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[IMGCAP(1)]As the final entry in the Caribbean series, the Tampico Club filled the bottom niche in SOCATAs line of new-wave piston singles. Boasting innovative design features, it was hoped that the Tampico would coax US flight schools into the purchase of some new aircraft to replace their fleets of aging trainers.

The way in which the airplanes were built was also innovative. Airframe parts were produced in France and shipped to the US to be assembled and fitted with American components.

The idea met with some limited success, but the company didnt sell enough airplanes to keep the venture going. In 1995, SOCATA teamed with Morane Saulnier and Renault to begin work on a new line o...

[IMGCAP(1)]The French have always had a way of going about engineering that is rather different from what Americans are used to, and the line of Aerospatiale singles is no exception. They have gull-wing doors, unusual instrument panels, and ergonomics that are far superior to some of the competition. Perhaps their most important difference, though, is that they were first introduced in the U.S. at about the same time our factories were shutting down production. And unlike other product introductions (or reintroductions) such as the Tiger or the mid-80s Pipers, they managed to hang on through several lean years.

History
The Trinidad is the top of the line of a small family (fo...

This composite design is angling for what the company hopes is a two-place touring market. But were not sure if that exists.

Once a upon a time in aviation, trainers were always two-seat aircraft that wedged instructor and student into near-intimate proximity. But things have changed and its not uncommon for student pilots to pony up over $300,000 for four-seat cruisers they plan to use for private and instrument training. Thats nice for the well-heeled; those of us who missed the last economic bubble but not the pop that followed need another plan. It can still make sense to purchase an aircraft you plan to train in. We looked at purchase and operation with an eye toward owning the machine for a while, or having a good chance at selling it for less than a catastrophic loss.