The Sling Squawk – June 2026
7 Jun 2026
“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 light bamboo frame – a South African first.
After launching from the top of a precipice, he flew about 500 m. The event was not recorded, nor were the drawings or the glider preserved. His second attempt ended in a crash, a broken leg and a barn filled with the tangled remains of his prototype. The story goes that his mother made him burn the plans and promise never to fly again.
Mike Blyth may share Household’s fearless and innovative spirit but nothing and no one has suggested he pack up his dreams. For Mike, there is no inventive leap without a dash of daredevil and bloody-minded perseverance.”
-Jacqui Ikin (Val de Vie)
After reaching Cape Town in Part 2, Josh Flowers and Chelsea Smith of Aviation101, along with Chris Lammert and Keelyn Costello, reunite with friends and fly their Sling aircraft north from Stellenbosch through the Tankwa Karoo, before crossing into Namibia and exploring the spectacular Fish River Canyon. From formation flying and the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race to fireside celebrations and an off-airport landing in the desert, the journey becomes less about following a plan and more about embracing whatever comes next—because sometimes the most memorable part of flying happens after the engine shuts down.