Starting Countdown

Final Countdown

  A host of events at the world’s largest aviation gathering is to mark 100 years of aviation progress by DAHER-SOCATA and its predecessors.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 25, 2011: DAHER-SOCATA commemorate its 100 years of continuous aircraft production with a series of activities at EAA AirVenture, which is one of the world’s premier annual aviation gatherings – being held on July 25-31 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Stéphane Mayer, newly appointed President and CEO of DAHER-SOCATA, and member of the DAHER Group executive board, will symbolically stop the centennial countdown clock at the end of a news conference today Monday, July 25 at DAHER-SOCATA’s booth. (#387-392). This symbolizes the opening of a new century for a company that started its aircraft manufacturing activities as Aeroplanes Morane-Saulnier in 1911.

As a long-time AirVenture participant I’m extremely pleased to be here again at Oshkosh, capital of aviation for a week, to celebrate DAHER-SOCATA entrance in its next century of aircraft production.” commented Stéphane Mayer.

DAHER-SOCATA’s presence includes:

  Display of the Model Year 2011 TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft, which carries a special paint scheme design by Didier Wolff of Happy Design Studios, to celebrate the company’s 100 years of aviation excellence. The 2011 TBM 850 comes with a price list that includes the Highly Extended Exclusive Maintenance Program, which covers scheduled maintenance costs up to the fifth annual inspection or 1,000 flight hours total time for the original owner.

  Presentation of the first retrofitted TBM 700 with the Garmin G1000, an upgrade available exclusively from DAHER-SOCATA that integrates an integrated glass panel avionics package in the predecessor aircraft to the TBM 850.

  Exhibition of a full scale replica Type L aeroplane, one of the oldest and most famous aircraft from Morane-Saulnier.

Other activities with DAHER-SOCATA involvement during the 2011 AirVenture include:

  A pylon racing demonstration between a TBM 850 and a North American P-51 Mustang World War 2 fighter aircraft, scheduled for Wednesday, July 27, and to be repeated on Friday.

 The DAHER-SOCATA-sponsored evening airshow and fireworks on Saturday, July 30.

We are inviting AirVenture attendees to join our centennial celebration highlighting 100 years of continuous aviation innovation," said Nicolas Chabbert, the President of SOCATA North America. “They will have the opportunity to see the progress from our roots with Morane-Saulnier’s pioneering aircraft to the latest TBM 850, which covers such advances as introduction of the sliding canopy to the TBM 700 as the first pressurized civilian single-engine turboprop 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 234 aircraft delivered as of July 15, 2011. The combined TBM 700 and TBM 850 fleet now stands at 558 units. At this date accumulated flight time reached 868,447 flight 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.

100 years of continuous aircraft production

A century of continuous aircraft production
1911 Paris-Madrid, World’s first air race won by Jules Védrines on Morane plane designed by Raymond Saulnier (May 26th)
1911 Birth of Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier company (October, 10)
1913 First Mediterranean air crossing by Roland Garros on MS Type H
1915 First machine gun system firing through the propeller
1919 Morane-Saulnier specialized in “Parasol” monoplane trainers delivered worldwide
1928 1 111 loops by Albert Fronval on a MS 129
1935 World’s first sliding canopy on MS 405 fighter
1941 Morane-Saulnier factory transfered at Tarbes
1954 MS 760 Paris, world’s first business twin jet
1959 Rallye : first flight ; 3 300 units delivered in 65 countries
1966 Sud Aviation purchases Morane-Saulnier to create SOCATA
1970 Sud Aviation merger to be a part of Aérospatiale
1977 Tampico & Tobago, new 4/5 seater TB aircraft range
1980 TB 30 Epsilon, military trainer
1990 TBM 700 world’s first civilian pressurized single turboprop certified
2000 Aerospatiale-Matra merges into EADS, new mother company of SOCATA
2006 TBM850 launching
2009 EADS SOCATA becomes DAHER-SOCATA
2011 Celebration a century of continuous aircraft production

Since 1911, 94 prototypes built and 17,000 aircraft delivered in more than 70 countries.