“Aircraft are often designed around engines. Sling’s aircraft certainly are – the company founder has been the Rotax distributor in Southern Africa for more than 30 years! What a joy to have an engine developer and manufacturer produce the perfect engine for the job.
The Rotax 916 iS engine has truly transformed the Sling 4 TSi aircraft into a dream machine! To develop an aircraft for a 141 hp motor, and then to be served up 160 hp with no weight, installation or operating penalty is sublime. The Rotax 916 iS is a truly modern, highly sophisticated yet rugged, light, powerful, quiet and economical engine.
I have had the pleasure of flying the Rotax 916 iS engine both in the Sling 4 TSi and Sling 4 High Wing for more than 300 hours, both in local and long cross-country flights. The engine is smooth, predictable, powerful and reliable. It’s simple to operate and feels like the civilised end product of a long period of refinement. It has transported me to surrounding states, on family holidays, paragliding and cycling trips and more recently, in a race from Johannesburg to Cape Town against a commercial jetliner.
At all times, I’m left feeling deeply confident and comfortable. It genuinely is a pleasure to have power and fuel to spare, and speed to play with, when heavily loaded and setting out on a long trip into far and lonely places.
Despite having flown a pre-production, followed by early serial number 916 engines, I’ve not experienced a single error or failure in 300 hours of tough African flight. There is not a better, more modern, efficient and cleverly designed aircraft engine out there. That the engine appears perfectly designed as a powerplant for the Sling range of 4-seat aircraft is an almost religious stroke of luck. Long live the Rotax 916 iS!”
– James Pitman (Sling Aircraft Joint CEO)
It’s go‑time! Load up your gear, strap on your gravel shoes, and aim for the wide‑open Karoo horizon. The Tanqua Kuru is calling, and we’re answering with throttles, pedals, and hearts wide open. At least four Sling aircraft and our solid team of riders will make the pilgrimage to Tankwa Tented Camp for what’s become an annual tradition of grit, gravel, and greatness.
There’s still one title former Springbok Bob Skinstad hasn’t claimed… This isn’t a stadium victory. No crowds, no ceremony, no easy applause. This one is fought for. Across endless gravel, through the dust, under the relentless Tankwa sun. And he’s chasing it down on a Sling Cycles Tagati. So, the question is — when he rolls up to the start line… will you be there with him?