Rotec Rally 2B
ultralight aircraft, Rotec Rally 2B experimental aircraft, Rotec Rally 2B experimental light sport aircraft (ELSA), Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News
newsmagazine.
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Light Sport Aircraft Pilot is a directory of aircraft that generally fit
into what are described as ultralight aircraft, advanced ultralight
aircraft,
light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, experimental
aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt
aircraft in the United States and Canada. These include
weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes,
powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders.
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Rotec Rally 2B ultralight, experimental
lightsport, amateur built aircraft.
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Original Manufacture/
Rotec Engineering Inc.
No longer in business/No longer in production
Rotec Engineering Inc., manufacturer of Rally ultra-lights,
produced ultralights until the mid 80's. The approach of the
company was to sell to individuals "who wanted to combine
the reality of owning their own business with the dream of
flying their own plane."
Rotec was a leading producer of ultralight aircraft with
the introduction of the ultralight Rally 2B.
The Rally 2B was followed in 1981 by the Rally 3, the
first FAA kit certified 2-place "ultralight style" airplane.
The Rally 3 was used by the U.S. Army for military
applications.
In January 1983, Rotec introduced the aerobatic Rally Sport.
The Rotec Rally Sport which they claimed was the first
production aerobatic ultralight on the market. |
Ad Code TwoHere |
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Adaska, ex-Bell and ex-Aerospatiale employee
who had specialised until then in helicopters, went on to
sell over 2000 Rallys.
Rotec boasted of "providing
dealers state of the art designs, quality control, quick
delivery, dependable parts and factory support."
But in fact delivered very little of any of the above.
Bill Adaska owner of Rotec used the sales pitch that if an
individual bought 5 aircraft, selling 4 to friends they
would get their aircraft for nothing.
I had the opportunity to train on the Rally 3 Big Lifter,
and the Rally 2 B. Before I could fly them I had to do
modifications to the aircraft to make it safe to fly. The
clutch had a tendency to fail, leaving you without power to
the prop. The motorcycle style throttle was located on the
stick, with the ignition switch right above it, and when
wearing gloves and turning the throttle you would
inadvertently turn the switch off.
The manufacturer also purchased large quantities of no
longer in production snowmobile engines and installed them
on his craft. While this kept the cost down, parts for these
engines were
almost impossible to find.
The Rotec was really just a cheap copy of the Quicksilver
MX. For example the rudder, elevator, and spoileron cables
were just rope. To attach these to the control systems
Adaska used plastic hooks, and you literally tied a knot in
the rope to attach the hook! Plastic fittings were used on the elevator, rudder, and
spoilerons. These would crack and break when exposed to UV
and cold.
With all this said the
craft did fly, was quite forgiving, and easy to repair, and
with some CHANGES is a safe, fun, affordable flying machine.
On todays market if it is powered by a Rotax engine, has a
decent set of sails on it, with a good prop etc. it should
sell for between $1500 and $3,000. |
Rotec Rally 2B ultralight -
experimental lightsport aircraft |
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