The Socata TB 30 Epsilon is a light military trainer aircraft produced by SOCATA (then part of Aérospatiale). It is a tandem two-seater with a metal airframe. The first prototype flew on 22 December 1979.
In 1978, the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) published a requirement for a new basic trainer aircraft to partially replace the Fouga Magister in the early parts of the syllabus for pilot training. The new aircraft was expected to have tandem seating, be powered by a 224 kW (300 hp) piston engine and have a three-hour endurance. Similar designs were proposed by the SOCATA subsidiary of Aérospatiale (based on their TB 10 Tobago light aircraft) and by GEPAL (the GEPAL Mk II). The SOCATA proposal, the TB 30B, was chosen in February 1979.[1]
The first of two prototypes flew on 22 December 1979,[2] but testing showed that the Epsilon had poor handling and it was redesigned with a new swept back fin supplemented by a ventral strake and a larger tailplane, while the wing was fitted with elliptical tips increasing the wingspan from 7.40 m (24 ft 33⁄8 in) to 7.59 m (24 ft 113⁄4 in). The first prototype flew again with these changes on 31 October 1980, and it was soon found that the handling problems had been fixed.[3]
The Epsilon is a low winged cantilevermonoplane of all metal construction. It is powered by a Lycoming O-540flat-sixpiston engine driving a two-blade propeller, and is fitted with a retractable nosewheel undercarriage. The pilot and instructor are sat in tandem under a sliding Plexiglas canopy, with cockpit layout designed to aid transition to the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet to which French students graduate after completing the Epsilon part of their training syllabus.[2][4]
The Armée de l'Air placed an initial order for 30 Epsilons in 1981, with further contracts following with a total of 150 ordered.[7] First deliveries started in 1983, with the first training courses based on the Epsilon starting in September 1984.[8]
Export orders were received from Togo for three armed Epsilons in 1984, delivered in 1986 (with a fourth supplied later to replace a crashed aircraft) and from Portugal in 1987 for 18 aircraft, to be assembled in Portugal by OGMA.[2]
Variants
TB 30 Epsilon: Military trainer aircraft
TB 31 Oméga: Proposed turboprop powered version of the TB 30 Epsilon. Only one aircraft built
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliography
"Directory: World's Air Forces". Flight International, 11–17 November 2008, pp. 52–76.
Donald, David. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario: Prospero Books, 1997, pp. 19–20. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Hoyle, Craig. Flight International, Vol. 178, No. 5257, 14–20 September 2010, pp. 26–53.
Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 182, No. 5370, 11–17 December 2012. pp. 40–64.
Jackson, Paul. "Epsilon ... The Tractable Trainer from Tarbes". Air International, Volume 32, No. 1, January 1987, pp. 7–15. ISSN 0306-5634.
Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1990–91. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1990. ISBN0-7106-0908-6.
Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN0-7106-1066-1.
Langeard, Olivier (May 2019). ""Zébulon" autour des pylônes: un Français à Reno sur "Epsilon"" [Zebulon Through the Pylons: A Frenchman at Reno on the Epsilon]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (594): 42–47. ISSN 0757-4169.
Méal, Xavier (May 2019). "Socata TB 30: une nouvelle vie pour l'"Epsilon"" [Socata TB 30: New Life for the Epsilon]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (594): 39–41. ISSN 0757-4169.
Méal, Xavier (May 2019). "TB 30 "Epsilon": voltige en patrouille sur la Bourgogne" [TB 30 Epsilon: Aerobatics with the Patrouille sur la Bourgogne]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (594): 49–51. ISSN 0757-4169.
Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN0-71060-867-5.
External links
Media related to Socata TB-30 Epsilon at Wikimedia Commons
January 17, 2023
socata, epsilon, light, military, trainer, aircraft, produced, socata, then, part, aérospatiale, tandem, seater, with, metal, airframe, first, prototype, flew, december, 1979, epsilonrole, light, military, trainer, aircraftmanufacturer, socata, aérospatiale, f. The Socata TB 30 Epsilon is a light military trainer aircraft produced by SOCATA then part of Aerospatiale It is a tandem two seater with a metal airframe The first prototype flew on 22 December 1979 TB 30 EpsilonSocata TB 30 EpsilonRole Light military trainer aircraftManufacturer SOCATA Aerospatiale First flight 22 December 1979Introduction 1983Status Active serviceProduced 1979 1989 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Former operators 6 Specifications 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Notes 8 2 Bibliography 9 External linksDesign and development EditIn 1978 the French Air Force Armee de l Air published a requirement for a new basic trainer aircraft to partially replace the Fouga Magister in the early parts of the syllabus for pilot training The new aircraft was expected to have tandem seating be powered by a 224 kW 300 hp piston engine and have a three hour endurance Similar designs were proposed by the SOCATA subsidiary of Aerospatiale based on their TB 10 Tobago light aircraft and by GEPAL the GEPAL Mk II The SOCATA proposal the TB 30B was chosen in February 1979 1 The first of two prototypes flew on 22 December 1979 2 but testing showed that the Epsilon had poor handling and it was redesigned with a new swept back fin supplemented by a ventral strake and a larger tailplane while the wing was fitted with elliptical tips increasing the wingspan from 7 40 m 24 ft 33 8 in to 7 59 m 24 ft 113 4 in The first prototype flew again with these changes on 31 October 1980 and it was soon found that the handling problems had been fixed 3 The Epsilon is a low winged cantilever monoplane of all metal construction It is powered by a Lycoming O 540 flat six piston engine driving a two blade propeller and is fitted with a retractable nosewheel undercarriage The pilot and instructor are sat in tandem under a sliding Plexiglas canopy with cockpit layout designed to aid transition to the Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet to which French students graduate after completing the Epsilon part of their training syllabus 2 4 TB 31 Omega The first prototype was modified into a testbed for the Turbomeca TP 319 Arrius turboprop engine flying in this form on 9 November 1985 2 The testbed was then modified into a dedicated turboprop trainer the TB 31 Omega powered by a 360 kW 483 shp Arrius 1A2 and fitted with ejection seats returning to flight on 30 April 1989 5 While it was offered for the United States Air Force United States Navy Joint Primary Aircraft Training System competition to replace the Beechcraft T 34 Mentor and Cessna T 37 Tweet it was rejected with no sales resulting 6 Operational history EditThe Armee de l Air placed an initial order for 30 Epsilons in 1981 with further contracts following with a total of 150 ordered 7 First deliveries started in 1983 with the first training courses based on the Epsilon starting in September 1984 8 Export orders were received from Togo for three armed Epsilons in 1984 delivered in 1986 with a fourth supplied later to replace a crashed aircraft and from Portugal in 1987 for 18 aircraft to be assembled in Portugal by OGMA 2 Variants EditTB 30 Epsilon Military trainer aircraft TB 31 Omega Proposed turboprop powered version of the TB 30 Epsilon Only one aircraft builtOperators Edit Cartouche Dore secondary AA aerobatic team PortugalPortuguese Air Force 16 in service 2012 9 SenegalSenegalese Air Force 2 in service 2012 10 TogoTogolese Air Force 3 in service 2012 11 Former operators Edit FranceFrench Air Force 34 in service 2012 12 withdrawn from service by 2019 Specifications Edit Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft 13 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1988 89 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 7 59 m 24 ft 11 in Wingspan 7 92 m 26 ft 0 in Height 2 66 m 8 ft 9 in Wing area 9 m2 97 sq ft Aspect ratio 7 Airfoil root RA 1643 16 tip RA 1243 12 14 Empty weight 932 kg 2 055 lb Max takeoff weight 1 250 kg 2 756 lb Powerplant Lycoming AEIO 540 L1B5D 6 cylinder air cooled horizontally opposed piston engine 220 kW 300 hp Propellers 2 bladed constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 378 km h 235 mph 204 kn Cruise speed 358 km h 222 mph 193 kn Stall speed 115 km h 71 mph 62 kn Never exceed speed 520 km h 320 mph 280 kn Range 1 300 km 810 mi 700 nmi Service ceiling 7 010 m 23 000 ft Rate of climb 9 4 m s 1 850 ft min Armament Up to 480 kg 1 100 lbs on four underwing hardpoints export versions See also Edit France portal Aviation portalRelated development Socata TB 10 TobagoAircraft of comparable role configuration and era ENAER T 35 PillanRelated lists List of civil aircraftReferences EditNotes Edit Jackson 1987 p 8 a b c d e Taylor 1988 p 56 Jackson 1987 pp 9 10 Jackson 1987 pp 10 11 Lambert 1990 p 88 Lambert 1993 pp 92 93 Jackson 1987 p 9 Jackson 1987 pp 11 15 Hoyle Flight International 2012 p 58 Hoyle Flight International 2012 p 59 Hoyle Flight International 2012 p 61 Hoyle Flight International 2012 p 50 Donald 1997 pp 19 20 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography Edit Directory World s Air Forces Flight International 11 17 November 2008 pp 52 76 Donald David The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Etobicoke Ontario Prospero Books 1997 pp 19 20 ISBN 1 85605 375 X Hoyle Craig Directory World Air Forces Flight International Vol 178 No 5257 14 20 September 2010 pp 26 53 Hoyle Craig World Air Forces Directory Flight International Vol 182 No 5370 11 17 December 2012 pp 40 64 Jackson Paul Epsilon The Tractable Trainer from Tarbes Air International Volume 32 No 1 January 1987 pp 7 15 ISSN 0306 5634 Lambert Mark Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1990 91 Coulsdon UK Jane s Defence Data 1990 ISBN 0 7106 0908 6 Lambert Mark Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1993 94 Coulsdon UK Jane s Data Division 1993 ISBN 0 7106 1066 1 Langeard Olivier May 2019 Zebulon autour des pylones un Francais a Reno sur Epsilon Zebulon Through the Pylons A Frenchman at Reno on the Epsilon Le Fana de l Aviation in French 594 42 47 ISSN 0757 4169 Meal Xavier May 2019 Socata TB 30 une nouvelle vie pour l Epsilon Socata TB 30 New Life for the Epsilon Le Fana de l Aviation in French 594 39 41 ISSN 0757 4169 Meal Xavier May 2019 TB 30 Epsilon voltige en patrouille sur la Bourgogne TB 30 Epsilon Aerobatics with the Patrouille sur la Bourgogne Le Fana de l Aviation in French 594 49 51 ISSN 0757 4169 Taylor John W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1988 89 Coulsdon UK Jane s Defence Data 1988 ISBN 0 71060 867 5 External links Edit Media related to Socata TB 30 Epsilon at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Socata TB 30 Epsilon amp oldid 1068081663, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
