The high wing composite style of LSA is a popular choice amongst aviators.
Falling into this busy market is a rather nice little Italian, the Storm Rally. It’s a touring aircraft or trainer that’s tough, reliable, simple to fly and has impeccable manners. Better still, the cockpit is huge, there’s a generous luggage allowance and it is cleared for door-open flight at up to 80 knots.
Australia had been missing out on the Rally and its low-wing stable-mates until two longtime friends and colleagues, John McCorkell and Graham Beaumont, recognised what the Rally offered to the Australian and New Zealand markets and set up Pacific Light Aircraft to act as agents for Storm in Australia. In each case it was their first impressions of the Rally that sealed the deal for them.
John McCorkell recently retired from 40 years of flying the ‘heavy iron’ with Australia’s major international airline. During an extended layover in Europe, he and his wife had the time to visit the Storm factory in Sabaudia, Italy and get a first taste of the Storm Rally LSA aircraft.
Johns interest in ‘lightie’ flying had been slowly re-kindling and he had been very impressed with the advances in technology of these smaller machines since he’d last encountered them, coming a long way from the rag and tube types of a decade or so ago.
John says of the Rally, “with carbon fibre composite construction, the high wing machine just caught my eye. The Storm Rally epitomises the advanced engineering and flying characteristics of the latest offerings of the composite LSA field”.
Sliding inside the Storm Rally is easy. The first thing noticeable is the large space for both humans and luggage in the back. There is even a custom mod to extend the storage area into the fuselage for long items like golf clubs and fishing rods.
The Rotax 912ULS is a great, well known engine with a proven record of safety and reliability. It is fairly quiet, smooth and very responsive with applications of power.
The centre stick is a nice way to handle the Storm Rally. During the early stages of a spin (not a manoeuvre approved under Australian Rules) the handling is quite conventional and recovery is swift. It’s nice to know these machines are built to this level. Deploying the electrically operated flaps produces only small changes in pitch unlike some similar aircraft in the market.
John observes that, “with stability in pitch, roll and yaw it is a pleasure to fly around the low level, tight circuit favored in Italy. We flew the circuit at 55 knots and then 48 knots on final. A short field landing was accomplished at a few knots slower. The Rally was fully responsive throughout with an easy gentle flare and touchdown - I just didn’t want to get out. In fact Andrea, a member of the Salsedo family who own and operate Storm Aircraft asked me why I did so many circuits. I couldn’t think of a reason to stop was the reply.”
When Graham Beaumont visited Storm he was equally impressed. It was over 20 years since Graham had flown anything smaller than a 747.
“The Rally was my first aviation experience after a career flying heavy jets and then a break from aviation. Quite frankly, I thought that I’d forgotten most of what I ever knew about flying light aircraft, let alone lighter than light variants. Maybe it is a little like riding a bike but, I think that the enjoyment that I got from flying this aircraft was as much a result of the Rally’s benign handling characteristics as my residual flying skills. It was truly a painless and pleasurable transition. Although it wasn’t blowing a gale, there was enough movement to keep me on the job.”
The Rally enjoys crisp control responses, the instantaneous availability of power (unlike a jet engine), great visibility and sedate aerodynamics all of which contribute to a hassle free experience of ‘real’ flying. Furthermore, the machine flies with the stability of a much heavier GA aircraft.
The simplicity of design and the Rally’s clean lines are immediately attractive reassuring the pilot that it will fly well. Once strapped in, the feeling of space with all controls falling naturally to hand renders an instant familiarity.
This aircraft will treat student pilots and training organisations very kindly because of its flying qualities and economics. Experienced pilots will also enjoy flying the Rally. Whether it’s cruising over long distances or putting in a few hours of circuits and bumps to hone their skills, the Rally provides an inexpensive and rewarding opportunity for old hands to return to the future.
What is also noteworthy about Graham’s experience is that he tops out at 1.95 metres (6 feet 5 in the old measure) and the Rally fitted him with room to spare.
The Rally LSA is available in Australia from Pacific Light Aircraft. Prices start at around $125,000 depending on exchange rates.
Specifications:
| Seats |
2 |
| Engline |
Rota x 912ULS (100hp) |
| Length |
7.0 |
| Wing Span |
8.72m |
| Height |
2.3m |
| MTOW |
600kg |
| Empty Weight |
345kg |
| Baggage |
70kg |
| Fuel Capacity |
125 litres |
| Endurance |
6 hours plus res |
| Cruise Speed |
107 knots |
| Stall Speed |
35 knots |
| VNE |
140 knots |
| Rate of Climb |
800 fpm sea level |
| Take off distance |
270m (ISA, 50ft Obs) |
