Tarbes, France, September 21, 2020 – The 1,000th TBM made its official rollout today from Daher’s Tarbes, France final assembly line for the company’s family of very fast turboprop aircraft. This milestone airplane – a TBM 940 version – culminates 10 years of investment by Daher in making the TBM a commercial and technological success.
Delivery of the 1,000th TBM will be made next week to its owner, an experienced private pilot based in New York, with the handover taking place at Daher’s Pompano Beach, Florida facility. The historic TBM underscores the company’s “industrial adventure” that is based on Daher’s ability to differentiate and innovate.
“Our profession as an aircraft manufacturer is part of our family’s business model, which builds on a long term strategy,” said Patrick Daher, Chairman of the Daher Group. “We are proud of the TBM’s success, which has enabled us to develop a unique know-how that provides us with recognized differentiating strengths for the aeronautical equipment and services markets.”
Patrick Daher, Chairman of the Daher Group
With the acquisition of the U.S.-based Kodiak aircraft manufacturer last year, Daher further strengthened its position in the general aviation market, now ranking 7th worldwide. The Group currently offers a range of complementary aircraft: the TBM, which meets the performance and efficiency requirements of private pilots/owners and governments; and the Kodiak, originally created to assist organizations that perform humanitarian missions.
“I would like to thank all of our employees involved in this adventure,” stated Didier Kayat, the Daher CEO. “In these very challenging times that face the entire industry, the TBM’s success is essential in contributing to the aviation sector of tomorrow. Our position as an aircraft manufacturer gives us an important responsibility within the aviation industry, which is mobilized to develop carbon-free aircraft.”
Didier kayat, the daher ceo
Daher is therefore committed to the ambitious collaborative research programs of CORAC (the French Civil Aviation Research Council), supported by the French government through the aeronautics recovery plan presented last June. This includes the EcoPulse hybrid aircraft demonstrator, being developed by Daher with Airbus and Safran.
The Daher TBM aircraft family – which delivers speed while offering much lower fuel consumption than competing jets – has distinguished itself by its environmental efficiency, valued by customers around the world.
“We thank our customers for their continued confidence, which enabled us to reach the symbolic 1,000th TBM milestone today, making this aircraft one of the bestsellers in general and business aviation,” declared Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division.
