Two Daher Socata TBM Pilot Owners Set Record Between NY & Paris Two pilot owners of the TBM very fast turboprop class of airplane by Daher Socata recently set a speed record. They flew between New York and Paris with a TBM 930. Dierk Reuter and Phil Bozek flew the TBM owner by Reuter across the Atlantic in approximately 8 hours and 38 minutes at an average speed of 364-knots. They departed from Westchester County Airport (KHPN) north of New York City, and landed at the historic Le Bourget Airport (LFPB) near Paris. This was the same airport that Charles Lindbergh landed at after his pioneering transoceanic crossing too.
They had to make some modifications to make this trip possible and attaining special approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "My thanks go to those involved in obtaining the airworthiness approval, in particular Joe Robbins from the Rice Lake TBM Service Center, who was instrumental in dealing with the FAA," Reuter said. The weather analysis was facilitated by the use of custom-built software created by Reuter, which provided good estimation of favorable winds. His TBM 930 was equipped with a custom-made fuel tank to carry 300 U.S. gallons of jet fuel – bringing the aircraft’s total usable fuel quantity to 600 U.S. gallons, ensuring more than 10 hours of flight time. Also, the TBM 930 beat the previous 325.2-knot record in the C1e category (turboprop aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight under 13,200 lbs./6,000 kg. as established by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale), which was held since 1985 by the renowned test pilot, Chuck Yeager, on a twin-engine airplane. For more information: SOCATA North America, Inc. North Perry Airport, 7501 South Airport Rd. Pembroke Pines, FL 33023 / USA www.tbm.aero ***
