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John Hinshaw
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 86
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What's in a Name?
 Posted:
Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:32 pm |
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What is now the TBM began in 1980 as Mooney Aircraft’s response to competition by Cessna, Beechcraft, and Piper. Over the next few years the project became known as the Mooney 301. The 301 was to have a service ceiling of 25,000 feet, a cabin pressure of 5 psi, and a top speed of 262 knots which is equal to 301 mph. This would provide a cabin pressure of 9000 feet at FL250. It took its first flight on April 7, 1983. In the meantime, before production began the Mooney Aircraft Company changed ownership several times. Mooney ended up being owned by two investors from France, Alec Couvelaire and Armand Rivard. Production was put on hold indefinitely by the new French owners.
The new owners’ engineering team thought the 301 was too slow and heavy. Alec Couvelaire thought that buyers would want a speed closer to 300 knots. He initiated a joint venture between Mooney Aircraft and Socata, then a Division of Aerospatiale in France. This joint venture resulted in the TBM 700 with a proposed cruise speed of 300 knots true, a service ceiling of 30,000 feet and a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-64 turboprop power plant.
Over the next three years various issues and problems occurred. In 1989 the joint venture was Mooney (1/3) and Socata Aerospatiale (2/3). This led to a disagreement that ultimately caused Mooney to drop out of the project in the summer of 1989. Now TBM 700 became the complete product of Socata. Although Socata utilized their own design for the fuselage and wings, they did retain some of the original flight control operations of the Mooney 301.
Even though the Mooney 301 never made it past one prototype, there are design ideas flying in every TBM out there today. The TBM 700 models A, B and C2 are flat-rated to 700 shaft horsepower by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-64 turboprop engine. The TBM 850 is flat-rated to 850 shaft horsepower by the PT6A-66D.
So “What is in the name TBM?” the TB stands for Tarbes, France where the TBM is made and the M is for Mooney who was the originator of the project.
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John Hinshaw
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 86
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GA is Alive and Well!
Posted:
Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:09 pm |
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Having just attended the NBAA in October and the AOPA convention just a month ago, I say aviation is alive and flourishing. Even with the big three aircraft manufacturers announcing reductions in production, pilots are still upbeat. They are very much interested in upgrades in avionics, head sets, weather information, and accessories.
Although these two shows are very different, the aisles were crowded with attendees. Socata was present at both shows and displayed a new TBM 850 – G1000.
In October your TBMOPA board of directors met for its 4th quarter meeting. Many issues were covered. We concluded that the convention in Traverse City , Michigan was a huge success and reviewed the attendee surveys (that many of you completed) in detail to further enhance our future conventions. Socata issues were on the agenda also. The reported battery life issue was discussed in detail and we decided we needed documented data to present to Socata. If you have battery life related data please let us know.
Roy Bliss agreed to allow his airplane to be used to test the Honeywell EFS 40 WAAS integration the STC is now available so that owners can upgrade their EFIS systems. Since the FAA reported last week that there are now more LPV approaches in the US than there are ILS approaches, it's nice to be able to fly coupled approaches to them! Thanks to Roy for loaning Honeywell his aircraft and to Andrew Knott for project managing the program.
Tom Evernham presented information about the new TBMOPA Foundation. Last year we committed funds for two student scholarships and we will be working on new Safety and Training programs for 2009
We discussed the subscription comparison between our association and that of several similar organizations.
For Oshkosh Airventure 2009, we talked about having a “ TBM Town ” of owners grouped together in the campground. Those who stayed together last year had a great time. If you have a motorhome or camper that you'd like to take to this event, or you would like to participate in in one of our RV rentals please let Andrew know as he develops plans for the location of reserved sites.
Possible sites for our 2011 convention were discussed (we have already signed contracts for the 2010 convention. A first class hotel with capacity to house our growing membership with an “more than adequate” airport and FBO is a limiting factor. Our search is on.
We are still in need of new volunteers to help committees. Please step forward, as those before you have, to help make our organization better.
The TBM is an amazing machine- FL310, 52.8 GPH, 308 TAS, 186 IAS, 788 ITT, 100.2 NG, 97.7 TQ, -37 OAT. I just landed mine, concluding my trip to the AOPA convention, and have enjoyed 3302 nautical miles, one fuel stop each way, 7 hours of flight time west and then 5.7 hours east, one approach and very few clouds. Don’t you just love the TBM?
John, Hinshaw - President, TBMOPA
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2009 TBMOPA Convention - Tucson, AZ |
Wed. Oct 14, 2009 - Sun. Oct 18, 2009 |
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