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I don't know about the rest of you , but when I see a TBM I seem to feel an unseen force drawing me in for a closer look. Dare I say they are just down right sexy! Could I be "cheating" on my Mooney. Similar sleek lines, nice shape, fast looking on the ground-faster looking in the air. There was just something familiar about those TBM's. Now I know why. In 1983 Mooney attempted to enter the single engine, pressurize cabin market to compete with the likes of Cessna, Beech and Piper. A single prototype was created (and flown) to FL 250 with a Max speed of 301 MPH. The prototype became know as the Mooney 301. Unfortunately, Mooney came under financial difficulties (again) before formal production could be started. The company was ultimately purchased in 1985 by investors Alec Couvelaire and Armand Rivard - French based. The new owners felt the 301 was to heavy and slow to effectively compete with the up coming rivals. In 1987 a joint venture developed with Daher-Socata, another French company, to design a single engine turboprop utilizing the 301 as a starting point. By 1988 (a year latter) the joint venture produced the first prototype known as the TBM 700. "TB" for Tarbes (French city were Socata is based), "M" for Mooney of course. Plans were made to manufacture the TBM's both in Kerrville, TX (Mooney factory) and in France. Type certification was obtained in 1990, but unfortunately, Mooney continued to experience financial issues and withdrew from the project just 8 months after the type certification was obtained in the US. You guessed it....The rest is history. So now when I see one of those beautiful TBM's taxi by, I realize I am flying nothing less than the little brother. Don't worry, your not cheating. Your just feeling brotherly love. Who would have known.......not a history expert, just a little extra time to read Mooney 301 . TBM 700