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Socata Trinidad GT
 The French-made Socata Trinidad GT is one sexy airplane. There are other words to describe it—safe, fast, reliable come to mind. But when you land at a distant field, it isn’t any of those qualities that will make other pilots walk up and ask to look at your airplane or even climb inside. No my friends, that is sex appeal, pure and simple. And this airplane has plenty of it.
There are two versions of the Trinidad GT, the 250 HP, 6-cylinder, normally-aspirated TB20, and the 250 HP, six-cylinder, turbo-charged TB21. The TB20 has a maximum cruise speed of 163 KTAS at 6,500 MSL and will carry 1,270 pounds of payload, including fuel. The TB21 has a maximum cruise of 190 KTAS at 25,000 feet, it’s service ceiling, and will still carry 1,226 pounds of people, cargo and fuel.
 This four- or five-seat, all-aluminum airplane fits snugly around pilot and passengers, yet yields plenty of room to move around inside while in the air. Two wide, gull-wing doors provide access over the wing, and a large cargo door in back is easily accessible from the ground. The rear seats can be folded down or removed to increase cargo capacity, making it an excellent, all-around family aircraft.
Both models use rods instead of cables to move the control surfaces, and this results in a stiffer and more responsive feel to the controls. The Trinidad GT is extremely stable, which means you won’t feel as though you’re being bounced around as much in turbulence.
The cockpit wraps itself around the pilot, putting every control and instrument intuitively in-reach. It’s especially nice the way the throttle is right up against the pilot’s right knee, in perfect position for making delicate adjustments during landing.
Thanks to a wide wheel base, low center of gravity and a huge rudder, the Trinidad GT has a demonstrated cross-wind component of 25 KTS. This means it is able to handle adverse winds better during take-off and landing, so you should be able to get in and out of airports in wind conditions too difficult for other airplanes.
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Some pilots have said that Socata aircraft are more difficult or costly to maintain that American-made airplanes, but most Socata owners say that just isn’t true. Many of the parts are made in America, and with the exception of things like the exotic French door key, replacement parts can easily be found here in the U.S.
Sure, the Trinidad GT delivers performance and economy in a family-friendly package. But it’s also sexy, and in aviation, that still counts for something. 
For more information on the Trinidad GT, visit: http://www.socata.com.
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