Development of the Sling 2 commenced in 2006. The Sling is a two-seat, low wing, all metal aircraft
with tricycle landing gear made from composites. Our aircraft is powered by a 100hp Rotax 912iS
engine driving a 3-bladed Warp Drive Inc propeller. The airplane features a sliding canopy, large
fuel tanks, and standard equipment includes a “glass cockpit” style display. The aircraft has a
maximum gross weight of 700kg.
Mike Blyth began working on the design of the Sling 2 in 2006; the first prototype first flew on
November 18, 2008. A full testing programme followed, with the help of a South African military
aerodynamicist, which was completed in 2009. Blyth and partner James Pitman then flew the second
prototype around the world to accomplish a challenging circumnavigation. 310 Sling 2s had been
completed and flown by the end of 2019.
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The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft built by Piper Aircraft and designed for
flight training, air taxi, and personal use. The PA-28 family of aircraft are all-metal,
unpressurized, single-engine, piston-powered airplanes with low-mounted wings and tricycle landing
gear. They have a single door on the co-pilot side, which is entered by stepping on the wing.
In 1971, Piper released a Cherokee 140 variant called the Cherokee Cruiser 2+2. Although the plane
kept the 140 designation, it was, in fact, a 150-hp plane and was shipped mainly as a four-seat
version. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 2150lbs
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The Mooney M20 is a family of piston-powered, four-seat, propeller-driven, general aviation aircraft, all featuring low wings and tricycle gear, manufactured by the Mooney International Corporation. The M20 was the 20th design from Al Mooney, and his most successful. The series has been produced in many variations over the last 60 years. More than 11,000 aircraft in total have been produced.
In 1962 the M20C was introduced and 336 were sold that year. Also known as the Mark 21 and later the Ranger, the M20C had several improvements over the M20B, including greater deflection on control surfaces, reduced cowl flap openings for better engine cooling, improved exhaust scavenging with a Hanlon and Wilson exhaust system, new battery access door, more powerful landing light, lightweight floor, an increased gross weight of 2,575lbs, lighter empty weight, new instrument panel layout, and a higher maximum flap angle of 33 degrees.
The M20C is used for our complex training as the aircraft features a variable pitch propeller and retractable landing gear – powered by a Lycoming O-360 producing 180hp.
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Responding to complaints about the aircraft’s handling qualities; Piper introduced the PA-34-200T
Seneca II. The aircraft was certified on 18 July 1974 and introduced as a 1975 model. The new model
incorporated changes to the aircraft’s control surfaces, including enlarged and balanced ailerons,
the addition of a rudder anti-servo tab, and a stabilator bobweight. The “T” in the new model
designation reflected a change to turbocharged, six cylinder Continental TSIO-360E or EB engines for
improved performance, particularly at higher altitudes. The Seneca II retained the counter-rotating
engine arrangement of the earlier Seneca I. The Seneca II also introduced optional “club seating”
whereby the two center-row seats face rearwards and the two back seats face forward allowing more
legroom in the passenger cabin. A total of 2,588 Seneca IIs were built. Gross weights are 4,570lbs
for take-off and 4,342lbs for landing.
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The Solo Wings Windlass is a South African ultra-light trike designed and produced by Solo Wings of
Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal. The aircraft was also produced in the United States under license by Bateleur
Sky Sports of Palm Coast, Florida in the early 2000s. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 350kg.
It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem
open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. |