Socata TB-30 Epsilon – Gaëtan Marie's Aviation Profiles

TB-30 “Zébulon” commission

Gaëtan Marie — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:00:25 +0000

The Socata TB-30 Epsilon primarily served with the French air force, which ordered 150 aircraft that entered service in 1984. In French service, it acquired the nickname “Zébulon”. It became a public favourite thanks to the Cartouche Doré aerobatics team, which performed at numerous air shows between 1989 and 2016. The French air force retired the type in 2019. Many TB-30 found their way to the civilian market, including this aircraft, registrered F-AYLM. It still carries the colours of the Cartouche Doré team.

This was created as a commission for a custom gift. If you would also like a custom-made profile, feel free to contact me. The cost depends on the amount of work required but for an aircraft type that I’ve already represented the cost is typically 70€ or less, making it a great option for custom prints or gifts !

The TB-30 Epsilon, a little late !

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 22:52:07 +0000

Last summer, I presented a work in progress of the SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon, but never got around to showing the finished work. I’ll correct this omission now, with a series depicting the Epsilon in French air force service. France operated 150 of these nice-looking trainers from 1983 to 2019. They were a crowd favorite at airshows due to the well-known aerobatics team “Cartouche Doré”, which flew the type.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 69, EPAA 00.315, BA 709 Cognac-Châteaubernard, 2013. This is the early French AF paint scheme for the Epsilon.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 144, EPAA 00.315, BA 709 Cognac-Châteaubernard, 2018. Late in the Epsilon’s career, the white paint scheme was replaced by this blue-grey paint scheme.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 90, F-SEXG, Cartouche Doré, 2011. From 1989 to 2016, the Cartouche Doré team sported several paint schemes, this one being the longest-lasting and best-known.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 141, F-SEZF, Cartouche Doré, 2012. For the last five years of its existence, this was the paint scheme sported by Cartouche Doré Epsilons.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 118, special retirement scheme, 2019. When the Epsilon was retired from service in 2019 and replaced by the Pilatus PC-21, this special scheme commemorating the various operational and Cartouche Doré schemes was created by designer Régis Rocca.

Work in progress : TB-30 Epsilon

Gaëtan Marie — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 10:38:27 +0000

I haven’t been posting much recently as I’ve been very busy with work. The latest work in progress is the Socata TB-30 Epsilon, a French light military trainer that first flew on 22 December 1979 and entered service in the French air force in 1983. It also served with the Portuguese, Togolese and Senegalese air forces and is now being found increasingly in civilian hands.

The template should be finished in a few days, and will be followed by other projects and illustrations, including a certain American racer of the 1930s which never won a race in its career. Can you guess what it is ?