SOCATA TB family

Socata TB series
Socata TB200 Tobago XL
Role Light single engine piston aircraft
Manufacturer Socata
Introduction 1975




The Socata TB is a series of light single engine piston aircraft manufactured by Daher-Socata and designed in the late 1970s. All aircraft (with the exception of the TB9) have a constant speed propeller. The TB series have become widely used training and touring aircraft and are often used for instrument training.

The TB series planes have come to be known as the "Caribbean Planes", due to their island names, though they are not often seen flown in that region. They are defined by their superior (and contemporary) fit and finish and interior size; compared to other four-seat single-engine aircraft, they are relatively roomy at 49 inches (124 cm) at the shoulder, plus or minus. In part this is due to the fuselage having a pronounced "round out" above the wing. Adding to the actual spaciousness, the side windows extend up well into the roof line, giving the Socata an airy feeling.[1]

Due to the larger fuselage, and relatively heavy weights, TB series aircraft have lower performance figures than a similarly sized and powered but narrower aircraft, and the trade-off of in speed for comfort is often cited by TB owners.

The letters TB in the name stand for Tarbes, a city in the south of France where the aircraft is manufactured.

Development

Socata TB9 Tampico

Design work on the TB series began in the mid 1970s to replace Socata's successful Rallye series of aircraft. The TB20 model was certified in France on December 18, 1980. The first delivery to a customer happened in March 1981 in Germany. All aircraft in the series were modernised in 2000 and as a result the letters GT were added (GT standing for Generation Two). The GT versions have a bigger cabin and aerodynamic improvements. The most noticeable differences between the first and second generation models are the wing tips, which are rounder on the older models, and the vertical stabiliser, which is curved on the lower front on the GT models. The looks of the rear windows have also changed, being more blended with the fuselage on the GT models.

Plans were to move the production of the TB20 and TB21 models, together with a new model only known as the TB2X, to Romania. TB2X was the working name of a new model that would most likely be similar to the TB20 Trinidad, but with a Diesel engine. According to a Dutch news site, it was decided in 2006 that the production of the TB series will be halted.[2] However, there had been no official statement from EADS Socata indicating this, though the orderbook of EADS Socata did not include any more aircraft of the TB series at this time, with the last three ordered TB aircraft having been delivered in 2006.[3] In 2008 it was announced that the TB GT Series would be built to order only, by 2012 the TB GT series had disappeared as an order option altogether. However, the aircraft type is still supported by the company, with a Garmin glass cockpit retrofit option having been made available.[4]

Design

Socata TB10 Tobago GT owned by Martinair vliegschool (flying school)
Socata TB20 Trinidad with retractable landing gear
Socata TB20 Trinidad GT

The aircraft all have the same basic fuselage and interior. The primary differences between the models are the landing gear, engine, and propeller.

Variants

SOCATA TB-9 Tampico
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 160 horsepower (119 kW) Lycoming O-320-D2A piston engine, equipped with a fixed pitch propeller, fitted with fixed tricycle landing gear.
SOCATA TB-9 Tampico Club
Four-seat training version.
SOCATA TB-9C Tampico Club
SOCATA TB-9 Sprint
Fitted with a spatted undercarriage.
SOCATA TB-9 Sprint GT
Improved version of the TB-9 Sprint.
SOCATA TB-10 Tobago
Four or five-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 180 horsepower (134 kW) Lycoming O-360-A1AD piston engine, equipped with a fixed spatted landing gear.
SOCATA SB-10 Tobago Privilege
Limited edition model.
SOCATA SB-10 GT
Improved version of the TB.10 Tobago
SOCATA TB-11
Powered by a 134 kW (180 hp) piston engine.
SOCATA TB-15
Proposed version. Not built.
SOCATA TB-16
Proposed version. Not built.
SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad
Four or five seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 250 horsepower (186 kW) piston engine, fitted with retractable tricycle landing gear.
SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad Excellence
Limited edition model, fitted with enhanced avionics.
SOCATA TB-20 C Trinidad
Air ambulance and freight transport version.
SOCATA TB-20 GT
Improved version of the TB-20 Trinidad.
SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad
250 horsepower (186 kW)
(1985) SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad TC - 250hp (186-kW) Turbocharged variant with a Lycoming TIO540 B1AD.[5]
SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad GT
Improved version of the TB-21 Trinidad TC, fitted with a digitally-controlled turbocharger.
SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon
Military trainer aircraft unrelated to any of the other aircraft in the TB-series.
SOCATA TB-31 Omega
Proposed turboprop powered version of the TB-30 Epsilon. Only one aircraft built.
SOCATA TB-200 Tobago XL
(1991) Five-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 200 horsepower (149 kW) Lycoming IO-360A1B6 piston engine, fitted with fixed tricycle landing gear.[6]
SOCATA TB-200 Tobago XL GT
Improved version of the TB-200 Tobago XL.
SOCATA TB-360 Tangara
An unrelated proposed aircraft based on the Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar. Never entered production.

Operators

Military operators

 France
 Greece
 Indonesia
 Israel
 Jordan
 Turkey

Civil operators

 Singapore
 India
 Poland
 France
 Indonesia
 Netherlands
 Nigeria

Nigerian College of Aviation Technology [9]

 Philippines
 Thailand
 Spain
 Australia
TB-9 at Viterbo, Italy Air Club
 Portugal
 Iran

Specifications (TB 10)

Cockpit view

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[10]

General characteristics

Performance

See also


Related lists

References

  1. http://www.aviationconsumer.com/issues/36_12/usedaircraftguide/5622-1.html
  2. Luchtvaartnieuws.nl
  3. Socata.eads.net, figures over 2006.
  4. DAHER-SOCATA, [http://www.tbm850.com/DAHER-SOCATA-delivers-the-first>TBM850.com - DAHER-SOCATA delivers the first G500-retrofitted TB 20 aircraft to France’s ENAC national aviation school and signs an Educational Partnership], article retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. Flying Magazine: 86. August 1991. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Flying Magazine: 22. September 1991. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Airscene: Aircraft and Industry: Greece". Air International, July 1988, Vol. 35, No. 1. p. 4. ISSN 0306-5634
  8. Taylor 1982, pp. 80–81.
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