Back in the spring of 2022, we had the opportunity to fly to Johannesburg South Africa to fly the brand new Sling High Wing prototype. While we were there, we met airline pilot Linda Sollars who was assembling the very first kit under the tutelage of Sling’s factory builder support program. She completed the airplane, then flew it across the Atlantic to Oshkosh, arriving during Airventure 2022.
We caught up with her today as she is displaying the same aircraft at the Sling booth during AirVenture 2023, and that smile has nothing phony about it. With 250 hours on the airframe, she is just as happy with it as the day she left Johannesburg. The speed and economy (as well as the utility) of the airplane has more than met her expectations. She is, however, lusting just a little after the new Rotax 916is. Engine (her airplane has the 915), and is considering if she should build again or just re-engine her now-comfortable mount. Either way, she is one happy pilot, and we’re looking forward to updating our readers on how the bigger engine flies on the airframe as soon as Sling USA finishes their first example in California—hopefully soon!
