The Ralley 235E Gabier is a single-engined, low wing, four-seater. The aircraft is a MS.893 with a 235 hpLycoming O-540-B4-B5 engine.
The MS.893 is a further development of the basic MS-880 Ralley three-seater that flew first on 10 June 1959. The MS.893 Ralley Commodore 180,
powered by a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine was redesignated Rallye 180, further redesignated SOCATA Gaillard or SOCATA Galérien (glider towing
version). SA des Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier was established in 1911 and had a long history of designing and
building aeroplanes. In response to a late 1950s French government competition for a light aircraft,
Morane Saulnier designed the Ralley, an all-metal side-by-side two-seat low-wing aircraft with fixed
tailwheel undercarriage. The prototype, the MS.880 F-WJDM powered by a 90 hp Continental C90-14F
engine, made its first flight on 10 June 1959. A second prototype, the MS.880A F-WJSE with swept fin
and 3-seats in a larger cockpit, was flown first on 12 February 1961. The Ralley entered production
as the MS-880B Ralley Club, after a definitive prototype, the MS-880B F-WJSF with a tricycle
undercarriage and powered by a 100 hp Continental O-200-A engine, was flown first on 24 May 1961.
Ralley production built up rapidly and next to the MS.880B Ralley Club, the MS.885 Super Ralley,
fitted with a 145 hp Continental O-300-A engine, entered full-scale production. By the end of 1962
the pressure of expansion of the successful Ralley family into high volume production had caused the
company to run into financial problems. Morane-Saulnier filed a bankruptcy petition on 19 November 1962
and on 6 January 1963 management control of the company passed into the hands of the
Etablissements Henri Potez. The company was reorganised and known as the Société d'Exploitation des
Etablissements Morane-Saulnier (S.E.E.M.S.). On 20 May 1965 the management of the company was taken
over by Sud-Aviation and the company was renamed in Gerance des Etablissements Morane-Saulnier
(G.E.M.S.). In 1966 Morane-Saulnier finally disappeared as the company became a full subsidiary of
Sud-Aviation with the new title Société de Construction d'Avions de Tourisme et d'Affaires (SOCATA).
In spite of the financial problems and management changes the Ralley design was developed further
and became Europe's most successful light aircraft. In 1964, the four-seat MS.890 Commodore with
heavier airframe was introduced and after the prototype, the MS.890A Ralley Commodore F-WJSG powered
by a 145 hp Continental O-300-B engine was flown first, this model entered, next to the MS.880B, full
scale production in 1964. Developments of the Commodore included the MS.893 Ralley Commodore 180,
which was intended as an agricultural aircraft, but was developed as a tourer instead with the 180hp
Lycoming O-360-A2A engine. The name Ralley was continued for the developments of the basic design
until 1979, when SOCATA introduced new names to the developments. More than 3500 airframes of the
Ralley design were built by Morane-Saulnier; S.E.E.M.S; G.E.M.S. and SOCATA when the production in
France ceased in 1983. The Ralley concept continued for some years in production in Poland with PZL as
the Koliber.
On 21 September 1978, the 1978-built SOCATA-GA Ralley 235E Gabier s/n 13125 was registered PH-IBU in the Netherlands
with Aviation Francaise BV. On 6 December 1978, the PH-IBU was registered with Ralley Flight Centre BV.
On 15 October 1980, the PH-IBU was registered with Aviation Francaise BV. On 15 December 1980, the aircraft was registered
with BV de Binderijgroep Vianen BV. On 17 February 1993, the aircraft was transferred to B. Koch Orgelbouw.
On 2 September 1993, C. Kempenaar, Beekbergen, became the next registered owner of the Ralley 235E Gabier PH-IBU. On 7 January 1998,
the PH-IBU was transferred to KAVEKA BV. Due some problems with the paperwork by this transfer, registration PH-IBU was cancelled
on 24 February 1998. On 27 March 1998, Ralley 235E Gabier PH-IBU was restored to the register with KAVEKA BV, Apeldoorn, as registered
owner. On 8 March 1999, the PH-IBU was registered with Handelsonderneming EVAMA Apeldoorn BV. On 5 January 2003, the SOCATA-GA Ralley 235E
Gabier PH-IBU was registered with H.J. van der Zande. The PH-IBU is based at Hoogeveen airfield in the Netherlands.
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