TBM vs P51

Speed and style: 2011 AirVenture air race video with DAHER SOCATA’s TBM 850 and a P-51 Mustang is now available on-line

Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA, August 11, 2011: DAHER-SOCATA has posted video highlights of the air race challenge between its TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft and a World War II P-51 Mustang fighter, which occurred during the 2011 EAA AirVenture aviation event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA.

The race was held July 29 as part of DAHER-SOCATA’s celebration marking 100 years of continuous aircraft by the company and its predecessors, and the video highlights are now posted on the official TBM 850 website: http://www.tbm850.com/Morane-Saulni....

This friendly fly-off was performed over a traditional 6-lap course utilized in the National Air Race Championships’ Unlimited category to find out which was faster: the turboprop-powered TBM 850, or the North American P-51 – which is one of the fastest single-engine piston aircraft of all time.

The TBM 850 was provided for the race by its owner, Steve Walenz of Spirit Lakes, Iowa, and was flown by Bob Odegaard, a renowned National Air Race Championship pilot.

Providing the competition was a P-51D-30NA, which carries the “Gentleman Jim” markings to honor World War II fighter ace Capt. Jim Browning – who went missing in action during 1945. This aircraft is owned by Jack Roush of the Roush Industries research and development company, which is well known for its sponsorship of a NASCAR car racing team. The P-51 was flown in the race by Jimmy Leeward, a legend of the Reno Air Races and real estate developer, who also is a Hollywood movie industry stunt pilot.

We held this symbolic race to celebrate the 100th anniversary of aircraft manufacturing excellence at our company, which always has been performed to the high standards of both speed and style,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, President of SOCATA North America, and Senior Vice President of the DAHER-SOCATA Airplane Division. “The 2011 EAA AirVenture gathering brought together aviation enthusiasts from around the world, offering the perfect venue for this amicable head-to-head challenge – and our on-line video highlights allow us to share the memorable moments with an even wider audience.

For the race results, the TBM 850 crossed the finish line a few seconds ahead of the P-51, enabling both pilots to underscore their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft.

The TBM 850 is the world’s fastest single-engine turboprop, with a maximum cruise speed of 320 KTAS at 26,000 ft. (in ISA conditions). An 850-shp. version of SOCATA’s proven six-seat TBM 700 turboprop business aircraft, the TBM 850 combines the cruise speed and travel times typical of light jets with economical direct operating costs, while offering the range and excellent payload capacity of turboprop aircraft.
Since its launch in 2005, the TBM 850 has become an international success – with more 235 aircraft delivered as of July 31, 2011. The combined TBM 700 and TBM 850 fleet now stands at 559 units. Their total flight time exceeds now 860,000 hours.

About DAHER - www.daher.com
DAHER is a European integrated equipment and services supplier. Independent medium-size company DAHER develops its “industry & services” model in the aerospace, nuclear, defense and industry sectors, concentrating on three core activities: manufacturing, services and transport, which it builds into a global offer.

Founded in 1863, DAHER is international with 6,700 men and women in 14 countries over the world. DAHER has tripled in size over six years and now exceeds one billion-dollar annual turnover.

DAHER-SOCATA, DAHER group’s aerospace activities, boasts a global and original offering to serve airframe manufacturers and tier-1 equipment manufacturers, with established expertise in four complementary activities presenting a wealth of synergies: aircraft manufacturing, aerostructures, services and technology specialties.

In 2011, DAHER-SOCATA is celebrating the 100th anniversary of continuous aircraft production, marking a legacy that began in 1911 with its predecessor company – Aeroplanes Morane-Saulnier.

For more information, visit www.daher.com