A new film about the Patrouille de France has been released at the show and claims to portray the aerobatic team “as they have never been seen before.” The film’s producer and directors, Eric Magnan and Francoise-Olivier Robin, have captured exceptional moments in the Patrouille’s display thanks to the use of a specially-configured Daher-Socata TBM 850 turboprop, which flies fast enough to keep up with the Patrouille’s Alphajets. Daher-Socata formed a partnership last year with the Patrouille de France and collaborated on development of the film, which celebrates the Patrouille’s 60th anniversary and is narrated by French TV personality Michel Drucker. A preview of the film will be shown on the Breitling stand (Static A166) at 4 p.m., Friday June 21. The film is available as a DVD on sale at the show, too.
Daher-Socata is showcasing the multi-mission (MMA) version of the TMB 850 here at the Paris Air Show (Static O62). Today the company is celebrating the French DGAC’s award of certification for single-engine passenger flight in the TBM 850 in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in Europe. Full EASA IMC certification for single-engine passenger operations remains the goal, but for now TBM 850 operators can at least fly in IMC conditions anywhere in Europe, as long as the trip begins and ends in France, with the same passengers on the return leg.
The TBM 850 at the show has been fitted with a fully retractable electric turret located under the rear fuselage, which can house high-definition, fully digital multi-sensors for security and defense needs. It also features a Thales I-Master synthetic aperture radar and ground moving-target indicator. The aircraft can also be used for passenger transport, light cargo and medical evacuation.
Daher-Socata has already sold 40 multi-mission versions of the TBM family to government and private operators. “With this new combination of the high-performance sensors, the TBM 850 MMA offers a highly affordable, cost-effective airborne multi-mission platform for both security and governmental operators,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher-Socata’s airplane division.
