Photograph:
An early production example of the Sling TSi in South Africa (The Airplane Factory)
Country of origin:
South Africa
Description:
Four-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 105-kw (141 hp) Rotax 915iS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed turbocharged liquid-and-air cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 1 in)
- Length: 7.14 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 12.47 m² (134.2 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 296 km/h (184 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 287 km/h (178 mph)
- Stalling speed [clean]: 96 km/h (60 mph)
- Stalling speed [landing configuration]: 89 km/h (55 mph)
- Take-off distance to 15 m (50 ft): 168 m (550 ft)
- Landing distance from 15 m: (50 ft 170 m (558 ft)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 170 litres (37 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
- Useful load: 460 kg (1,014 lb)
- Full fuel payload: 335 kg (738 lb)
- Baggage capacity: 25 kg (55 lb)
- Loaded weight: 950 kg (2,094 lb)
History:
The Sling TSi first flew in 2018 and is produced by The Airplane Factory in South Africa and is a four-seat cabin monoplane fitted with a tricycle undercarriage developed from the company’s previous offering, the Sling 4. It is an all-metal low-wing light aircraft supplied in kit form fitted with a Rotax 915iS engine and is described as being able to carry four seated adults with full fuel.
The TSi differs considerable from the Sling 4, there being only some 20 percent commonality between the two models. The new model has a new wing with a different aerofoil, which is of different construction and has larger fuel tanks. The new aerofoil is designed to have a lower profile and more aileron authority. Use is made of flush (pulled) rivets on both the wing and tail to allow better airflow. It has aerofoil shaped struts providing lower drag. It can be fitted with an airframe ballistic parachute. Behind the luggage area can be installed a tube which allows the carriage of skis.
Power is provided by the turbocharged Rotax 915iS four-cylinder unit which delivers 105 kw (141 hp) at 5,800 rpm driving an electric constant-speed Airmaster / Whirlwind three blade propeller, full power being available up to 4,572 m (15,000 ft).
The first production machine was taken to Air Venture at Oshkosh in Wisconsin in July 2018, this aircraft (N135WT) being operated in the United States as a demonstrator. Standard cockpit equipment included a Garmin G3X Touch EFIS with autopilot, a G5 for backup and a GTN 650 Navigator. First example delivered to the Australian distributor arrived in mid-2019.