TBM 700 and Trinidad crews help a group of European private pilots to cross the Atlantic to the world’s largest aviation show.
Oshkosh, WI (USA), 26 July 2005
Each year, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh draws aircraft from around the globe that arrive to participate in the world's greatest aviation celebration. This summer's extraordinary lineup of aircraft for the 53rd annual EAA AirVenture sees today the arrival of the “Euro-Squadron”, a group of more than 15 aircraft flying from Paris, France to Oshkosh via the legendary northern route — a 7,714 nm-trip of which 1,610 nm was over water and 350 nm was over the Greenland ice cap.
This group was escorted by an EADS Socata TBM 700 single-engined turboprop. This aircraft, originally delivered in 1991 was the second TBM 700 manufactured, and has recently been completely upgraded to the latest TBM luxury and avionics standards by its owners Michel and David Fabry. The TBM will also be providing transport for members of the press covering the flight of the Euro-Squadron. The TBM drew ‘pathfinder’ duty largely based on its speed, full-deicing, GPS navigational equipment and hazard awareness systems.
The other Socata type in the group is a TB 20 Trinidad belonging to EADS Socata’s own Flying Club, the Aéro-Club Léon Morane and is flown by Dominique Deschamps, former Vice-President of Aircraft Engineering at EADS Socata (and now an Airbus flight test engineer). With 37 Transatlantic Ferry Flights, he is the most experienced pilot in the Euro-Squadron and the Squadron’s technical advisor. His copilots are Fabrice Normand and Ronan Bodet, respectively EADS Socata’s controller and design office engineer.
The Euro-Squadron, is made up of 15 different aircraft types ranging from the rare (but appropriately named) Wassmer WA 54 Atlantic, four-place single-engined tourer (the world’s first glass fiber aircraft) with a top cruising speed of 120kt, to the 300kt TBM700 turbo-prop. The Squadron also includes a rare French warbird, a Dassault 312 Flamant (Flamingo), a 1949 twin-engine transport aircraft comparable to the Beech 18. The Flamant fulfilled many roles in the French and South Vietnamese Air Forces, in the main as a bomber-trainer and liaison aircraft, but was also on occasion used for ground-attack and even night-fighter missions until its withdrawal in 1982. It was the first aircraft manufactured under Dassault brand name. This aircraft was lovingly restored by a group of enthusiasts from Normandy and on arrival will park at EAA AirVenture’s AeroShell Square showcase ramp, near the SpaceShipOne/White Knight and Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft.
"We are proud that our company escorted the Euro-Squadron in this Atlantic crossing which highlights EADS Socata’s 17th participation in EAA AirVenture. EAA Airventure is the World’s largest Air Show for general and personal aviation and as always, we are pleased to be here." commented Stephane Mayer, Chairman and CEO of EADS Socata.
EADS Socata is one of the world’s leading general aviation manufacturers with more than 6,000 aircraft flying in 65 countries, continuing a tradition initiated by Morane-Saulnier in 1911, which includes the MS 760 ParisJet, world’s first business jet. EADS Socata manufactures the TBM700 high-speed turboprop and the TB GT range of piston-engined touring and training aircraft, as well as being an industrial partner of Airbus airliners (including the new Airbus A380), the A400M military transport, the Dassault Falcon 7X as well as Eurocopter helicopters and Embraer regional jets.
Based in France, with North American headquarters at Pembroke Pines, Florida, EADS Socata is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world.
