Rotec Engineering

Having been an aeronautical engineer at Bell and after working also for the helicopter division of the French Aerospatiale company, William Adaska designed the first Rally series microlight in 1977, using a McCulloch engine and hybrid controls. It was followed in 1979 by the Rally 2.

The Rally 2B was followed in 1981 by the Rally 3, the first FAA kit certified 2-place "ultralight style" airplane. The annual production rate in 1982 was 3000.

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.

1983-4: Rotec Engineering Inc, PO Box 220, Duncanville, Texas 75116, USA.

Rotec was a leading producer of ultralight aircraft with the introduction of the ultralight Rally 2B.

Adaska, ex-Bell and ex-Aerospatiale employee who had specialised until then in helicopters, went on to sell over 2000 Rallys.

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.