The Sling Squawk – June 2026
7 Jun 2026
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 16 years.
Director, Mike Blyth, and joint-CEO, James Pitman met at a party… both dressed up as women. They discovered a shared taste for adventure, hard work, irreverence and the nous to take advantage of market and regulatory conditions en route.
Mike, an engineering student turned serial entrepreneur, was looking for money and enthusiasm to pump into his venture. James, a lawyer with a BSc in physics and computers, was “done with law and looking for something else to do…”
– Terry Shapiro (Regenesys Business World)
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.