Did two CofA airtests yesterday, a Rallye (MS.893E) and a 172M.

Both four seats, similar weights, Rallye had 180 HP, Cessna had 160.

Cessna is twice as big inside cabin, climbed 100 fpm more, is cleared for spinning :ok:, cruised nearly 20 knots faster and stalled 5 knots slower than the MS.893E both clean and full flap.

Can't see what the fuss is all about to be honest.

Gerard

Ps: 893E has control column, no stick. The die-hards wil probably claim it is not a 'real' Rallye.

Ps2: Before I give the wrong impression, I don't actually like 172s all that much and doing the airtest on the Rallye was good fun.

Ps3: Flew a Kolibre 160 a few months ago as well and although I cannot remember specific speeds I do remember I wasn't impressed by the stall speeds. They were low enough, but nothing exceptional.

I can't comment on the Rallye 180 you were flying, but any 180s I have flown would be comfortable out of 200 yards. (Dont try that in a C172)

I was test flying a 235 rallye which was stalling at just over 50mph on the ASI at max weight.

From memory the last C172 I flew was about the same.

Most (145hp & 160hp) C172s that I have flown cruise at 110 knots max

Most Rallye 180s will also cruise at 110 knots.

The Rallye is a much more STOL aircraft and IMOP is nicer to fly, so I suppose its just a personal choice.

Tony

Hmmmm! The 893E...that depends on the age of the animal. The later ones were designated 180GT, fitted with the 235E interior (bucket seats, eyeball air vents, yoke, quadrant throttle etc). They tended to be heavier and draggier than the older 893. Ithink only a couple were imported through the distributors. Worse still was the 150GT :sad: