The Sling Squawk – June 2026
7 Jun 2026
A South African kitplane manufacturer – The Airplane Factory (TAF) – is going from strength-to-strength, having just announced a brand new aircraft. The new high-wing version of TAF’s four-seater; the Sling TSi, was revealed at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture event in Oshkosh, USA.
The Sling TSi was, itself, a brand new aircraft just a year ago. Company founder, Mike Blyth, said he expected to have a prototype flying by the end of the year. lf that seems impossible – to go from the drawing board to a new model in less than six months – then some of TAF’s other feats will seem like miracles.
After twenty-five days, countless flights, three countries and more adventures than we ever could have planned for, the African flying adventure of Josh Flowers and Chelsea Smith of Aviation101, along with Chris Lammert and Keelyn Costello, has reached its final chapter. But there’s still plenty of Africa left to explore…