SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon & TB-31 Oméga
This SOCATA trainer has a tandem canopy over the student and instructor. Furthermore, it has a retractable landing gear with all trailing link legs. The vertical fin is quite tall and slightly ahead of the horizontal stabilisers. Under the rear fuselage is a long narrow ventral fin, all the way to the tail cone. The main version has a piston engine with horizontally opposed cylinders giving it a rather wide nose, but there is also a turboprop variant.
Different versions
The TB-30 and TB-31 can be distinguished by:
- the type of engine and hence the shape of the nose
- the number of propeller blades
- the shape of the canopy
- the presence of rails on which the canopy slides
- the presence of a dorsal fin
- the number of wing fences
TB-30 Epsilon
The base model is the TB-30 Epsilon, which is powered by a piston engine, driving a two blade propeller. The cooling air comes from front openings at the front of the cowling, which is wider at this point than further down. The canopy has three bow frames. It slides backward in a small front and large rear part. For the rear part, the rails are clearly visible on the outside of the fuselage. The TB-30 has no dorsal fin, and single wing fences near the wing tips.
The TB-30 Epsilon has a piston engine with cooling intakes at the sides of the propeller. Another feature is the tandem canopy with three bow frames.
On this close-up you can well see the tall vertical stabliser without dorsal fin, and the long ventral fin. Also note the protrusion at the end of the canopy, to provide support for the rear sliding canopy.
TB-31 Oméga
Only in the wings, tail and landing gear you can see that the TB-31 Oméga is a derivative of the TB-30. The TB-31 has a turboprop engine with a three blade propeller, giving the nose a more slender shape. Additionally, it has a single frame canopy, with a long rear part. It appears to open to the right side, so no sliding rails are needed. Behind is a small dorsal fin. Finally, the TB-31 has two wing fences near each wing tip.
The TB-31 Oméga is clearly a sibling of the TB‑31, but apart from the turboprop engine there are other differences. Note the long single piece canopy and dorsal fin behind! (photo: Mike Burdett/WikiMedia)
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Confusion possible with
UTVA Lasta 95
Serbia's indigenous primary trainer has a trailing link retractable gear, a horizontally opposed piston engine with a two blade prop and a long ventral strake like the TB-30. The rest of the Lasta 95 is different though with a more swept vertical fin with triangular dorsal fin and a two frame tandem canopy, opening sideways in two parts. (photo: Srđan Popović/WikiMedia)
ENAER T-35 Pillán
Another piston trainer, but with straight landing gear legs and a long single frame tandem canopy. Being based on the PA-28, the Pillán has tapered wings and a swept vertical stabiliser. (photo: Chris Lofting/WikiMedia)
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Pilatus P-3
The P-3 has a four piece canopy with three bow frames like the TB-30, and also a piston engine. The landing gear legs are straight though. Moreover, the P-3 has a dorsal fin, but no ventral fin.
Pilatus PC-7
The PC-7 is more a look-a-like of the TB-31, with a turboprop engine and long tandem canopy with a single bow frame at the front. Also the vertical stabiliser is similar, but there is no ventral fin. Finally, the landing gear legs are straight and the engine exhausts are at the side of the nose.