Sling 4 Around the World

[jpitman]

As you are probably aware we recently completed testing the Sling 4 Prototype and have the authority to fly. Tomorrow morning, the 6th of August at 10h00 myself and Jean, will depart from Tedderfield Airpark to fly east around the world to Los Angeles, where we have a company that distributes Slings into the north American market (http://www.airplanefactory.com). Mike will join us in LA and complete the circumnavigation of the globe with Jean, flying across the Atlantic via the Azores to Dakar and on down the west coast of Africa while I then head back home on a commercial flight .

There will be full reports daily on our website (http://www.airplanefactory.co.za) with a constant satellite tracking feed provided by IndigoSat that allows you to track our progress live time as well as hourly reports on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TheAirplaneFactory)

For those who can make it please come to Tedderfield Airpark to bid farewell to us at 09h30 on Saturday and those who want to, can fly with the Sling 4 down to Virginia for lunch and then after that to King Shaka international where we will clear customs and embark on the first long leg to Reunion taking off at 4 pm.

Further updates to follow...

[louisj]

Here goes my data bundles

[Captain Durango]

Watch the wx for FAVG tomorrow!

[Captain Durango]

Ok, it's Friday night, and I have license to comment....

In the spirit of UBUNTU....why don't TAF take the Adept engine in it's current format, stick it in a crate.....put said crate in the back of ZU-TAF when they are there tomorrow....and take it around the world with them.

In this way we are guaranteed not 1, but 2 proudly South African products to succesfully circumnavigate the globe.

Jussayin'

H..C..D

[ST Man]

I just looked at pics of first flight.
Congrads boys BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO A BANKED TURN SO LOW OF THE GROUND ON THE FIRST FLIGHT!!!!!??????
AG NO MAN!!!!!

[jimdavis]

I just looked at pics of first flight.
Congrads boys BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO A BANKED TURN SO LOW OF THE GROUND ON THE FIRST FLIGHT!!!!!??????
AG NO MAN!!!!!

Come on ST Man, I think that is a huge insult - these guys don't get this far without knowing a bit about aviation.

They obviously assessed the aircraft's handling at a safe height before doing that.

JIm

[jpitman]

Breaking news - Sadly the Sling will not be leaving for Reunion today. It has been necessary to delay departure by another day because of IFR conditions in Durban and also becuase of a small leak in one of the 'B' accessary fuel tanks. Right now we're busy removing the adjacent 'A' tank so as to access the 'B' tank to take a good look. We'll fix that today, watch the weather and hopefully depart tomorrow.

The weather looks better from midday Sunday. More in the next few hours. Anyone who planned to come out today to see us off is welcome to nevertheless come around and pass on best wishes.

[Warbirdsfly]

Was nice seeing the plane and meeting the team this morning. A crowd had gathered at 9:30 for the big moment.

Good luck tomorrow guys

[Warbirdsfly]

One more

[Mags]

Hi Guys

Just spoke to James a couple of minutes ago and it seems like it is all set for tomorrow afternoon at three.Going to Lanseria for customs and then off to Reunion.See all you avcomers their tomorrow.


Michiel

[jpitman]

Saturday 6 August 2011 – Problem solved, potent weather tools and a new departure date

First things first – thanks to Sias Dreyer for setting up a magnificent weather tool for The Airplane Factory Aviators to use in the circumnavigation. More about that in a minute.

Sadly I failed to take a photograph of the left wing main tank off (perhaps someone else out there has one?), but to get at the B tank that was leaking it was necessary to drill out the rivets which hold the A tank in place. That was swiftly done by Mike, Jean, Jan and Buto, and the leak (actually a loose piece of hardware on the tank wall) was fixed in seconds. By 10h30 the tank had been re-riveted on and the aeroplane is again ready to fly. Bad weather off the coast, however, makes it wiser to leave tomorrow.

There was a great turnout for the departure – thanks to all supporters. Sadly most left a little early to see the Beamish family depart in style in an RV 7A and an Extra 300 – what a privilege!

Then after a Wimpy breakfast care of Jean’s sister, Hazel, we had a quick sit down to re-plan departure. Meanwhile Sias Dreyer, a veteran advice giver from 2009 circumnavigation, quickly walked the pilots through the weather webpage he’s created especially for the journey. Phoowaar, the web is powerful machine! The only way to really understand this thing is to have a look at it – see http://www.vfrplanner.co.za/mwx/sling.html . Choose the leg, choose the features you want to see, choose the time (over the next 5 days at 3 hour intervals!) and choose wind levels you want to see.

A good look at the three screen shots below shows how we’ve selected our departure time. Shot 1 is 0300Z Sunday morning. The cold front and associated cloud off the east coast are clear. (And a look at earlier and later times shows that they’re moving north). By shot 2, 1200Z Sunday (2pm local time), they’re enough north to avoid the most of them even departing from Johannesburg rather than Durban. Winds are also from behind, although the ice level is at 9 000 feet just behind the front, so care will have to be taken with that. The flight will take about 14 to 15 hours, so any departure from Johannesburg before about 16h00 local time will result in arrival before sunrise on Monday.

Shot 3, 2100Z (11pm local) on Sunday night shows a substantial cell on the south west coast of Madagascar. In Madagascar that’s midnight, so we won’t be able to see well. That means we’re going to route about 20 to 30km south of the island, rather than direct. By 0300Z, landing time at Reunion, the cell is still at Madagascar (so it’s not worth waiting it out by leaving a few hours later), and there’s a bit of cloud at Reunion, but nothing particularly heavy.

If you’re interested you could check out the hurricane currently over the China coast but looking at the Phuket to Songshan leg. Predicted movement can be tracked by checking progressive times.

Anyhow, all other things being equal, we’ll now depart Tedderfield at 15h00 Sunday, filled with fuel and packed to go, for Lanseria. There we’ll clear customs and depart for Reunion, direct, at 16h00 local time. I’m afraid we’ve decided to skip the Durban stop in the interests of simplicity.

James, Jean and Mike

PS - I haven't had time to respond to the queries regarding Sling 4 MAUW, structural requirements and so on. The post regarding required safety margins, ferry flight considerations and so on captures a bunch of the considerations. The wings are very strong - often it's tail strength that's as, or more, important. We'll be flying at 1 100kg on each leg during this trip. There's no question the aeroplane will also perform satisfactorily (though much closer to the limits) even at 1 250kg, for example. But you wouldn't want to be flying like that every day of your life. We'll definitely report back on performance during exceptional flights as we go.

Shaka to Reunion - 03Z 070811.jpg

Shaka - Reunion 12Z 070811.jpg

Shaka to Reunion - 21Z 070811.jpg

Shaka to Reunion - 03Z 080811.jpg

[Wingnutter]

I just looked at pics of first flight.
Congrads boys BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO A BANKED TURN SO LOW OF THE GROUND ON THE FIRST FLIGHT!!!!!??????
AG NO MAN!!!!!

I tell you what, when you have designed and built a couple of aircraft and flown around the world a few times, why don't you answer that one?

[ST Man]

I just looked at pics of first flight.
Congrads boys BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO A BANKED TURN SO LOW OF THE GROUND ON THE FIRST FLIGHT!!!!!??????
AG NO MAN!!!!!

I tell you what, when you have designed and built a couple of aircraft and flown around the world a few times, why don't you answer that one?

I like the plane, I like the fact that it South African and I would like to give my full support to Sling. Will even consider buying one BUT
I restore sportscars and I would finish one and drive it in the street in front of my house a few times get it back on lift and check it over. Then I will go for a longer trip and run heat through every thing very slow and carefull. Go back and check it. I have done this for years I have won a racing championship and multiple concourses.I just say theres no reason to take risks it if not neccesary.

and about aviation well ill keep that to myself....

[Chopper One]

Mr ST,

They don't restore sportscars, they build planes and have done so for years. I am sure that they also do the same type of checks that you do. And they go back and check it, so I do not think it is fair to make such a comment based on the pictures, unless of course you had it first hand from them.

To Mike & James, safe flying, you make us proud, and you've even got me hooked onto fixed wing. May this be more awesome than the previous adventure and may there be abundant sales all over the world.

God Bless

[Burner]

I just looked at pics of first flight.
Congrads boys BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO A BANKED TURN SO LOW OF THE GROUND ON THE FIRST FLIGHT!!!!!??????
AG NO MAN!!!!!

I tell you what, when you have designed and built a couple of aircraft and flown around the world a few times, why don't you answer that one?

I like the plane, I like the fact that it South African and I would like to give my full support to Sling. Will even consider buying one BUT
I restore sportscars and I would finish one and drive it in the street in front of my house a few times get it back on lift and check it over. Then I will go for a longer trip and run heat through every thing very slow and carefull. Go back and check it. I have done this for years I have won a racing championship and multiple concourses.I just say theres no reason to take risks it if not neccesary.

and about aviation well ill keep that to myself....

How many hours of test flying, and initial post production light composite test flying do you have? I can tell you that Jean has probably flown more initial test flights on NTCA/LSA than probably anybody in the country. Having done numerous test flights alongside Jean, I can tell you that he is methodical, thorough, and above all safe when it comes to rest flying.

If he did, what you term as a low level turn on the initial test flight, it was because in his extensive experience in test flying these sorts of aeries, he deemed it safe to do so.

James, Mike, and Jean, all the best for the trip!