The South African Kit Airplane Company Known As The ‘Airplane Factory’ Continues To Expand In The U.S.

Last week,The Airplane Factory USA received an Airworthiness Certificate for the first Sling 4 built in the U.S. Sling has a number of their 2-place kit-built LSA’s certificated and flying in the U.S., and now their first certificated 4 place kit built airplane has been added to the fleet.

The Sling 4 was designed with the aim of placing a practical and lightweight, 4-place experimental aircraft on the market, a niche not previously filled. The plane is basically an elongated version of its sibling, the Sling LSA, however it uses the more powerful Rotax 914 UL Turbocharged engine and has gullwing doors instead of a sliding canopy. It can comfortably seat 4 people, carry baggage, and still cruise efficiently.

The Airplane factory decided to go with aluminum construction for ease of maintenance and construction as well as its proven strength and lifetime qualities. The Rotax 914 UL turbocharged engine was chosen because it is capable of putting out sea-level power at altitude while burning less than 6 gallons per hour. The sling 4 can carry for adults, their baggage, and 6 hours of fuel while cruising at 120 knots.

(Image of the just-certificated Sling 4 provided by the Airplane Factory USA)

FMI: www.airplanefactory.com