Another
entry into the super competitive small plane market comes from
EADS Socata
which has announced the newest member of its TBM family, the six-seater TBM 850 single-engine turboprop. The idea is to
give TBM 850 operators the advantage of the cruising speeds of light jets with the lower costs of operating costs of a
single-engined turboprop. The plane is certified in European and FAA certification is expected soon. Deliveries will
begin in 2006 and the base price is $2,576,930 in 2006. A version with typical customer options and equipped for RVSM
(Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) operation will list at $2,799,850. The RVSM-equipped version can fly non-stop
from Minneapolis to Miami.
