TB-30 Epsilon
French trainer aircraft from the 1980s, widely used by French, Greek, and Portuguese air forces for advanced pilot training.
| Crew | 2 pilots |
| Length | 7.6 m (24.9 ft) |
| Wingspan | 7.9 m (26.0 ft) |
| Height | 2.7 m (8.7 ft) |
| Wing area | 9 m² (96.9 sqft) |
| Empty weight | 932 kg (2,055 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 1,250 kg (2,756 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 1 × pistons engine Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5D 224 kW each |
| Maximum speed | 356 km/h (221 mph) |
| Operational range | 1,300 km (808 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 7,010 m (22,999 ft) |
| Climb rate | 9.4 m/s (30.8 ft/s) |
Description
In 1977, SOCATA (the light aviation division of Aérospatiale, now a subsidiary of the EADS group) began developing a training aircraft for future fighter pilots, replacing the aging and costly-to-operate Fouga CM-170 Magister of the French Air Force.
Development
The first prototype of the TB-30 conducted its maiden flight in December 1979. The aircraft was subsequently modified before finally entering service with the French Air Force in 1984 at CEAM in Mont-de-Marsan. A total of 150 units were delivered to the French Air Force at a rate of around thirty per year. Most of them currently serve at BA 709 in Cognac and are often seen in the skies of the region. The TB-30 Epsilon, entirely made of metal, offers a more cost-effective initial training stage in a two-seat configuration compared to directly training on a jet aircraft. It has a fairly similar design to many other aircraft of the same type: the TB-30 is a tandem two-seat monoplane equipped with a single piston engine. The cockpit is designed to resemble that of a fighter aircraft in order to prepare students, and incorporates certain equipment that one would not expect to find on such a small aircraft, including a GPS navigation system, advanced communication systems, and even a heads-up display. The aircraft's acceptable load factors are quite significant (+6.76 and -3.35G), which facilitates maneuvering in flight. It is equipped with a special fuel system, the Christen type, which allows it to fly inverted for more than two minutes. The Epsilon is currently the main training aircraft, alongside the Alphajet, for young French pilots. It is also used by the Cartouche Doré aerobatic team.
Operational History
Despite strong competition, the Epsilon had a modest career in export. In the early 1980s, Portugal acquired a production license for 18 aircraft. Togo, on the other hand, purchased 4 units of a specific version called TB-30A, which is the only armed variant. The Epsilon can therefore be used in light attack missions with armament that includes bombs and rockets, distributed on four hardpoints. Finally, Senegal operates a few TB-30 aircraft.