The SAAF Forum

Anyone game to try and ID this aircraft? I have a suspicion it might be a product of Avions Robin - the photo originated in France.

I don't have a clue, but it looks like it's been in a hail-storm!

It does have a slightly bent look about it, doesn't it?
It's actually a still from a film - and yes it was actually flying!

The flap, aileron, and the walking surface treatment looks typical of Beechcraft.
If there was a small fence on the leading edge I would say it's an early model Bonanza. Maybe its one of the smaller Beech types?

Robin wings generally taper quite noticably from about mid-span, they also have a gullwing bend like a Stuka.
This one seems to have little or no taper - which is typical of Piper.

As in a HR100 or HR200?

Ok some more info - this was about ten years ago -pre 2001. It was a 1+3 seater and single engined. And the camera does briefly swing by the cockpit after interminable shots of the French Alps. It's very dark and about 5 frames but I managed to extract this one.



However it may be a SOCATA Rallye as well ....

Not Robins -- this wing is straight, could be a Grumman AA1





Agree- could be a Bonanza, but the second cockpit pic is not a Bonanza

Avions Robin do/have made other models than the DR400 or R3000.

Ok - I have decided that the aircraft is a SOCATA Rallye. I base this conclusion on the pronounced slot behind the leading edge (leading edge slat), the rivetted panel over the main spar and the canopy. And will abide by that decision until shouted down by someone with better evidence!



Unfortunately, after peering at a squillion pics of Rallyes on the web I could not find a good planform photo of the wing.

Look about right.

The things came out in a bewildering array of models, engined with a 100 hp RR Continental, through a 150 hp, 180 hp and 235 hp Lycoming. 2, 3 or 4 seater. There was even a tail-dragger version. Some versions were cleared for spin as a 2 seater but not as a 4 seater.
There was a specialised glider tug and a specialised agricultural version. Even a military variant. I downloaded about 12 photos of the panel - all different layouts. Some had sticks in the floor and others had half-wheels projecting from the panel. None of the instruments were vaguely in the same place either. Especially the engine instruments which seem to be scattered hither and yon wherever there was a suitable space to push them in. Obviously the manufacturer had never heard of the T, at least not that I can discern.

I would love to get a diagram of the underlying structure of the wing - that bumpy buckled skin that looks like it is covering a geodesic structure intrigues me!