Press Release

The TBM 930 was carrying an additional 300 US gallons of fuel.

Issued by Daher Aerospace.

March 9, 2019

Daher is following the attempt by two TBM pilot-owners using a TBM 930 very fast turboprop aircraft to break a world speed record between New York and Paris, which has been held since 1985 by the famous test pilot, Chuck Yeager.

The record attempt began yesterday, March 8, at Westchester County Airport (KHPN) north of New York City, with a takeoff at midnight local time. They are expected to land at Paris' historic Le Bourget Airport (LFPB) this afternoon, where Charles Lindbergh landed after his pioneering North Atlantic crossing.

They will be hosted at Le Bourget Airport by Luxaviation, a business aviation services company and its partner SkyValet will provide handling support for the speed record aircraft.

“We are ready to host the arrival of this milestone flight and are proud to be a part of an exciting aviation adventure,” commented Barbara Prieto, sales executive manager of Luxaviation France.

Pilots Dierk Reuter and Phil Bozek have worked extensively over the past year with officials on both sides of the Atlantic to challenge the record in the C1e category (turboprop aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight under 13,200 lbs./6,000 kg.) as established by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports. They also expect to break the New York o Paris speed record in a TBM 700 established on June 27th, 1994, 25 years ago by Jacques Lemaigre du Breuil with an average speed of 287 kts.

Reuter, 58, is a Chicago-based global finance expert and currently flies his TBM 930 after owning a TBM 850 version for nearly 10 years. He has amassed 4,500 flight hours, half of which have been logged while operating his two TBM aircraft throughout the world, including an exciting trip to Antarctica in December.

“Phil and I are excited to fly a TBM 930 across the Atlantic non-stop for the first time ever,” Reuter said. “We're confident in the TBM's capabilities to challenge the speed record and succeed.”

The 31-year-old Bozek is a Michigan-based serial entrepreneur and real estate investor who has the distinction of being the youngest owner of a Daher TBM very fast turboprop aircraft. Bozek has flown nearly 3,400 hours, including 800 in his TBM 900, and is a passionate aviator that frequently flies aerobatics and formation demonstrations using his own collection of piston-engine and turbine-powered warbirds.

Bozek stated: “The advances in aviation efficiency and technology over the past 35 years are astounding, especially considering that the TBM didn't even exist when the New York-Paris speed record was last set. Using the TBM, with less fuel and one less engine than the previous record-holding aircraft, we are travelling the same distance significantly faster. I'm completely confident in the TBM and its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine, even when we are thousands of miles from shore.”

Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher's airplane business unit, acknowledged the extraordinary aspect of the upcoming speed record attempt, thanking Dierk Reuter and Phil Bozek for their commitment to the TBM as passionate owner-pilots. “Dierk and Phil can count on the Daher team's full support as they demonstrate the real capabilities of our very fast turboprop aircraft. We look forward to greeting the new record-holders after they retrace the steps of other pilots who have made aviation history.”

To fly the 3,139-naut. mi. route non-stop from New York to Paris, Reuter's TBM 930 has been fitted with the additional fuel tank, which will carry 300 U.S. gallons of jet fuel, bringing the aircraft's total usable fuel quantity to 600 U.S. gallons, ensuring more than 10 hours of flight time.

A permit for the record attempt has been delivered by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, allowing the aircraft to take off at an increased weight of 9,500 lbs. compared to the TBM 930's certified maximum takeoff weight of 7,398 lbs. In addition, the airplane is equipped for inflight tracking using an Iridium GO! device, and with dedicated support of Iridium Communications.

The TBM 910 and TBM 930 are the current members in Daher's TBM family of very fast single-engine turboprop aircraft. Differences between the two models are concentrated on their primary avionics: Garmin's G1000 NXi avionics system with physical keypad for the TBM 910; Garmin's G3000 with touchscreen controller for the TBM 930.

Both aircraft offer superior performance; a maximum cruise speed of 330 kts. and high efficiency with a 1,730 nm maximum range and a fuel consumption at economy cruise of 37 U.S. gallons per hour. This results from aerodynamic improvements, along with other aircraft enhancements. The maximum range and useful load, as well as the ability to land at small airports, are some of the customers' favourite features.

To date, a total of 929 TBM aircraft have been delivered to international owners and operators, with the global fleet accumulating some 1.6 million flight hours. 267 TBM 900-series have been delivered through December 31, 2018. They are built by Daher on its industrial site at the airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (Hautes Pyrénées), France.