Socata TB 10 Tobago GT
Socata · France · first flew 1977 · light aircraft
The TB 10 Tobago is the popular mid-range member of Socata's TB family, a 180 hp four/five-seat tourer with a constant-speed propeller.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.63 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fixed spatted tricycle gear
- Greenhouse cabin glazing
- Constant-speed prop
Identify it by the fixed spatted tricycle gear and the greenhouse glazing arching over the cabin. The constant-speed propeller and 180 hp cowl separate it from the Tampico, while fixed gear separates the whole Tobago line from the retractable Trinidad.
Specifications
- The Socata TB 10 Tobago GT has a length of 7.63 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.76 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 247 km/h (153 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot, up to 4 seats.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed alongside the TB 9 from the late-1970s TB programme, the Tobago paired the common airframe with a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 and constant-speed prop. Ownership passed to Aerospatiale Matra and then EADS as the improved GT version launched around 2000. Production at Tarbes ended in 2004 after well over a thousand Tobagos of all marks.
Variants
The GT introduced revised wingtips, a curved fin leading edge and blended rear glazing over the earlier Tobago. Above it sat the 200 hp TB 200; below it the fixed-pitch TB 9 Tampico. The retractable-gear Trinidad shared the same cabin architecture.
Where you'll see it
The Tobago is a common sight on the UK register, valued as a comfortable club and touring aircraft with a genuinely five-seat cabin. Flying schools appreciated its stable handling and wide side-by-side seating. Many examples still fly privately in Britain today.
Related aircraft
- Socata TB 9 Tampico
- Socata TB 20 Trinidad GT
- Socata TB 21 Trinidad GT Turbo
- Socata TBM 700
- Alexander Schleicher ASW 20
- AmeriPlanes Mitchell Wing A-10
- Cessna 152
- Cessna Citation I SP
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