They are defined by their contemporary fit and finish as well as their interior size;[citation needed] compared to other four-seat single-engine aircraft, they are relatively roomy at roughly 49 inches (124 cm) at the shoulder.

[3] During the 2000s, sales of the TB family suffered as a consequence of a worldwide aviation recession, leading Socata to seek to restructure the marketing and production aspects of the program.

Leading on from several cost-cutting measures, such as reorganisations of staff, negotiations with suppliers, and outsourcing, between 2004 and 2008, the company sought to transfer all production of the TB series out of France, selecting Romania to produce the type.

The first prototype, powered by a 119 kW (160 hp) Avco Lycoming O-320 engine, flew on 23 September 1977 but was lost during spin testing on 15 December that year.

Around 2000, all aircraft in the TB series underwent modernisation; to reflect this upgrade, the letters GT (standing for Generation Two) were applied to applicable models.

The styling of the rear windows have also changed, being more blended with the fuselage on the GT models; an optional three-bladed Hartzell, which reduced cabin noise and increased ground clearance, was also made available.

During February 2000, SOCATA officially launched its Generation Two range, having received a major US order for 79 aircraft from West Coast distributor New Avex.

[6][7] During the early 2000s, a major worldwide downturn in the aviation industry resulting from the 2001 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States had severely impacted sales of the TB family.

[8] In addition to cost-saving efforts, aimed at reducing costs by at least 30 per cent; a detailed study was also conducted into the future of the TB family, including an examination of a projected all-composite derivative of the existing aircraft.

[8] During June 2005, it was revealed that SOCATA was in the process of evaluating between two prospective new manufacturing locations in Canada and Romania, having ruled out an arrangement with EADS PZL Warszawa-Okęcie SA in Poland after the collapse of negotiations between the two parties.

However, the existing aircraft of the type have continued to be supported by the company; more recently, the option of retrofitting a Garmin-built glass cockpit has been made available to customers.

[4] The North American market proved to be of vital importance to the TB series; by 1993, SOCATA had received orders for in excess of 1,500 aircraft from various different customers within the region.