Sling Aircraft

The Airplane Factory is the former name of Sling Aircraft, a South African aircraft manufacturer based at Tedderfield Airpark in Eikenhof, Johannesburg South. The business operates as a proprietary company under South African law and focuses on the design and manufacture of light aircraft. Its products are offered both as kits for amateur construction and as completed aircraft intended for Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight and United States light-sport-aircraft categories. The company’s aircraft family is marketed under the Sling name. Its manufacturing and engineering approach uses computer-aided design and numerical-control production processes. This combination supports the production of lightweight aircraft components and repeatable manufacturing for both factory-built aircraft and builder-oriented kits. The company’s business is therefore positioned between recreational aviation, experimental and amateur-built aircraft, and the broader light-sport-aircraft market rather than commercial aviation or military aerospace. The two-seat Sling 2 was first flown in 2008 and established the company’s initial aircraft platform. A larger four-seat model, the Sling 4, followed in 2011. The Sling 4 remains supported by the factory but has moved into limited production as newer models have taken a more prominent position. The Sling TSi was released in 2018 and subsequently replaced the Sling 4 as the company’s principal four-seat development. The high-wing Sling HW made its first flight in 2020, extending the product range into a different airframe configuration and providing both taildragger and tricycle-gear variants. The company has also used long-distance demonstration flights to showcase the range and practical capabilities of its aircraft. In July 2013, Mike Blyth and his son flew a modified Sling 4 from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The route included a 14-hour over-water leg, made possible by the aircraft’s reported 20-hour fuel endurance in the modified configuration. In July 2022, three Sling High Wings—one taildragger and two fitted with tricycle landing gear—were flown from South Africa to the same event. These journeys connected the South African manufacturer with the international homebuilt, experimental, and light-sport-aircraft community. The business is associated with Mike Blyth, listed as a director, and brothers James Pitman and Andrew Pitman, listed as co-chief executive officers. The available reference material identifies these three individuals as the company’s shareholders. The company’s current public identity is Sling Aircraft, while The Airplane Factory remains a historical and legacy name associated with the same aircraft-manufacturing operation.

The company now known as Sling Aircraft was formerly called The Airplane Factory. It is a South African proprietary aircraft manufacturer located at Tedderfield Airpark in Eikenhof, Johannesburg South. Its core activity is the development and manufacture of light aircraft, supplied either as kits for amateur construction or as completed aircraft for microlight and light-sport-aircraft use. The company’s engineering and production methods include computer-aided design and numerical-control manufacturing. These capabilities support the fabrication of lightweight aircraft and allow the business to serve two related customer groups: builders who assemble aircraft from kits and pilots seeking factory-produced recreational aircraft. The available reference material does not specify the company’s founding year, but its aircraft-development history is documented through the successive introduction and flight testing of the Sling range. The first major model identified in the company’s history is the two-seat Sling 2, which first flew in 2008. The four-seat Sling 4 followed in 2011, broadening the range beyond two-seat recreational flying. The Sling 4 continued to receive factory support but later entered limited production as the manufacturer concentrated on newer aircraft. In 2013, Mike Blyth and his son demonstrated the aircraft’s long-distance potential by flying a modified Sling 4 from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The route included a 14-hour over-water leg, with the modified aircraft reported to have 20 hours of fuel endurance. The Sling TSi was released in 2018 and subsequently became the successor to the Sling 4 in the company’s product strategy. The aircraft manufacturer then introduced a high-wing platform: the Sling HW made its first flight in 2020. The high-wing family has been shown in both taildragger and tricycle-gear configurations, indicating an effort to provide different landing-gear arrangements within the same general aircraft concept. The manufacturer maintained a visible connection with the international recreational-aviation community through further AirVenture activity in 2022. Three Sling High Wings were flown from South Africa to Oshkosh, including one taildragger and two tricycle-gear aircraft. These flights served as practical demonstrations of the aircraft and reinforced the company’s international profile among homebuilt, experimental, microlight, and light-sport-aircraft enthusiasts. The reference material identifies three shareholders: Mike Blyth, who is listed as a director, and James Pitman and Andrew Pitman, who are listed as co-chief executive officers. The company’s present public identity is Sling Aircraft, while The Airplane Factory is its former corporate name and remains an important legacy designation for the brand.

• 2022

  Three Sling High Wings fly to AirVenture

  [1]Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org

  Three Sling High Wings flew from South Africa to AirVenture, including one taildragger and two tricycle-gear aircraft.

• 2020

  Sling HW first flight

  [1]Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org

  The high-wing Sling HW made its first flight.

• 2018

  Sling TSi released

  [1]Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org

  The Sling TSi was released and later became the successor to the Sling 4 in the company’s range.

• 2013

  Sling 4 reaches AirVenture from South Africa

  [1]Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org

  A modified Sling 4 was flown by Mike Blyth and his son from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, including a long over-water leg.

• 2011

  Sling 4 introduced

  [1]Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org

  The four-seat Sling 4 joined the product range and expanded the company’s recreational-aircraft offering.

• 2008

  Sling 2 first flight

  [1]Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org

  The two-seat Sling 2 made its first flight, establishing the company’s early aircraft platform.

A South African designer and manufacturer of lightweight recreational aircraft, serving amateur builders and ready-to-fly microlight and light-sport-aircraft customers through the Sling product family.

• Two-seat light aircraft · 2008

  Sling 2

  The Sling 2 is a two-seat light aircraft and one of the company’s foundational Sling models. It first flew in 2008 and is associated with the manufacturer’s focus on recreational flying, amateur-built kits, and ready-to-fly aircraft in the microlight and light-sport sectors.

• Four-seat light aircraft · 2011

  Sling 4

  The Sling 4 is a four-seat light aircraft introduced in 2011. It expanded the company’s range for customers seeking greater seating capacity than the Sling 2. The model remains supported by the factory but is described as being in limited production following the introduction and maturation of newer aircraft.

• Four-seat light aircraft · 2018

  Sling TSi

  The Sling TSi is a four-seat aircraft released in 2018. It subsequently replaced the Sling 4 as the company’s newer four-seat offering, representing the next stage of the manufacturer’s light-aircraft development.

• High-wing light aircraft · 2020

  Sling HW

  The Sling HW is the company’s high-wing aircraft family. Its first flight took place in 2020. The type has been flown in both taildragger and tricycle-gear configurations, providing alternative landing-gear arrangements for recreational and light-sport-aircraft users.

• 2022Sling High Wing AirVenture flight

  South Africa · United States

  Three Sling High Wings were flown from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, with one aircraft using tailwheel landing gear and two using tricycle landing gear.

  Outcome. The flight demonstrated multiple High Wing configurations at a major international recreational-aviation gathering.

  Source
• 2013Sling 4 AirVenture flight

  South Africa · United States

  A modified Sling 4 was flown from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, by Mike Blyth and his son. The flight included a 14-hour over-water leg and showcased the aircraft’s long-range capability in modified form.

  Outcome. The aircraft reached the international AirVenture event and provided a high-profile demonstration of the Sling 4.

  Source

• 2020

  Introduction of the Sling HW high-wing platformProduct launch

  Background

  The company expanded its aircraft family beyond its earlier low-wing models.

  Action taken

  The Sling HW made its first flight as a high-wing aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The model was subsequently demonstrated in both taildragger and tricycle-gear configurations.

  Source

• 2018

  Release of the Sling TSiProduct launch

  Background

  The company continued developing its four-seat light-aircraft range after the Sling 4.

  Action taken

  It released the Sling TSi, which later replaced the Sling 4 as the newer four-seat model.

  Aftermath

  The Sling 4 remained supported but moved into limited production.

  Source

1. 1Sling Aircraften.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Airplane Factory official websiteairplanefactory.co.za