Lakeland, Florida, April 23, 2007
The EADS Socata TBM 850 high-speed business aircraft has come to the United States for its American public debut at the annual Sun ‘n Fun convention and fly-in at Lakeland, Florida.
EADS Socata launched the six-seat TBM 850 in December 2005, and deliveries began last year. As a follow-on to the company’s popular TBM 700, the new TBM 850 combines cruising speeds and trip times of a light jet with the economic operating costs, range and useful load of a proven single-engine turboprop.
"The TBM 850 market penetration is a clear message that our strategy is right: we delivered 42 aircraft last year and we expect to deliver 50 this year,” said EADS Socata Chairman and CEO Stéphane Mayer. “This will be another record year for the TBM program. The range, useful load and speed of the TBM 850, plus its ease of insurability and pilot transition, will continue to make it a preferred option for many buyers.”
In addition to the TBM 850’s U.S. unveiling at the Sun ‘n Fun event, EADS Socata and the Experimental Aircraft Association announced the selection of two college students for a five-week internship at EADS Socata’s headquarters in Tarbes, France. One of them is studying Organizational Management at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, while the other is pursuing Mechanical Engineering studies at the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
These internships are part of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, which is among the largest youth aviation programs in history.
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, the TB GT piston aircraft, and aerostructures for a wide variety of airliners, business jets and helicopters. The North American operations of EADS Socata are located at Pembroke Pines, Florida.
