SOCATA TBM

Design and development

In the early 1980s, the Mooney Airplane Company of Kerrville, Texas designed a six-seat pressurised light aircraft powered by a single 360 hp (268 kW) piston engine, the Mooney 301, which made its maiden flight on 7 April 1983. Mooney was purchased by French owners in 1985, which resulted in talks between Mooney and the French company SOCATA to build a turboprop derivative of the 301. The result of these discussions was the TBM 700, which was much heavier than the 301 with more than twice the power, with a joint venture, TBM International, being set up in June 1987 between Mooney and Socata's parent company Aérospatiale to design and build the new aircraft. In the designation TBM, "TB" stands for Tarbes, the French city in which Socata is located, the "M" stands for Mooney.

The TBM 700 is a single-engined turboprop, six to seven-seat low-wing monoplane of mainly aluminium and steel construction, but with the tail surfaces built of Nomex honeycomb. It has a retractable tricycle landing gear and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 engine delivering 700 shp (522 kW). The first prototype TBM 700 made its maiden flight on 14 July 1988, with French certification following on 31 January 1990 and US FAA certification achieved on 28 August 1990.

Two production lines were planned, one at Kerrville to cater to the American market, and the other at SOCATA's factory in Tarbes to build aircraft for the rest of the world. A shortage of money resulted in Mooney withdrawing from the project in May 1991. The TBM 700 also comes in a cargo variant.

The TBM 850 is the production name for the TBM 700N, an improved version with the more powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D engine flat rated at 850 shp (634 kW). The TBM 850 is limited to 700 shp (522 kW) for takeoff and landing, but in cruise flight the engine power can be increased to 850 shp (634 kW). This extra power gives it a higher cruising speed than the TBM 700 models, especially at high altitudes (due to the flat-rating). The outside appearance of the TBM 850 has remained the same as that of the TBM 700. The TBM 850 has a typical range of 1,520 nautical miles (2,820 km).

Beginning with the 2008 model, the TBM 850 is equipped with the Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck as standard equipment.

Introduced in 2014, the TBM 900 is an improved version with 26 modifications including winglets, a redesigned air intake and a 5-blade propeller, for better aerodynamics and performance.

Variants

TBM 700A

Initial production version with one Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 turboprop engine.

TBM 700B

Variant with wide entrance door, increased maximum zero fuel weight and other improvements.

TBM 700 C1

Improved version with rear unpressurised cargo compartment, reinforced structure, new air conditioning system and other improvements.

TBM 700C2

C1 with increased maximum takeoff weight.

TBM 700N

Variant with increased maximum cruise/climb power, one Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D turboprop engine, marketed as the TBM 850 and with modifications as the TBM 850 G1000 and TBM 900.

TBM 850

Marketing name for the TBM 700N.

TBM 850 G1000

Marketing name for the TBM 700N with a G1000 Integrated Flight Deck and a fuel tank extension modification.

TBM 850 Elite

An updated version of the TBM 850. This model includes four cabin seats in a forward-facing configuration, allowing for an increased cargo area aft of the cabin.

TBM 900

Marketing name for the TBM 700N improved version with aerodynamic inlet and performance optimization. Maximum cruise speed is increased to 330 kn at FL310. A range of 1,730 nmi (with 45-minute standard IFR reserves) using long-range cruise speed is capable at 252 kn while burning 37 gph or 1,585 nmi at 290 kn. The (previously optional) five-bladed carbon fiber Hartzell propeller is now standard, increasing performance and decreasing cabin noise.

TBM 930

New version introduced in April 2016. It is a TBM 900 with upgraded interior and avionics, including the Garmin G3000 touchscreen avionics suite. The TBM 930 is offered alongside the 900 and has not replaced it in the line-up.

Production

At the end of 2016, the TBM fleet had logged a combined 1.4 million flight hours and 822 aircraft had been produced.

TBM 700 - 324 built between 1990-2005

TBM 850 - 338 built between 2006-2013

TBM 900 - 106 built since 2014

Operators

The aircraft is used by both private individuals, corporations and charter and hire companies.

Military operators

France

French Air Force – 15 in service (2016).

French Army Light Aviation (ALAT) – 8 in service (2016).

Accidents and incidents

On 5 September 2014, a TBM 900 (registered N900KN) was found to be flying with an apparently unconscious pilot over South Carolina (see 2014 SOCATA TBM crash). Pilots of fighter aircraft that were scrambled to trail the TBM 900 observed that the windows were frosted over. The aircraft reportedly crashed 14 miles northeast of Portland Parish, Jamaica, on the country's northeast coast.

Specifications (TBM 900)

Data from TBM

General characteristics

Crew: one or two pilots

Capacity: four to six occupants, including pilots

Length: 10.736 m (35.22 ft)

Wingspan: 12.833 m (42.10 ft)

Height: 4.355 m (14.29 ft)

Wing area: 18 m² (193.75 sq ft)

Empty weight: 2,097 kg (4,629 lb)

Useful load: 636 kg (1,403 lb /)

Max. takeoff weight: 3,353 kg (7,394 lb)

Usable fuel: 291 US gal. / 1,100 liters

Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D turboprop, 634 kW (850 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 611 km/h (330 knots) FL280

Cruise speed: 467 km/h (252 knots) Long Range Cruise FL310

Range: 3,304 km (1,730 nmi) Long Range Cruise FL310

Service ceiling: 9,450 m (31,000 ft)

Time-to climb to 31,000 ft.: 18 min. 45 sec