TBM began in 1997 when Troy Crowe built models of the ARC 31% One Design planes for Moki 1.8 glow engines in the basement of his home near Troy Michigan. The business was sold to the then retired Gene Payson in 2002 and was relocated to Lake Orion, Michigan. Gene earned a Bachelor’s in Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana in 1978. He ended his engineering career in 1992 as the automotive international marketing manager for a major conglomerate to start a business on his own. Gene retired from that business in 2002. Gene started flying control line planes the age of 12, and started in RC at the age of 14 (about 40 years ago). Gene flew in IMAC for several years and last flew in Unlimited class. Gene now primarily develops new products and is the chief test pilot and demonstration pilot for TBM.

TBM relocated to Sarasota Florida in 2003 for year around flying in warmer weather. The business evolved from producing planes in the US to one of the largest internet hobbyshops which imports products from many countries and ships to most countries around the world.

TBM is now one of the largest hobby retailers in the world for gas and turbine powerplants, planes, and associated products. Sales and product lines have increased steadily year after year. Sales are multi-millions.

TBM is participating much more with all the international magazines to promote new products. Our marketing department provides products to the magazines for review and ad copy for those products as well as general advertising.

TBM has grown quickly because it offers products to individual customers as wholesale prices. TBM does not have the overhead of a brick and mortar hobbyshop so the prices can be much lower. Typically a manufacturer sells product to a wholesaler or distributor. The wholesaler then sells to a distributor. The distributor sells to retail hobbyshops who in turn sell to individual customers. The brick and mortar type hobbyshops typically have higher profit levels because they have to. It costs a lot of money to operate a retail operation taking into consideration the employees, hours of operation (nights and weekends), and leasing/owning the storefront. The advantage to purchasing at a local hobbyshop is that the customer can touch and see the product. The advantage to purchasing at TBM is better prices and a much wider selection of exotic parts.

TBM offers many products are very low prices/profit levels, and can do so due to the high sales volume and low overhead costs.

TBM offers products that brick and mortar hobbyshops cannot afford to stock because sales are extremely low and costs are very high. The local hobbyshops must special order these items, and they may not be available to local hobbyshops.

TBM has an engine repair facility in Sarasota Florida for warranty and non-warranty work on most engines sold by TBM.

Several vendors have set prices for their products. We are told that the price is X and we cannot offer a lesser price in any form of public advertising. In order to offer a lower price on those items, we have a few methods. One is to not list the price on the website, and when you purchase the item online, the shopping cart shows the off list price. We cannot say anything like “Click on the buy button for the sales price” or refer that there is any possibility of a lower price anywhere in any advertising or the website. We can advertise the price in a newsletter, because this is not “public”. We can offer a combo price where we sell at the correct price, but then add in other items or shipping at no extra charge. If you call, we can offer any price, because talking to someone in person is not advertising. We have to play by these rules or we will lose our dealership status.