Daher’s support of the Patrouille de France aerobatic team’s trans-Atlantic crossing for its U.S. tour that honored America’s entry into World War I is highlighted in a new video now available online.
For the multi-stop trip from Europe to North America, Daher provided its latest TBM 930 version of the company’s very fast turboprop aircraft, which flew ahead of the renowned French Air Force aerobatic team’s 10 Alpha Jets and two support airplanes.
Using the TBM 930’s Garmin GSR 56 satellite voice and data transceiver – which is offered as part of the aircraft’s avionics package – Daher Chief Test Pilot Stéphane Jacques provided real-time information to the Patrouille de France’s leader, validating meteorological and general conditions while in flight and for the refueling stopovers at airports in Keflavik (Iceland), Kangerlussak (Greenland) and Goose Bay (Canada).
In the three-minute commemorative video, Lt. Col. Gauthier Dewas, Commanding Officer of the Patrouille de France, acknowledged the benefit of havin reliable reports of the meteorological conditions relayed by the TBM 930 during the northern Atlantic flight segments.
Dewas also had the opportunity to be aboard the TBM 930 during a portion of the ocean crossing. “I was impressed by the TBM’s quality and attention to details,” he explained. “I was given an opportunity to fly the aircraft, and [at one point during the flight] I had the Patrouille de France around me – which was very moving, a fantastic experience.”
Invited by the U.S. government as part of activities marking the 100th anniversary of country’s entry into World War I, the Patrouille de France performed at locations from coast-to-coast during March, April and May, including a fly-over of New York – sequences of which are included in the commemorative video.
“The Patrouille de France’s World War I centennial visit was a true celebration of French and U.S. cooperation, and we were proud to have played a role in the team’s tour,” said Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “We are now pleased to share some of the highlights with a spectacular video.”
Daher is making its commemorative video on the Patrouille de France’s trans-Atlantic crossing available via the Daher TBM YouTube Channel at the following link Daher TBM Youtube channel or via the w w w. tbm. aero website.
Daher’s latest collaboration with the Patrouille de France on its 2017 U.S. tour continues a relationship that includes the company’s deployment of a TBM 850 for air-to-air filming of the aerobatic team in a 2012 video celebrating France’s spirit of aviation.
