I read in an interview that he learned to fly with a guy called Uli Cop, who later died in an aerobatic accident. The lead didn't get me anywhere though.
Edit: I had a look at the MS880, I agree that it is most likely this type. The T-handle, the angle of the lower panel with the curve next to the knee, the other levers along the bottom edge all appear to fit. I thought it might be a taildragger but the Rallye also has a bit of a nose up stance on the ground.
