches at the elbow. Cockpit access is easier due to the new seat shape and a 1-inch rise in the cabin ceiling.

The new TBM 850 avionics is the fruit of an exemplary partnership between the European airplane manufacture and its US supplier.

EADS Socata and Garmin technical teams have been working since the end of 2005 to develop the G1000 system, integrate it into the plane and gain certification of all functions. Achieving all this in under two years is a remarkably short development schedule in general aviation.

The test/development aircraft made its first flight in July 2006, and crossed the Atlantic in October 2006 on its way to Garmin’s headquarters at Olathe, Kansas.

The Garmin GFC 710 digital automatic pilot was installed there and fine-tuned by Garmin/EADS Socata team of engineers over the course of the following three months.

During the return journey to Tarbes at the end of January 2007, a cold-weather test was carried out over a week at Iqaluit in northern Canada to check that the aircraft and its new avionics function correctly in freezing polar conditions – temperatures of –33°C (-28°F) when stationary and –48°C (-54°F) in winds of up to 78 knots (145km/h).

The conclusion of the overall test campaign was certification testing, in which the new system was validated for the entire flight envelope.

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