Randy Thurman is the proud new owner of a TBM 700B, SN 221. He took delivery of N700CV on November 29, 2011 in Medford, Oregon. Not more than 20 days later, fully trained and checked out (by Walt Adair of Turbine Solutions, Inc.), he flew solo over the Caribbean to the United States Virgin Islands!  

On December 19, Randy Thurman and N700CV departed KFXE, Fort Lauderdale and landed at TIST, St. Thomas (USVI). The trip back was TIST to BQN- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and then to KSUA- Stuart, Florida. He found clearing customs in Puerto Rico straightforward and uncomplicated. The trip there and the return trip were 1,000 NM each. On the way home there was an average of 40 knot headwinds, but he still landed at KSUA with 60 gallons of fuel remaining in VFR weather.

Randy utilized a number of resources and learned a lot about international flying along the way. AVEX set him up with a FAA flywire (serving as proof of registration on a newly transferred aircraft) and Randy gathered all the necessary survival equipment including: life jackets, life raft and a handheld epirb.  He praised Air Journey for their assistance and advice in regards to eAPIS, charts, and flight planning.

Randy said, “The trip gave me a lot of time alone with my new TBM and was a great experience,” he further commented, “The new dual Garmin GTN 750s that AVEX installed do everything but make coffee!”  Randy and his wife, Karen, own a home in the Virgin Islands and the TBM 700B will see this trip many times.  Randy has offered to speak with any TBM owner interested in planning a similar adventure.

Much of the focus at NBAA’s 2011 event was on the use of the light business airplanes such as the TBM 850 to meet rapid business transportation needs in today’s challenging economic environment.

“Our TBM 850 very fast turboprop’s debut appearance in the city of Las Vegas delivers a ‘closer to the point’ message, and is a good way to highlight its role as a highly productive transportation tool for a company,” said Nicolas Chabbert, the President of SOCATA North America. “The TBM 850’s unique performance-to-cost ratio makes it economically acceptable, and its ability to land at small airports significantly reduces travel time compared to larger aircraft.”

Terry Winson, the Director of Sales at Avex – DAHER-SOCATA’s TBM distributor for the Southwest U.S. – noted that an increasing number of operators who previously utilized jets are now considering the TBM for their business travel. “Adding to the TBM 850’s credibility is its lineage, which is linked to a company that has been in the airplane business for 100 years,” he added.

The TBM 850 is world’s fastest single turboprop aircraft, with a maximum cruise speed of 320 KTAS at Flight Level 260 (in ISA conditions). It combines the cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and eco-friendly environmental signature of a turboprop engine.

DAHER-SOCATA displayed the TBM 850 alongside the annual operating costs and carbon emissions of competing aircraft including: Eight Passenger Turboprop, Light Twin Turboprop, Very Light Jet, Light Jet, Medium Jet, and Large Jet. The approach gained attention from flight departments seeking an efficient alternative to using heavier, more expensive equipment on 500-900NM trips.

Click here to learn more about how the TBM 850 may positively impact the operating costs and environmental signature of your business.

TBM 850

Monday through Wednesday this week, N850LT will be on display at the static exhibit outside the Las Vegas Convention Center for the NBAA Annual Convention.  Positioning the planes outside the convention center is no easy feat.

The moving crew towed each plane from Mc Carran International Airport to the Las Vegas Convention Center via the following route:

-Exit Airport at Gate 50

-Right on Tropicana Ave

-Left of Swenson St.

-Left on Sierra Vista Dr.

-Right on Paradise Rd.

-Into the Silver Parking Lot of the Convention Center

The TBM 850 will be on display outside the convention center (click here for map) and DAHER-SOCATA will have a display inside the convention center located at booth C6521.

Click here to learn more about the TBM 850!

AVEX invites you to stop by the TBM 850 booth located in the static display area outside the convention center next week; our location is depicted in the map above. Terry Winson, Doug Bornstein, Michel De Villiers, Mike Sarsfield, and Misty Moore will be representing Socata and the TBM 850 at the National Business in Aviation Show. DAHER –SOCATA will also have a display inside the convention center located at booth C6521. President of DAHER-SOCATA North America, Nicolas Chabbert will also be attending the event.

The National Business in Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention offers an expansive schedule of Education Sessions, Maintenance and Operations Sessions, and special events including Charity Benefits.

Click here to learn more about the TBM 850.

The Porsche Aircraft Experience is a unique type of show pairing aviation enthusiasts with fast cars and professional Porsche driving instructors. The organizers send out invitations to pilots in the local area and give them a chance to check out a wide variety of general aviation aircraft. Not only do these pilots get to climb in and check out the TBM 850, but they also get to try their hand at driving brand new Porsches on a race track set up right on the tarmac!

On Thursday, September 22^nd, N850LT made the trip from its home in Camarillo (KCMA) to McClellan Palomar Airport (CRQ) in 37 minutes, and was greeted by a crowd of spectators eager to see the plane up close. The show had a great turnout and Terry and Danielle fielded a wide range of questions ranging from performance to operating costs.  The trip home was the same route of flight, Palomar to Camarillo via Catalina, accomplished in 30 minutes!

To find out more about the fastest single engine turboprop visit www.newavex.com or call (805) 389-1188.

The TBM Owners and Pilots Association held their annual conference in Colorado Springs August 31- September 3.  AVEX Team Members in attendance included; Terry Winson, Terese Winson, Chris Cannon, Doug Bornstein, and Jim Aukes.

AVEX’s Director of Sales, Terry Winson, presented on the current pre-owned TBM market and also did a review of TBM accidents. AVEX Pilot and Flight Ops, Chris Cannon, presented on TBM pre-flight de-icing procedures.  Other speakers of note included AOPA President Craig Fuller, Rich Stowell, Dr. Strahle, Brian Schul, Brian Dunsirn, Mel Rushton, and Andrew Knott. A wide variety of safety topics were discussed including: Nexrad and Thunderstorms, IPAD Aviation Applications, Must Know Items for TBM Owners, PT6A Engine Update, and Angle of Attack and the Go-around.

As with all TBMOPA conventions, other highlights included the full schedule of social and companion activities as well as evening dinners and cocktails.

Fred is a highly regarded aviation expert and is particularly prominent in the turboprop and light jet business realm. Upon his arrival he interviewed Terry Winson on topics including: the TBM’s place in the light jet market, Socata’s marketing model, operating costs, resale markets, and trip comparisons between the TBM and competing aircraft.

Next Fred and Terry headed out to the hangar to shoot some video for a podcast. Fred and Terry discussed the main differences between the TBM 850 legacy and G-1000 models. Terry also explained major maintenance items seen with the fleet.  The TBM 850 article will run in the September 2011 issue of “Business and Commercial Aviation Magazine.”

N850LT arrived here at the AVEX hangar in Camarillo, California coming to us all the way from France on July 29, 2011! SN 585 is the newest of the TBM 850 fleet. While every TBM 850’s transatlantic crossing is an adventure, N850LT made a special stop on her maiden voyage, flying in to Oshkosh just in time for Socata’s 100th anniversary party, celebrating a century of continuous aircraft manufacturing. The celebration even included an air race between a TBM 850 and a P-51 Mustang! The celebration at Oshkosh is not the only thing that Socata is doing to commemorate their centennial, they are also offering a limited time Five Year Zero Scheduled Maintenance  Cost Warranty for the 2011 TBM 850.

Terry Winson, AVEX Director of Sales, departed Oshkosh at 7:17AM CDT and landed in Denver at 9:23AM MDT. He continued on, departing Denver at 10:58AM MDT and arrived back here at AVEX at 1:01PM PDT. Terry and N850LT covered more than 1800 statute miles in a half day!