The TBM Owners and Pilot Association (TBMOPA), an independent users group of DAHER-SOCATA’s TBM 700 and TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft, held their 8th annual convention, August 31 through September 5, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.<\/p>\n
This year’s gathering welcomed more than 300 attendees taking part in the event, with a presence on the ramp of over 85 TBM aircraft, representing an increase of 12 percent compared to last year.<\/p>\n
Held at the highly-rated Broadmoor Resort near Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountain, the
\nTBMOPA presented three days of academic sessions that were customized for the TBM 700 and TBM 850 aircraft, along with social events.
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As in the past, participation in the convention’s academic portion qualified attendees for insurance renewal bonuses or credits. These seminars enabled TBM pilots to improve their skills and knowledge, and included a session on the TMB 700\/TBM 850’s PT6A engine with Pratt & Whitney Canada experts, and a presentation Dr. David Strahle on thunderstorm avoidance using NexRad radar images.<\/p>\n
Also highlighting the convention were keynote speakers such as Craig L. Fuller,
\npresident of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul.<\/p>\n