Inspired by this article

https://pilotweb.aero/news/new-york-paris-speed-record-set-in-a-daher-tbm-930-6298050/

I decided to try to cross the Atlantic with the default TBM. Well, default but modded to take off with twice the base fuel capacity = 600 Gal with a MTOW at 9200 lbs just like the record-TBM.

A 3196 nm trip from New York Stewart International Airport (KSFW) to Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) with a planned air time of 9h, and an estimated PBRN of 3414 lbs.

After carefully planning the flight, it is time to start our heavy TBM.

Heavy to taxi, heavy to roll, heavy to take off. Forget the usual 3000ft/s+ climb speed, with FLC at 130 kts, we are climbing at 1500ft/s max

Somewhere above New Scotland, our ABRN is slightly below PBRN. When entering the NAT, we carry 29 lbs more than planned. 

Crossing the Atlantic by night, closely monitoring the fuel consumption, we exit the NAT as the sun rises - with a 40 lbs fuel excess over planned. Stronger rear winds than expected, we frequently exceeded 420 kts GS.

This fuel excess was welcome, because winds were slightly less favorable as we approached the UK. When French Coasts were in sight, our fuel advance had melted down to 12 lbs.

Nothing alarming though, as we fly above Rouen

Approaching LFPB to land on the 27, we fly alongside CDG Airport

We finally smoothly landed at Le Bourget, 3300 lbs lighter than 9 hours ago

 

Outcome of this flight : we did not beat the official record, with a block time of 8:58, but the flight was flawless, especially when it comes to fuel, with a final deviation of less than 1,5% 

Edited August 5, 20241 yr by RockOla

Nice shots of your flight in the heavy TMB! So the fuel was well calculated! 🙂

That's an impressive flight! And great pictures too 😃

Thanks for the comments ! The fuel calculation was spot on, with ActiveSky and the historic weather snapshot mode. You can choose a particularly advantageous metar. I plan on trying the flight again, to beat the record of 8 hours and 38 minutes.

A very nice and really well-planned landmark flight....🙂...

Fell short by only 20 mins...looks like...May the wind (I mean the Jetstream ...) ...be at your back next time...🙂...