| TBM | |
|---|---|
 TBM 900 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Executive transport and civil utility |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | SOCATA Daher |
| Status | In production |
| Primary users | French Army |
| Number built | 1000 (as of October 2020[update])[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1988–present |
| Introduction date | 1990 |
| First flight | 14 July 1988 |
The SOCATA TBM (now Daher TBM) is a family of high-performance single-engine turboprop business and utility light aircraft manufactured by Daher. It was originally collaboratively developed between the American Mooney Airplane Company and French light aircraft manufacturer SOCATA.
The design of the TBM family originates from the Mooney 301, a comparatively low-powered and smaller prototype Mooney developed in the early 1980s. Following Mooney's acquisition by French owners, Mooney and SOCATA started a joint venture for the purpose of developing and manufacturing a new, enlarged turboprop design, which was designated as the TBM 700. Emphasis was placed upon the design's speed, altitude, and reliability. Upon its entry onto the market in 1990, it was the first high-performance single-engine passenger/cargo aircraft to enter production.[2]
Shortly after launch, the TBM 700 was a market success, which led to the production of multiple variants and improved models, often incorporating more powerful engines and new avionics. The TBM 850 is the production name assigned to the TBM 700N, an improved version of the aircraft powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D. In March 2014, an aerodynamically refined version of the TBM 700N, marketed as the TBM 900, was made available.[3]
- ^ "Daher celebrates 1,000th TBM". Air International. Vol. 99, no. 5. November 2020. p. 22. ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
FlyingApril2003was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Durden, Rick (12 March 2014). "DAHER-SOCATA Reveals New TBM 900". AVweb. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.