Socata TBM 700 Specs and Description

Background/History

During the mid-1980’s Aerospatiale’s SOCATA General Aviation Division teamed with Mooney Aircraft Corporation to form TBM International. The consortium’s sole product was the TBM 700, a pressurized, six- to eight-place, single-engine corporate aircraft. The program was announced at the 1987 Paris Air Show. The design objective was an aircraft whose costs of acquisition and operation would be less than those of the typical twin-turboprop aircraft, but could still offer reasonably fast transportation over a 1,400 nm range. Pressurization would allow the aircraft to be operated at flight level altitudes, while the single-turboprop configuration would keep costs to a minimum. At high-speed cruise, the TBM 700’s 300 kt true airspeed is greater than that of most twin-turboprop aircraft, while its miserly 364 pph fuel flow is roughly half that of the twins. The TBM 700’s 1,460 nm range with IFR reserves is competitive with Raytheon’s King Air family of twin-engine aircraft. First flight of the prototype TBM 700 was accomplished in July 1988. Deliveries of the production aircraft began in October 1990 but in 1991 Mooney withdrew from the partnership. A total of 248 aircraft built and delivered through 2002.

Power

The TBM 700 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 reverse flow, axial-centrifugal turboprop engine flat-rated at 700shp at ISA + 49C and driving a four-bladed, reversible, constant-speed propeller. Engine inspection interval is 3,000 hours.

Avionics

The TBM 700 is equipped with the Bendix/King HSI, ADI, and KFC-275 flight director/autopilot, and King Silver Crown radios including dual VHF nav/com radios with dual localizer and glideslope functions, DME, ADF, transponder, RMI, and encoding altimeter. Stormscope, color weather radar, and an EFIS display are among the equipment available as options.

Design Features

The SOCATA TBM 700 is a pressurized, high-performance single-engine turboprop aircraft configured as a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a conventional empennage. The airframe is mainly of conventional, flush-riveted aluminum monocoque construction, with some components fabricated of composite materials. The Pratt & Whitney PT6A-64 engine is essentially the same as the more powerful -67R but is derated to 700 shp, reducing the demands placed on the engine and thereby providing a greater margin of reliability. Electrical system redundancy is provided by the two generators, while three main buses and two emergency buses provide routing options. An automatic system maintains a balance of left- and right- side fuel by cycling the fuel selector valve periodically, assisting the pilot with fuel management. Deicing boots are installed on wing and empennage leading edge surfaces, and an optional propeller anti-ice system is available. The retractable tricycle landing gear has a single wheel on each unit.

Accomodations

The TBM 700 is a cabin-class single engine turboprop aircraft optimized for five passengers in addition to the pilot, but able to accommodate six passengers in a high-density configuration. The typical arrangement consists of a four-seat club with folding work table located behind the flight deck. Cabin dimensions are 4.4ft. in height, 4.1ft. in width and 15ft. in overall length with approximately 11ft. In the passenger area. A clam-shell type entry door is located on the port side of the fuselage, aft of the wing.