The SOCATA TB-10 Tobago is an all-metal low-wing cabin four-seated touring aircraft. In 1975, SOCATA started
the development of a new light aircraft to replace the ageing Ralley. A universal low-wing four-seat airframe
was chosen to be the basic of a new light aircraft line. The prototype, designated SOCATA TB-10 flew first
on 10 February 1977. Three development aeroplanes followed this prototype "F-WJZP". Deliveries of the
production TB-10 Tobago planes, initially powered by a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A1AD engine, started in 1979. Next
to the TB-10 Tobago the airframe was the base of a family of light aircraft, starting in 1980 with the TB-9 Tampico
followed later that year by the TB-20 Trinidad. Over 675 SOCATA TB-10 Tobago's are built.
In November 2000, the Dutch Flight Academy was qualified by the Nederlandse Luchtvaart Autoriteit (NLA) as
Flying Training Organisation (FTO) according to the JAR-FCL norms. DFA is based at Groningen Airport Eelde
in the Netherlands and operates four SOCATA-GA TB-10 Tobago, two Piper
Warrior and one Piper Turbo Arrow single-engine aircraft and
three twin-engine Diamond DA-42 Twin Star aircraft. The three Piper aircrafts are operated out of Leer-Papenburg (EDWF) in Germany.
Next to the aircraft, DFA operates a high-tech AlSim flight simulator
and an ALSIM DA-42 Twin Star simulator. A SIM Industries FTD 2A MMC simulator, an exact copy of
a Boeing 737-800NG cockpit, is on order for delivery in September 2009. Next to the aircrafts DFA operates a high-tech AlSim flight simulator, an ALSIM DA-42 Twin Star simulator
and a Boeing737NG simulator.
The 1993-built SOCATA TB-10 c/n 1586 (ex G-BZRK, VH-YHD) was registered
PH-DFC in the Netherlands with Dutch Flight Academy, Eelde,on 6 March
2001. The registered owner of the PH-DFC was changed into DFA Holding BV, Eelde, on 21 June 2006.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
