Four-to-five-seat retractable-gear touring aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1981–2012 · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Socata TB20 Trinidad costs approximately $248k (€230k) to $297k (€275k) to buy at 2002 market values, and about $59k (€54k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $732 (€678) per flight hour all-in. It seats 5, cruises at 165 kt (190 mph) and has a published range of 900 nm (1,667 km), needing about 1,804 ft (550 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The TB20 tops the Tarbes line: 250 horsepower, retractable gear and the same wide upward-doored cabin, and in Europe it is one of the most-flown owner IFR tourers of its generation. It travels comfortably at 160 knots with genuine baggage space, which is what buyers want from it. The support question is sharper here than lower down the range. It is out of production, parts route through Daher at Daher prices, and retractable gear narrows the list of willing shops further. Buy it with a known maintenance chain in place, and price the parts before the aeroplane.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,400 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 326 L |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D, 250 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 5 |
| Reported payload proxy | 875 lb (397 kg) |
| Reported range | 900 nm (1,667 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 165 kt (190 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,804 ft (550 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $24k (€22k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $227 (€210) |
A spacious and comfortable European tourer, but parts, landing gear and a smaller resale market demand planning.
Indicative cash costs at 2002 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $49k (€46k) | $1,237 (€1,145) | $517k (€479k) |
| 80 h / year | $59k (€54k) | $732 (€678) | $563k (€521k) |
| 120 h / year | $68k (€63k) | $563 (€522) | $608k (€563k) |
| 180 h / year | $81k (€75k) | $451 (€418) | $676k (€626k) |
Every figure above is built from a $24k (€22k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $227 (€210) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $48k (€44k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Socata TB20 Trinidad cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2002 market price for a Socata TB20 Trinidad is $248k (€230k) to $297k (€275k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Socata TB20 Trinidad works out at roughly $59k (€54k) annually, which is about $732 (€678) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $227 (€210).
Reported range is 900 nm (1,667 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Socata TB20 Trinidad requires complex airplane endorsement. Retractable gear puts this aircraft in the complex class of 14 CFR 61.31(e), alongside flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, which retractable types carry as a matter of course. It is a one-time instructor endorsement in your logbook, but the insurance condition behind it is the part that costs money: underwriters usually want a stated number of hours in retractable-gear aircraft before they will write the risk at standard rates. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 1,804 ft (550 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.