The Airplane Factory unveils 141hp four-seat Sling TSi

Rotax’s new 915 iS engine is at the heart of a new model just announced by South African company, The Airplane Factory (TAF). It is the Sling TSi, a four-seater with a completely redesigned exterior, cabin and instrument panel.

The Sling TSi will be officially unveiled at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event at the end of July.

Mike Blyth, founder of The Airplane Factory, said, “The brand-new Sling TSi stands out as the new standard for four-seat experimental aircraft. It outperforms most others in every way. Compared to previous models it has increased speed, increased rate of climb, longer range, increased carrying capacity, more space and greater comfort all whilst flying the best handling aircraft in its class.”

The Sling TSi is powered by a 141hp Rotax 915 iS fuel-injected turbocharged engine burning 31 lt/hr in the cruise. During test flights, the aircraft reached a maximum straight and level speed of 155ktas and has a range of 800nm, said TAF.

The aircraft’s standard equipment includes a bespoke three-blade Airmaster constant speed propeller, Garmin 10in G3X touch EFIS, Garmin G5 backup EFIS, Garmin GTR 200 COM radio, Garmin GTX 35R remote transponder, Garmin autopilot system with GMC 307 autopilot controller and PM 1000 II four-place intercom.

Changes to the airframe include:

• New flush rivet forward fuselage, wings and empennage
• New canopy design with improved doors, bonded windscreen and redesigned larger rear window area
• New dash with larger instrument panel
• New low drag airfoil shaped main gear leg
• New larger low drag wheel spats
• New cowling design
• New interior upholstery and seat design
• New vertical stabiliser fairing design.

The Airplane Factory