“And now this high-value export business, born of a thirst for adventure, is perfectly positioned to take advantage of regulatory changes in the US. A little like-mindedness goes a very long way – around the world three times, for starters, not to mention transforming the two-man Airplane Factory into the 400-person Sling Aircraft export operation
“In the serene landscape of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, there’s a particularly beautiful mist belt, a forested area known as Karkloof. It was here, in 1875, that 26-year-old John Goodman Household, something of a dreamer and inventor, made at least two successful flights from a ridge in a glider made from oiled silk stretched over a
“Veel Nederlanders bezoeken tegenwoordig Zuid-Afrika, onder wie ook de nodige piloten die (weten we uit ervaring) daar van de gelegenheid gebruik maken om te gaan vliegen. Denk maar eens aan Stellenbosch aerodrome. In mei j.l. organiseerde Sling Aircraft de Sling Africa Tour 2023. Het was beslist geen geoliede machine, zegt James Pitman, die dit artikel
A 99-year-old American war veteran has returned to the skies after a chance meeting with a local pilot at the airfield he flew missions from 80 years ago. Lieutenant Ray Hobbs returned to Horham Airfield, in Suffolk, as part of a reunion trip organised by the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association. When the group took a
“During my recent visit to Sling Aircraft in Johannesburg, South Africa, to fly the new High Wing on this month’s cover, I was given complete access to the factory facilities and personnel and learned a lot about their design and production capabilities. I spent a great deal of time with company founder, Mike Blyth, who
“This is what “vertical Integration” gets you in a world of supply chain issues. Sling Aircraft produces almost everything for their line of aircraft in-house. From building their own spars, to welding up motor mounts—all the way to doing their own upholstery and paint—they try hard to be their own supplier. Their metal-cutting and -punching
“Sling Aircraft (formally known as The Airplane Factory), based at Tedderfield Airpark in the south of Johannesburg, is quickly becoming a giant slayer in the kitplane market, exporting kits and aircraft to various countries around the world. The Comaro Chronicle recently visited the factory to learn more about its beginning, the around the world flights
“If you go on the Earthrounders.com website and search for completed globe circumnavigations by single-engine aircraft, you will see plenty of Cessna Caravans, Pilatus PC-12s, Beech Bonanzas, Mooneys, Piper Saratogas, Cherokee Sixes, and Malibus. With their massive useful loads, these airplanes were able to easily tanker the extra fuel needed to safely transition the longest over-ocean legs
“It has been almost a dozen years now since “The Airplane Factory” started out manufacturing Sling aircraft. Total serial numbers for aircraft and kits ordered are now approaching 1,000 and the factory employs more than 300 people in the south of Johannesburg. This proudly South African product has been sold to people in 37 different
For those of you who were unable to join the EAA USA Virtual Event with Sling Aircraft founder, Mike Blyth, please feel free to view the webinar available now! “Building and Flying Sling Aircraft” was hosted last Wednesday evening and covered our Sling series of amateur-built and Light Sport Aircraft and included our history of
