A cool bit of sport aviation history was made recently as the first US-built Sling TSi was signed off for flight test in Southern California after eight months of hard work by its owner at The Airplane Factory’s Sling Accelerated Builder Assist Program (SABAP) facility.
Builder Algen Albritten is still celebrating the first flight of his new Sling TSi, powered by the Rotax 915iS, some two weeks later, and with over 40 hours logged in the bright orange, black, and white four-place plane.
The first of a new generation of Sling FA4P (Fast/Affordable/4-Place) aircraft, the 141-hp flying machine boasts an average cruise speed of up to 155 kts at common traveling altitudes, with some 1,000 pounds of useful loads, according to company officials
A serial entrepreneur, Albritten, 32, of Jacksonville, Florida, took up temporary residence in California where he worked on his Sling TSi from its delivery in February 2019, until its sign-off by an FAA DAR in early October.
Albritten is a new pilot, starting first with ultralights. When he got the sport plane bug big-time, he spent months studying the industry before deciding on the TSi once the 141-hp 915is bird became available, company officials noted.
In the two weeks since its sign-off, Albritten and TAF’s Jean D’Assonville have flown off the required 40 hours of test flight time, putting it through its paces, and boosting Algen’s confidence in his handiwork — as well as boosting Algen’s total flight hours to nearly 100 hours.
“I wanted something rugged and easy to fly,” he said. “I’m a new pilot, so I wanted an airplane that would be simple and stable to fly, as well as get me where I wanted to go. The TSi is already meeting my expectations. I can’t wait to fly it home in the next week or so.”
The very first US-registered Sling TSi, owned by TAF Partner Wayne Toddun, made the journey to Florida for the 2019 SUN ‘n FUN fly-in in what turned out to be a truly tough 14 hour non-stop flight through some miserable weather and conditions. Later in the year, another non-stop from California to Oshkosh allowed the TSi to demonstrate a max altitude of 27,000-feet enroute, according to company officials.
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As a pilot and a current owner of sling2, i couldn’t be more prouder to say that buying my aircraft from this company is one of the best decision my wife and i have ever made. Its been more than 3 years of owning this airplane and i am still been treated like a family member. The co-owners Wayne, Matt and Jean D’Assonville are the best people that stands behind their products and very fine to work with ever!!. For most people especially pilots out there, if it isn’t a little scary, it probably isn’t worth your time. When you take the time to dissect your cost factors, it’s probably the best choice in compare and contrast with other brands of aircrafts like Cessna172, Cirrus Sr 20 just to name few, you will see that TSi is by far a better choice for the money. This is just my 2 cents
As a pilot and a current owner of sling2, i couldn’t be more prouder to say that buying my aircraft from this company is one of the best decision my wife and i have ever made. Its been more than 3 years of owning this airplane and i am still been treated like a family member. The co-owners Wayne, Matt and Jean D’Assonville are the best people that stands behind their products and very fine to work with ever!!. For most people especially pilots out there, if it isn’t a little scary, it probably isn’t worth your time. When you take the time to dissect your cost factors, it’s probably the best choice in compare and contrast with other brands of aircrafts like Cessna172, Cirrus Sr 20 just to name few, you will see that TSi is by far a better choice for the money. This is just my 2 cents opinion.
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Nice paint job. I love that the builder dressed in matching colors for the photo.
That’s awesome! It is a beautiful airplane, well done!