By Garth Calitz

Few modern aviation stories are as captivating or as uniquely South African as the tale of Sling Aircraft. Over the last two decades, this Johannesburg-based manufacturer has evolved from a modest startup into a highly esteemed name in the international light aircraft industry. Their journey is marked by bold flights, continuous innovation and a steadfast conviction that high-performance aircraft can be affordable, accessible and elegantly designed.

The journey starts in the mid-2000s with seasoned adventurer and microlight innovator Mike Blyth. His extensive experience in long-distance flying led him to believe that the ideal light aircraft had yet to be created. Blyth imagined an aircraft that was durable, easy to operate, comfortable, cost-effective and capable of significant cross-country performance. It needed to attract pilots seeking more than just a weekend hobby, but without the expensive price tag usually linked with general aviation.

By 2005, Blyth had assembled a small design team and had begun shaping what would become the company’s first aircraft. Funding was tight and the early stages were driven largely by his own investment and determination. The turning point came in 2007 when he secured a development grant from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and joined forces with fellow adventurer and businessman James Pitman, who became a 50% partner. Together, they formed what was then called The Airplane Factory, a name that captured both the hands-on ethos and the ambition of the project.

After years dedicated to design, prototyping, testing and refinement, the Sling 2 took its inaugural flight on 18 November 2008. This aircraft featured a sleek, low-wing, all-metal design with two seats and was powered by Rotax engines, targeting the rapidly growing Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and experimental markets. Right from the outset, the Sling 2 was notable for its stable handling, ergonomic cabin, extended fuel range, and durable South African craftsmanship.

Mike and James knew that to truly earn international credibility, they needed to do something dramatic. And they did. In 2009, the two co-founders embarked on a journey in a prototype Sling 2 to fly around the world, an extremely ambitious feat undertaken by much larger and costlier aircraft with much trepidation.

Over the course of 40 days and more than 240 hours of flight, they traversed oceans, mountain ranges and continents, frequently spending over 20 consecutive hours in the cockpit. Their triumphant return sparked global interest, demonstrating the aircraft's capabilities and propelling the brand into the international limelight.

The adventure also cemented the company’s culture: bold, adventurous and unafraid to demonstrate confidence in its own engineering.

After the success of the Sling 2, feedback from customers and international demand encouraged the company to develop a more versatile aircraft. This led to the 2011 introduction of the Sling 4, a larger four-seat model that maintained the handling characteristics of its predecessor while providing increased load capacity and enhanced touring capability.

In July of 2011, James once again circumnavigated the planet, this time in the very newly built Sling 4 prototype and accompanied by Jean D'Assonville, who now heads the Sling Academy in the USA. Just for giggles, they decided to head off towards the West, opposite direction to the previous adventure. Mike met up with them in the U.S. and flew the remainder of the trip with Jean.

The Sling 4 quickly became a favourite among amateur builders, especially in the thriving U.S. experimental aviation community. Its blend of performance, practicality and affordability carved out a unique niche between two-seat LSAs and traditional certified GA aircraft.

By this point, the company had established itself at its now famous headquarters at Tedderfield Airpark in Johannesburg and increased production to accommodate the rising global demand.

A major milestone came in 2012, when the first Sling LSA received an FAA Special Light-Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) Airworthiness Certificate in the United States. This opened the door to the world’s largest sport-aviation market and led to the establishment of The Airplane Factory USA, which remains a key distribution and support hub for American owners and builders.

By the mid-2010s, Sling Aircraft had firmly established itself as an international player. Aircraft numbers climbed steadily; manufacturing shifted to more advanced CNC and CAD-based processes; and the brand earned a reputation for quality, support and reliability. By the end of its first decade, more than 350 Sling aircraft were flying globally.

Sling, known for not relying on previous achievements, unveiled a significant advancement in 2018: the Sling TSi. This new-generation four-seater boasted a sleeker, low-drag airframe, enhanced aerodynamics, and the robust turbocharged Rotax 915 iS engine. It was faster, more efficient, and more capable than earlier models, earning widespread acclaim as a breakthrough in the experimental/touring category.

A significant change in design philosophy followed with the introduction of a high-wing model. To address global demand for improved visibility, ground clearance, accessibility and bush flying capability, Sling introduced the Sling High Wing (HW). Its inaugural flight in 2020 represented a major milestone, expanding into new markets and catering to pilots who favoured a more robust, STOL-friendly setup, while still offering Sling’s signature comfort and modern avionics.

A South African Success Story

Today, with the delivery of thousands of kits and factory-built aircraft across the globe, Sling Aircraft is recognised as one of South Africa's most successful aviation stories. Their aircraft have traversed oceans, reached remote parts of the world and gained admiration from pilots on every continent. Despite this success, the company stays committed to its core values: practical design, pilot-friendly handling, quality engineering and a spirit of adventure.

Two decades on, Sling Aircraft has not only built aircraft but it has built a global community of builders, pilots, adventurers and dreamers. And the journey, much like the company’s earliest around-the-world flights, is far from over. May they continue "Taking you Places" for many years to come.