Sling Aircraft Sling 4

The Sling Aircraft Sling 4 is a South African kit aircraft. It is a development of the Sling 2 to accommodate four people, produced by Sling Aircraft of Johannesburg, South Africa.[1]

Sling 4
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin South Africa
Manufacturer Sling Aircraft
Introduction 2011
Developed from Sling Aircraft Sling 2
Variants Sling Aircraft Sling TSi

Design and development

The Sling 4 is an all-metal, low-wing, fixed tricycle gear kit aircraft, developed in 2011. The canopy was modified to include gull-wing doors. The aircraft has flaps with 40 degrees of travel.[2][3]

It has been estimated that building a Sling 4 requires 900-1,200 man-hours of work. The aircraft can be supplied as a kit, or built by the factory.[4]

The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) tested the Sling 4 in 2016, citing a completed base price of US$123,417, rising to $192,000 with most options.[4]

Operational history

In July 2013, a Sling 4 was flown by Mike Blyth and his son from South Africa to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States, carrying 20 hours endurance in fuel. The flight included a 14-hour leg over water.[5]

A Sling 4 kit was completed in four days by 40 workers from the factory, and flown at a 2014 South African Airshow.[4]

In a 2016 detailed review for Flying magazine, writer Marc C. Lee praised the design's controls, handling, aesthetics and load -carrying capabilities, while pointing out that it lacks cruise speed, an effective heater, has poor rubber molding and lacks a USB jack system. He also noted it cannot be taxied with the gull doors half open or cracked open.[6]

A group of about 20 South African teenagers built a Sling 4 in about three weeks in 2019, with the engine and avionics fitted by specialists. and planned to fly it to Cairo.[7]

Variants
Sling 4
Base model with 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914UL turbocharged engine, introduced in 2011.[4]
Sling TSi
Model fitting the 141 hp (105 kW) Rotax 915 iS engine, introduced in 2018, with improved aerodynamics, faster cruise speed and a slightly higher useful load.[8][9]

Specifications (2016 model Sling 4)
Sling 4

Data from AOPA and manufacterer[4][1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: three passengers
  • Length: 7.17 m (23.54 ft)
  • Wingspan: 9.9 m (32.6 ft)
  • Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
  • Wing area: 13.1 m2 (141 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 470 kg (1,036 lb)
  • Gross weight: 920 kg (2,028 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 43.32 U.S. gallons (164.0 L; 36.07 imp gal) useable
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 914UL horizontally-opposed piston aircraft engine, 86 kW (115 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Airmaster Propellers electric constant speed propeller

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn) true airspeed
  • Stall speed: 85 km/h (53 mph, 46 kn) full flaps, calibrated airspeed
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph, 135 kn) indicated airspeed
  • Range: 1,300 km (810 mi, 700 nmi) at 75% power with 45 minutes reserve
  • Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.1 m/s (800 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 70 kg/m2 (14.4 lb/sq ft)

See also
Similar aircraft

References
  1. Sling Aircraft. "Sling 4". slingaircraft.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. "The Airplane Factory Sling 4". Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. Paul Dye (June 2014). "Sling goes big". Kitplanes.
  4. Alton K. Marsh (1 December 2016). "More from less: The Sling 4". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  5. Pew, Glenn. "South Africa To Oshkosh In The Sling4 - AVweb flash Article". Avweb.com. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  6. "The Sling 4 Is Joy in a Kit". Flying magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. "South African teens attempt Cape-to-Cairo in homemade plane". BBC News. 16 June 2019.
  8. "Sling TSi Makes World Debut". wwwa.eaa.org. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  9. "Sling TSi".
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