Formed in 1957 at Tulare in California, TBM Incorporated took its name from the type it started off with, the Grumman TBM Avenger. The Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors at Trenton, New Jersey, built just over 5,000 TBMs, the largest single version being the TBM-3. Many of these were acquired by American and Canadian civilian aerial application outfits. Specialising in fire fighting, TBM Inc flew former TBM-3E 91110 as N6827C, call sign 'Tanker Echo 58', from the early 1960s. Today, the company thrives as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules specialist, particularly in the air drop role. Avenger N6827C passed through several owners in the USA until it was acquired by the UK-based Old Flying Machine Company and arrived at Duxford in May 1988. It was flown in US Navy colours until 1992 when it was exported to New Zealand and today is airworthy in Australia.
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