The Airplane Factory Sling 2

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Sling 2
Sling2 OnGround ZUSOL.jpg
Sling 2
Role Light Sport Aircraft
Manufacturer The Airplane Factory
Designer Mike Blyth
First flight 18 November 2008
Introduction 2009
Number built 60 (2012)[1]
Unit cost
US$26,000 (kit only, 2012)[1]
Variants The Airplane Factory Sling 4
A Sling 2
Sling 2 instrument panel

The Airplane Factory Sling 2 is a South African two-seater light aircraft designed and produced by The Airplane Factory in Johannesburg, South Africa.[2] In 2009 the specially modified second prototype was flown around the world in a westerly circumnavigation which took 40 days.[3] This was the first time any aircraft of this class had achieved a circumnavigation.[4] The design complies with the requirements of four different regulatory aircraft classes.[5][6]

The Sling 2 is supplied as a kit and as a ready-to-fly aircraft and can be operated as a Light-sport Aircraft or homebuilt aircraft.

Design and Development

Development of the Sling 2 commenced in 2006. The Sling is a two-seat, low wing, all metal aircraft with tricycle landing gear made from composites. The aircraft is powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912 ULS engine which drives a 3-bladed Warp Drive Inc propeller. The airplane features a sliding canopy, large fuel tanks, and standard equipment includes a "glass cockpit" style display.[1][2][7]

Mike Blyth began working on the design of the Sling 2 in 2006. The first prototype was completed in 2008, the Sling made its first flight on November 18, 2008. A full testing programme followed, with the help of a South African military aerodynamicist, which was completed in 2009. Blyth and partner James Pitman then flew the 2nd prototype around the world to accomplish a challenging circumnavigation.[4][8]

Sixty Sling 2s had been completed and flown by the end of 2012. The aircraft is now known as "Sling 2" to distinguish it from the more recent four-seat Sling 4, also in production.[1][9]

Operational history

The second prototype Sling 2 was flown on a westerly global circumnavigation in 2009. Blyth and Pitman departed from South Africa flying up through Western Africa, across the Atlantic to Brazil and Guyana, up through the US Virgin Islands and the East Coast of the United States to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009. After the air show they flew across the United States to Los Angeles, then on to Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and finally back to South Africa. They completed the whole journey in 40 days.[3] The aircraft used for the circumnavigation was a standard production Sling, but with larger 118.8 U.S. gallons (450 L; 98.9 imp gal) fuel tanks, strengthened landing gear, seats that lie flat for sleeping and removable control sticks.[10][11] After being modified, the aircraft had an endurance at standard cruise of approximately 24 hours. The aircraft cruised at 89 knots Indicated airspeed (IAS) (98 knots True airspeed (TAS) with almost full fuel. When more nearly empty, it would cruise at 96 knots IAS (105 knots TAS). With full fuel, fully loaded with crew the Sling weighed approximately 1,984 Lbs (900 kg), or about 600 pounds overweight. At sea level the aircraft would climb slowly, at a rate of 350 feet per minute.[1][4][11]

Specifications (Sling 2)

A pair of Sling 2s in formation

Data from The Airplane Factory[12]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Capacity: One passenger
  • Length: 21.9 feet (6.68 meters)
  • Wingspan: 30.1 feet (9.17 meters)
  • Height: 8.2 feet (2.49 meters)
  • Wing area: 127.5 sq ft (11.85 sq metres)
  • Empty weight: 794 lb (360 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 1320 lb (600 kg)
  • Useful load: 526 lb (240 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 1320 lb (600 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS fixed pitch, 100 hp (73 kW)
  • Propeller diameter: 70 inch (178 cm)
  • Fuel Capacity: 39.6 U.S. gallons (150 liters)
  • Baggage Capacity: 77 lb (35 kg)

Performance

Avionics

  • MGL Avionics

Comparable aircraft

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bernard, Mary and Suzanne B. Bopp: The Airplane Factory: Sling 2 (and Sling 4), Kitplanes, Volume 29, Number 12, December 2012, page 22. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 African Pilot, Athol Franz, The Aircraft Factory Sling, Dec 2010, Vol9-No12, pp70-71.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 SA Flyer, Guy Leitch, Sling around the world, Oct 2009, No. 168, pp20-28.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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