From takeoff in southwestern France to
touchdown in the U.S. state of Florida, the experience of ferrying Daher’s TBM
very fast turboprop aircraft over the North Atlantic Ocean for customer
deliveries is highlighted in a new video available on YouTube.
With the Americas accounting for nearly 80
percent of all TBMs ordered, ferry flights of new production aircraft across the
North Atlantic is a regular part of the delivery process, which routinely is
completed with an arrival at Daher’s operation in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The new video captures the unique character of
such ferry flights, including impressive landings at airports such as Reykjavik,
Iceland; Narsarsuaq, Greenland, with its approach along a fjord; and Goose Bay
in northern Canada, which is one the coldest places on Earth.
Produced by Airborne Films, this
high-quality video chronicles the initial ferry flight with Daher’s latest TBM
version - the TBM 930 - performed by Chief Test Pilot
Stephane Jacques,
with a departure from the TBM final assembly line in Tarbes, France and arrival
at Pompano Beach.
The video also includes comments from
Margrit Waltz,
who has performed more than 800 ocean crossings, half of them being North
Atlantic TBM ferry flights since she delivered the first TBM to the United
States – aircraft Serial No. 5, a TBM 700 version – in 1991, when the very fast
aircraft program was still in its infancy.
“Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a pressurized
single turboprop aircraft may appear routine today, but it still is a unique
aviation experience – especially when customers take part in the ferry flight,”
explained Nicolas Chabbert,
Senior Vice President of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “It was even more of
an adventure 25 years ago, when assistance such as satellite positioning and
in-flight weather updates were not readily available.”
Chabbert added that the new video on YouTube
is a tribute to all ferry pilots who have been a part of the TBM aircraft
family’s success.
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