SOCATA
Former French general-aviation manufacturer whose aircraft and aviation activities are now operated under the Daher brand.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
SOCATA was a French aircraft manufacturer specializing in general aviation, including piston-powered trainers and personal aircraft, turboprop aircraft, and selected business-aviation products. Its principal industrial base was in Tarbes, in southwestern France, where the company also developed aircraft structures and components for other aerospace manufacturers. The SOCATA name was used from 1966 until the business was progressively integrated into Daher during the 2010s. The company’s direct corporate history began when Morane-Saulnier, a French aircraft manufacturer founded in 1911, was acquired by Sud Aviation. In 1966 the business was renamed Société de Construction d’Avions de Tourisme et d’Affaires, abbreviated SOCATA. The new company concentrated on tourism, training, personal transportation, and light business aircraft. It inherited and developed a substantial general-aviation portfolio, manufacturing thousands of aircraft during the second half of the twentieth century. One of SOCATA’s most important product families was the Rallye. The Rallye was a light, single-engine aircraft used for pilot training, touring, and recreational flying. During a late-1970s product reorganization, SOCATA assigned individual names to variants that had previously been identified largely through model codes. French production of the Rallye gradually gave way to the newer TB family, and the last French-built Rallye was delivered in December 1984. Production of related aircraft continued in Poland under license as the PZL Koliber, illustrating SOCATA’s use of international industrial partnerships. The TB family became the company’s principal piston-aircraft range. Early models included the TB-9 Tampico and TB-10 Tobago, followed by higher-performance variants such as the TB-20 Trinidad and TB-21 Trinidad TC. The TB20 received French type certification in December 1980, and the first production delivery followed in 1981. SOCATA used an order-oriented final-assembly approach in Tarbes: basic airframes could be prepared in advance, while customer-specific equipment and finishes were installed after an order was received. This allowed multiple variants to be completed on a common production line. SOCATA’s most consequential program was the TBM 700, a high-performance single-engine turboprop developed with Mooney through the TBM International joint venture. The designation combined the initials of Tarbes and Mooney. The prototype flew in July 1988, French certification was obtained in January 1990, and United States Federal Aviation Administration certification followed in August 1990. Mooney later withdrew from the venture amid financial difficulties, leaving SOCATA as the principal industrial participant. The TBM 700 entered service in the early 1990s and established a durable line of fast, pressurized single-engine turboprops. Later derivatives included the TBM 850, TBM 900, TBM 910, and TBM 930. The TBM program initially exposed weaknesses in SOCATA’s international support infrastructure. The company responded by expanding its own customer-support capabilities, including a service center in Florida and a broader distributor network. Improved support contributed to stronger North American sales during the late 1990s. Alongside aircraft production, SOCATA supplied aerostructures and other aerospace work for organizations including Airbus, Dassault, Embraer, Eurocopter, and Lockheed Martin. In 2000, SOCATA became a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS and was subsequently presented as EADS SOCATA. EADS announced plans in 2008 to sell a controlling interest to Daher, a French technology and industrial group. Daher completed the acquisition of a 70 percent stake in 2009 and bought the remaining 30 percent from Airbus Group in 2014. In March 2015, the SOCATA name was formally discontinued and the division was renamed Daher. The aircraft programs, production facilities, engineering capabilities, and support activities therefore continued, but no longer as an independent SOCATA-branded company.
History
SOCATA’s lineage reaches back to Morane-Saulnier, established in France in 1911. After Sud Aviation acquired Morane-Saulnier, the company adopted the SOCATA name in 1966. The name expanded the French description Société de Construction d’Avions de Tourisme et d’Affaires and reflected a focus on aircraft for tourism, training, personal travel, and business use. During the second half of the twentieth century, SOCATA became a significant French general-aviation producer. The Rallye family formed one of its best-known product lines and served touring, recreational, and training roles. A major product reorganization in 1979 introduced more individualized French names for the Rallye derivatives. At the same time, SOCATA began transitioning toward the TB series. The final Rallye built in France was delivered in December 1984, although licensed production of a related design continued in Poland as the PZL Koliber. The TB range began with models such as the TB-9 Tampico and TB-10 Tobago. The TB20 received French certification in December 1980, and its first production delivery was made to a German customer in March 1981. Later models included the TB-21 Trinidad TC and other improved derivatives. SOCATA’s Tarbes facility used a flexible assembly model in which airframes could be prepared before an order, with final equipment and customer options installed at completion. Production volumes varied with market conditions; the company was reported to be producing approximately twelve TB aircraft per month at the beginning of 1993, falling to about eight per month by mid-year. In the 1980s, SOCATA pursued a faster single-engine aircraft for personal transport and light cargo operations. Discussions with Mooney concerning a turboprop derivative of the Mooney 301 led to the TBM 700 program. TBM International was established in June 1987 as a joint venture between Mooney and Aérospatiale, SOCATA’s parent at the time. The prototype flew on 14 July 1988. French certification followed on 31 January 1990, with FAA certification on 28 August 1990. Mooney withdrew from the venture in May 1991 after continuing financial difficulties, leaving SOCATA as the main company behind the program. The TBM 700 was an important milestone because it combined single-engine operating economics with unusually high speed and altitude capability for its class. The first production batch sold rapidly, but early customer feedback identified limitations in SOCATA’s service and support arrangements. The company invested in a stronger international support system, opened a service center in Florida, and developed sales and service distribution capacity. North American sales subsequently improved. The TBM line later expanded through the TBM 850, 900, 910, and 930 versions. SOCATA also participated in the wider aerospace supply chain. In addition to complete aircraft, it manufactured structures and components for major aerospace companies, including Airbus, Dassault, Embraer, Eurocopter, and Lockheed Martin. This dual role as aircraft producer and aerostructures supplier became an important part of its industrial identity. In 2000, SOCATA became fully owned by EADS and was renamed EADS SOCATA. EADS and Daher announced a transaction in 2008 that gave Daher a 70 percent stake, completed in early 2009. Daher acquired the remaining 30 percent from Airbus Group in June 2014. The SOCATA name was retired in March 2015, when the division became simply Daher. The company’s aircraft, engineering, production, and support activities continued within Daher, while SOCATA ceased to operate as the active corporate brand.
- 2015
SOCATA brand retired
[1]The division was renamed Daher and the SOCATA name ceased to be used as the active corporate brand.
- 2014
Daher becomes sole owner
[1]Daher acquired Airbus Group’s remaining 30 percent interest.
- 2009
Daher takes a majority stake
[1]Daher completed the acquisition of a 70 percent interest in SOCATA.
- 2000
SOCATA becomes an EADS subsidiary
[1]SOCATA became wholly owned by EADS and was subsequently branded EADS SOCATA.
- 1990
TBM 700 receives French and United States certification
[1]The TBM 700 obtained French type certification in January and FAA certification in August.
- 1988
TBM 700 prototype flies
[1]The first TBM 700 prototype completed its maiden flight on 14 July.
- 1987
TBM International established
[1]Mooney and SOCATA’s parent company Aérospatiale formed TBM International to develop and manufacture the TBM 700.
- 1984
End of French Rallye production
[1]The final French-built Rallye, an R235 Guerrier variant, was delivered in December.
- 1981
First TB20 delivery
[1]SOCATA completed the first production delivery of a TB20 to a German customer.
- 1980
TB20 receives French certification
[1]The TB20 was awarded type certification by French aviation authorities on 18 December.
Products and positioning
French general-aviation and aerospace manufacturing, combining light aircraft, high-performance single-engine turboprops, and aerostructures.
Light general-aviation aircraft
Rallye family
The Rallye family was one of SOCATA’s most successful light-aircraft lines, serving pilot training, touring, recreational flying, and some military or utility roles. SOCATA reorganized and renamed its variants during the late 1970s before progressively replacing French production with the TB series. Licensed derivatives were built in Poland as the PZL Koliber.
Piston-powered general-aviation aircraft · 1979
TB series
The TB family replaced the Rallye as SOCATA’s main piston-aircraft range. It included the TB-9 Tampico, TB-10 Tobago, TB-20 Trinidad, TB-21 Trinidad TC, and later variants. The aircraft were designed for training, touring, personal transport, and light business use, with customer equipment installed during final assembly in Tarbes.
Single-engine turboprop aircraft · 1990
TBM 700
Developed through TBM International with Mooney, the TBM 700 was a pressurized, high-performance single-engine turboprop for passenger, business, and light cargo operations. Its prototype flew in 1988, certification followed in 1990, and the program became SOCATA’s most strategically important aircraft line.
Single-engine turboprop aircraft
TBM 850
The TBM 850 was a higher-performance development of the TBM 700 family. It retained the line’s emphasis on speed, altitude capability, and single-engine operating efficiency while introducing increased power and updated systems.
Single-engine turboprop aircraft
TBM 900, 910 and 930
These later TBM generations extended the original SOCATA turboprop concept with aerodynamic, avionics, cabin, and systems improvements. They were among the final aircraft associated with the SOCATA lineage before the program was operated under Daher branding.
Training aircraft
TB 30 Epsilon
The TB 30 Epsilon was a dedicated trainer developed within SOCATA’s general-aviation and military-training portfolio.
Light aircraft
ST 10 Diplomate
The ST 10 Diplomate was one of the light aircraft associated with SOCATA’s historical product range.
Light business jet
MS.760 Paris
The MS.760 Paris was a jet-powered business aircraft developed by SOCATA’s predecessor, Morane-Saulnier. In the late 2000s, SOCATA sold the type certificate, tooling, components, engineering plans, and drawings to JetSet International Ltd.
Brand decisions
2015
Integrate SOCATA under the Daher nameStrategyBackground
After becoming the sole owner, Daher sought a more unified corporate identity for the aircraft and aerospace activities.
Action taken
The SOCATA name was discontinued and the division was renamed Daher.
Aftermath
SOCATA ceased to exist as an active standalone brand, while its aircraft programs and industrial capabilities continued within Daher.
2008
Sell a controlling stake to DaherM&ABackground
EADS sought to reduce its ownership of EADS SOCATA while enabling the business to join a French industrial group with aerospace and technology activities.
Action taken
EADS agreed to sell Daher a 70 percent stake, retaining a minority interest initially.
Aftermath
Daher completed the majority acquisition in 2009 and later bought the remaining stake in 2014.
1987
Create a joint venture for the TBM 700StrategyBackground
SOCATA and Mooney identified an opportunity for a fast, pressurized, single-engine turboprop aimed at passenger, personal, business, and light-cargo users.
Action taken
They established TBM International with ownership divided between Mooney and SOCATA’s parent company, Aérospatiale.
Aftermath
Mooney later withdrew, but SOCATA continued the program and brought the TBM 700 into production.
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