The French-built TB30 Epsilon is one of the last piston military trainers ever made, and one of the best. Socata built more than 400 of the sleek, aerobatic, IFR-equipped airplanes from 1979 until 1989, and many of them are being sold to private owners as the French Armée de L’Air switches to newer turboprops.
The Epsilon has a 300-horsepower Lycoming engine and constant-speed Hartzell propeller, and it’s fast, with top cruise speed of 193 knots (222 miles per hour). The Epsilon’s main design attribute is its exceptionally small, highly loaded wing. With a span of just 26 feet—and an area of 97 square feet—the Epsilon’s wing loading is 28 pounds per square foot, more than double the wing loading of a Cessna 172.
That stubby metal wing makes the Epsilon stall at a relatively fast 62 KIAS and allows it to dive at speeds up to 282 KIAS and maneuver aggressively—valuable preparation for pilots whose next assignment was likely to be even more demanding swept-wing fighters.
Quick look
Looking to buy?
See how the Epsilon measures up:
How much: $175,000 to $200,000
Buy it: If you want to give T–34 pilots an inferiority complex.
Skip it: IIf you like sitting next to your travel companion and want to bring lots of baggage.
Finance: AOPA Finance estimates a 6.5- to 7.5-percent interest rate on a loan with 20 percent down and 15-year term, appraisal required.
Insurance: AssuredPartners estimates $5,000 to $6,000 annually with an experienced pilot.
Related Articles
