Rotec Rally

Rally
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Rotec Engineering
Designer Bill Adaska
Introduction early 1980s
Status Production completed

The Rotec Rally is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bill Adaska and produced by Rotec Engineering. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]

Contents

Design and development

The earliest Rallys were derived from hang gliders and comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The Rally 2, for instance, has a standard empty weight of 145 lb (66 kg). The series all feature a cable-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, conventional landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. The series was highly successful due to its low price and solid engineering.[1][2]

The aircraft is made from aluminum tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcoth. The wing is cable braced from a single kingpost mounted on top of the wing. The tailwheel is sprung.[1][2]

The first Rallys were simple powered hang gliders and grew in sophistication as the model numbers increased.[1]

Variants

Rally 1
Early powered hang glider model.[1]
Rally 2
Improved powered hang glider model with weight shift control for pitch and roll with a seat-cable controlled rudder. Standard engine is the Solo 210 of 20 hp (15 kW). It has a 145 lb (66 kg) empty weight and a cruise speed of 23 mph (37 km/h).[1]
Rally 2B
Development of the Rally 2, with a conventional three-axis control system, including wing-mounted ailerons. In production models after 1981 the ailerons were replaced with spoilers for roll control. The control stick on the Rally 2B is hinged from the top, which simplified control runs to the high wing. Standard engine supplied was the Cuyuna 430 two-stroke.[1]
Rally Sport
Structurally strengthened version of the Rally 2B for aerobatics, with a 248 lb (112 kg) empty weight, 27 ft (8.2 m) wingspan and glide ratio of 8:1.[1][2]
Rally 3
Two seat version of the Rally 2B.[1]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (Rally 2B)

Data from Cliche[1]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-30. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ^ a b c d Virtual Ultralight Museum (undated). "Rally Sport". http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/qr.htm#rally. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
  3. ^ aviationmuseum.eu (undated). "Southern Museum of Flight". http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/North_America/USA/Alabama/Birmingham/Southern_Museum_of_Flight.htm. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 

External links