Sling Aircraft Sling TSi explained

The Sling TSi is a South African four-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt aircraft sold in kit form by Sling Aircraft of Johannesburg South.[1] It was developed from the Sling 4.

The Sling TSi first flew in 2018,[2] with kits being shipped to builders[3] in fall 2018.

Design and development

The aircraft was developed in 2018. The Sling TSi is an all-metal, low-wing, fixed tricycle gear homebuilt aircraft. The airplane is equipped with the new Rotax 915iS engine and was the inspiration for the designation of TSi. Parts of the wings and fuselage were reinforced and outfitted with flush riveting for increased strength and reduced drag over the Sling 4.[4]

The UK Light Aircraft Association has limited the airframe safe life to 1600 hours.[5]

Operational history

The first Sling TSi in the USA was shown at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2018.[6]

In a review for KitPlanes, writer Paul Dye said, "...it lives up to its design goals. We flew with four full sized adults from a field with a density altitude of 9,000' and had to throttle back to keep from exceeding redline when we leveled off at 10,000. Later, operating off of a dry lakebed in the high desert, with temperatures of 100 degrees, we never had to worry about engine cooling - and it handled like a fine touring machine."[4]

A company demonstrator Sling TSi flew non-stop from Torrance, California, to Tampa Executive Airport on its way to Lakeland, Florida for Sun 'n Fun 2019 in 13.5 hours. The aircraft carried an additional of fuel over the normal long-range tanks and benefited from tailwinds en route.[7]

In July 2019 the company did a ceiling expansion test and flew non-stop from Torrance, California to Wittman Regional Airport to attend EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for 9.75 hours. The aircraft reached a final height of 27,000 feet.[8]

Variants

During EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2019 the development of a new high-wing variant, the Sling HW was announced.[9]

See also

Similar aircraft

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sling TSi Official Website. Sling Aircraft. slingaircraft.com. 9 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200313190408/https://www.slingaircraft.com/aircraft/sling-tsi/. 13 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Sling TSi Flight Report by Kitplanes. www.kitplanes.com. 9 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Sling Aircraft Builders. 9 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Sling TSi – New Four Place Cruiser. 7 September 2018. kitplanes.com. 28 January 2019.
  5. Web site: LAA Type Acceptance Data Sheet - TADS 400A - Sling 4 TSI. 7 June 2023. Light Aircraft Association. Light Aircraft Association. lightaircraftassociation.co.uk. 19 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629073226/http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/engineering/TADs/400A%20SLING%204%20TSI.pdf. 29 June 2022. live.
  6. Web site: Sling TSi Makes World Debut. wwwa.eaa.org. 28 January 2019.
  7. Web site: Sling TSi Makes 13.5-hour, Non-Stop Flight from California to Florida. 4 April 2019. Cook . Marc. AVweb. 3 April 2019.
  8. Web site: The Sling TSi Makes Impressive Flight To Oshkosh - Midwest Flyer Magazine. 9 March 2020.
  9. Web site: Oshkosh 2019… All Done! More Great Light-Sport Aircraft Stories (and Video). Dan Johnson. bydanjohnson.com. 10 January 2021.