SOCATA TB 10 Tobago

Daher-SOCATA · France · first flew 1977 · light aircraft

The SOCATA TB 10 Tobago is a single-engine four-seat touring aircraft from the French TB family, known for its wide-track undercarriage, side-by-side seating, and excellent pilot visibility. It is a popular European flight-training and touring aircraft.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.75 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Single-engine low-wing four-seater with wide-chord wing
Large bubble canopy giving panoramic visibility
Distinctive strut-braced stabilator tail

Wide-chord tapered wing, wide-track undercarriage, and a slightly raised aft cabin with large side windows distinguish it from Cessna and Piper contemporaries.

Specifications

The SOCATA TB 10 Tobago has a length of 7.75 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.89 m (32 ft).
Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 3 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

SOCATA (a Aérospatiale subsidiary) developed the TB series in the mid-1970s to compete with American light aircraft. The TB 10 first flew in 1977 and entered production in 1982. It sold strongly in France and across Europe, with the TB 9 Tampico and TB 20 Trinidad rounding out the family.

Variants

The TB family spans the TB 9 Tampico (entry-level), TB 10 Tobago (mid-range), TB 20 Trinidad (retractable), and TB 21 Trinidad TC (turbocharged). All share the same airframe lineage.

Where you'll see it

Widely used at French aéro-clubs and European flight schools; exported to North Africa and beyond. A familiar sight at smaller European airfields.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.