SOCATA Rallye family
| Rallye |
|
|
| Morane-Saulnier (Socata) Rallye Minerva MS.894A |
| Role |
Tourer/trainer aircraft |
| National origin |
France |
| Manufacturer |
SOCATA |
| First flight |
10 June 1959 |
| Number built |
~3,300[1] |
The SOCATA Rallye was a light aircraft manufactured in France during the 1960s, originally by Morane-Saulnier as the MS.880. It was eventually replaced in production by the Socata TB series in the 1970s, but continued in production in Poland under licence by PZL as the PZL Koliber.
Design
The Rallye is a single-engined, low-wing monoplane of all metal construction, fitted with a fixed undercarriage. Power was from one of a range of progressively more powerful air cooled engines, ranging from a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200 engine in the Rallye Club, to a 235 hp (175 kW) Lycoming O-540 in the Rallye 235. It has a bulbous cockpit which houses two people in the basic lower-powered variants and four in the more powerful aircraft, some of which are designed to be used as glider tugs.
History
In 1958, Morane-Saulnier designed a single-engined light aircraft, the MS.880 Rallye Club,in response to a French government competition. The prototype, powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) engine, first flew on 10 June 1959. The first versions, the MS.880B and more powerful MS.885, were certified as airworthy on 21 November 1961.[2]
Morane-Saulnier became part of Sud Aviation in 1965, and was renamed Socata in 1966, continuing to build the Rallye in large numbers through the remainder of the 1960s and well into the 1970s.[1] In 1979, Socata renamed the Rallye series, with each model getting an individual, "more Gallic" name.[3] They were gradually replaced in French production by the Socata TB series, the last (of approximately 3,300[1]) aircraft built by Socata, an armed R235 Guerrier, being delivered in December 1984.[4]
This was not the end of Rallye production, however, as Socata had sold a license for production of the Rallye 100ST to the Polish State aviation company PZL, the aircraft being produced in its Warsaw factory as the PZL Koliber (Humming Bird). The first PZL built aircraft flew on 18 April 1978, entering production in 1979, with 10 being produced that year.[5]
Variants
French production
- MS.880
- Original production version. Powered by 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200.
- MS.881
- 105 hp (78 kW) Potez engine. 12 built.[2]
- MS.883
- 115 hp (86 kW) Lycoming engine. 77 built.[2]
- MS.885 Super Rallye
- Two-three seat version. 145 hp (108 kW) Continental O-300 engine. 212 built.[2]
- MS.886
- 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming engine. Three built.[2]
- MS.890 Rallye Commodore
- Four seat version. 145 hp (108 kW) Continental engine. Eight built.[2]
- MS.892 Rallye Commodore 150
- 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming 0-320 engine. Later designated Rallye 150.
- MS.893 Rallye Commodore 180
- 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming O-360 engine. Later designated Rallye 180. Further redesignated SOCATA Gaillard or SOCATA Galérien (glider towing version).
- MS.894 Rallye Minerva
- 220 hp (160 kW) Franklin 6A-350 engine. Later designated Rallye 220. Sold as Waco Minerva in United States.
- Rallye 100
- Powered by 100 hp (75 kW) Rolls-Royce Continental O-200. Available in two-seat trainer/sport (100-S) stressed for aerobatics, four seat tourer (100-T) or convertible two/four seat version (100-TS).
- Rallye 125
- Four seat version of 100-T, powered by 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-235.
- Rallye 235
- Powered by 235 hp (175 kW) Lycoming O-540. Redesignated SOCATA Gabier.
- SOCATA Galopin
- Version of Rallye 100 powered by 110 hp (82 kW) Lycoming O-235. Original designation Rallye 110.[6]
- SOCATA Garnement
- Improved version of Rallye 150, with 155 hp (116 kW) Lycoming 0-320.[6]
- SOCATA Gaucho
- Tailwheel agricultural aircraft.[6]
- SOCATA R235 Guerrier
- Military version of Gabier/Rallye 235.
- SOCATA Gaillard
- Rallye 180 re-named
- SOCATA Galérien
- Glider tug version of the Rallye 180
- SOCATA Gabier
- re-named Rallye 235
- Waco Minerva
- Sales of the Rallye Minerva in the USA
Polish production
- PZL-110 Koliber
- Initial licence production version powered by PZL licenced 116 hp (87 kW) Franklin 4A-235, based on Rallye 100 ST.[5] Production 32 aircraft.[7]
- PZL-110 Koliber 150
- 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine.[7]
- PZL-110 Koliber 160
- 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine.[7]
- PZL-111 Koliber 235
- 235 hp (175 kW) Lycoming O-520 engine.[7]
Military operators
- Central African Republic
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- France
- Libya
- Morocco
- Rwanda
- Senegal
Specifications (180 GT)
Data from Jane's All the World Aircraft 1976-77[8]
General characteristics
Performance
References
Notes
- ^ a b c Donald 1994, p.804.
- ^ a b c d e f Taylor, 1976, p.64.
- ^ "Rallye History". Fly Rallye. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ Taylor 1988, p.84.
- ^ a b Taylor 1988, p.193.
- ^ a b c "The Socata Rallye" airliners.net. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d Taylor, M.J.H. 1999, p.453.
- ^ Taylor 1976, pp.65-66.
Bibliography
- Donald, David (editor). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Taylor, John W R. (editor). Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0 354 00538 3.
- Taylor, John W R. (editor). Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.
- Taylor, Michael J.H. (editor). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
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