james List takes a look at the Daher-Socata TBM 850 airplane.
We’ve mentioned before how the softened economy has widened the market for high-end turboprop planes which are more economical if not quite as sexy as jets. The €2 million Daher-Socata TBM 850 aims to bridge the gap between the two in a damned stylish package aimed at owner-operators. The TBM 850 offers the advantages of the cruising speeds typical of light jets, but with the economical direct operating costs of a single-engine turboprop, and of course the lower pricetag. The plane is the product of a merger between Socata, founded in 1911, and French aerospace firm Daher. – From James List