Socata has delivered on June 28th three TBM 700B, large-door version of the TBM 700 to the French Army Aviation Transport Squadron based at Rennes Airport (Britanny, France).
The aircraft were presented by Philippe Debrun, Socata CEO, to General Maurice Godinot, North-Western Region commanding officer and General Georges Ladeveze, French Army Aviation commander.
For General Ladeveze says TBM 700B is a rational command tool that will increase Army Aviation mission capability.
The Socata TBM 700 can bring French Army generals to all military headquarters in Europe in a couple of hours. A day-return trip from Rennes to Sarajevo can be achieved in less than 4 hours without refuelling.
The TBM 700 allows the Army Aviation transport squadron to operate at the nearest airports to military bases thank to its landing and take-off performance on 2400 ft (800 m) long runways. Its direct operating cost of $ 230 per flight hour, less than 90 cents a mile, perfectly suits budgetary concern of armies in today's world
