Photograph:
Rotec Rally Sport ZK-EIG (c/n MAANZ/238) at Rangitata Island, New Zealand in December 2011 (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat ultralight sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 36 kw (48 hp) Rotax 503 UL2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- [Model 3]
- Wingspan: 11.58 m (38 ft)
- Length: 5.28 m (17 ft 3 in)
- Never exceed speed: 89 km/h (55 mph)
- Cruising speed: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Stalling speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: 160 km (99 miles)
- Empty weight: 120 kg (265 lb)
- Loaded weight: 315 kg (694 lb)
History:
The Rotec Rally 2 was designed and marketed by Rotec Engineering from about 1980 to 1985. It was a single-seat ultralight produced in some numbers and had a tubular aluminium framework with a single wing and a pusher engine, it being bolted together and covered in Dacron sailcloth. It was replaced later by the Model 3, a two-seat variant which was up-dated and strengthened. It was a conventional three axis control aircraft and a variety of engines could be fitted including the Cayuna 430 in the Model 2B and the Rotax 503 in the Model 3. The Kohler, Sachs and Kawasaki units could also be installed. The aircraft was supplied in kit form and it was said it could be assembled in 75 hours.
A number were imported to this region and examples in New Zealand include ZK-FIG (c/n MAANZ/238) registered initially in March 1984 and withdrawn from service in August 2002. It was restored to the register in May 2004 as ZK-EIG at Rangitata Island and, after retirement, was placed on display at the New Zealand Microlight Heritage Museum. ZK-FCH (c/n MAANZ/106) was registered in August 1982 and withdrawn from service in March 1992. ZK-WAC, a Rally 3 (c/n 25568/MAANZ/416), was registered in December 1988 but crashed at Matarana in April 1991. ZK-FCI (c/n MAANZ/107) was registered in August 1982 as a 2B and withdrawn from use in June 1992. ZK-FHY, a Rally 3 (c/n 25461), was registered in March 1984 and withdrawn from use in March 1994. ZK-SIM (c/n 010650) was first registered in May 1985 but crashed at Heriot in January 1986 and was written off. One example became DQ-FMA (c/n 72401) in Fiji, being registered to Burns Philp Steamship Company Ltd of Suva.