Sling Aircraft
| Company type | Proprietary company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aircraft manufacturing |
| Predecessor | The Airplane Factory (Pty) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Eikenhof, Johannesburg South , South Africa |
Key people | Mike Blyth (Director), James Pitman (Co-CEO), Andrew Pitman (Co-CEO) |
| Products | Light aircraft (Sling 2, Sling 4, Sling TSi, Sling HW) |
Overview
Sling Aircraft (Pty) Ltd, previously known as The Airplane Factory (Pty) Ltd, is a South African aircraft manufacturer situated at Tedderfield Airpark, Eikenhof, in the Johannesburg South region. The company focuses on designing and producing light aircraft, offering both kit formats for amateur builders and ready-to-fly models that comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight standards and the American light-sport aircraft category.
Operating as a proprietary company under South African legislation, Sling Aircraft is owned by three principal shareholders: Mike Blyth, who serves as Director; alongside Co-CEOs James Pitman and Andrew Pitman.
The firm incorporates advanced manufacturing techniques such as numerical control machining and employs computer-aided design technology throughout its aircraft development and production stages.
Product Range
Sling Aircraft manufactures several models including the two-seat Sling 2, which first took flight in 2008, and the four-seat Sling 4, introduced in 2011. While the Sling 4 remains supported by the company, its production has been scaled back. The company also produces the Sling TSi, launched in 2018, which has since superseded the Sling 4 model. The latest addition to their lineup is the high-wing Sling HW, which completed its maiden flight in 2020.
Notable Flights
In July 2013, Mike Blyth and his son piloted a Sling 4 from South Africa to the annual AirVenture event held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. This journey featured a significant 14-hour overwater segment, made possible by modifications that extended the aircraft’s fuel capacity to support up to 20 hours of flight endurance.
More recently, in July 2022, a trio of Sling High Wing aircraft—comprising one taildragger and two with tricycle landing gear—completed a flight from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Aircraft
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| Model name | Maiden flight | Units produced | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Aircraft Sling 2 | 2008 | 328 (as of 2020) | Two-seat, low-wing microlight airplane |
| Sling Aircraft Sling 4 | 2011 | 281 (as of 2020) | Four-seat, low-wing aircraft |
| Sling Aircraft Sling TSi | 2018 | 281 (combined with Sling 4 sales, as of 2020) | Four-seat, low-wing airplane |
| Sling Aircraft Sling HW | 2020 | 30 (projected for 2025) | Four-seat, high-wing aircraft |
References
External links
