SOCATA ST 10 Diplomate

10/31/2009. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The all-metal four-seat ST 10 is based on a certain number of components common to the Gardan GY-80 Horizon, from which it differs chiefly in having a longer fuselage and redesigned cabin. Powered by a 200 hp Lycoming IO-360-CIB four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine, the prototype F-WOFN c/n 01, known for a time as the Provence, was flown for the first time on November 7, 1967.

Early in 1969, the prototype was modified, including a longer fuselage, a reduction in tail plane span, an increase in rudder area and a shallow "keel" beneath the rear fuselage. Known in this form as the Diplomate it received type approval by the SGAC (Secretariat Général de l'Aviation Civile, General secretary of l' Civil aviation) on November 26, 1969. A total of 55 aircraft were produced between March 1970 and late 1972, including six for VARIG of Brazil for airline pilot training.

The pictured sole aircraft of the type in Sweden was produced in 1972, previously registered F-BJCT. In April 1971, another Diplomate, produced the same year, was registered in Sweden as SE-FSC c/n 123, but it crashed in May 1973, and was written off in the following October."