Sling 2 Kit – A Real Airplane in a Box

Pure PERFORMANCE | Absolute QUALITY

The Sling 2 Kit is The Airplane Factory’s solution for the Do-It-Yourself-er. Few things are more intimate and adventurous than building and flying your very own airplane and The Airplane Factory believes that it is imperative for any Sport Aircraft manufacturer to offer a kit version. This allows all the home-builders out there the freedom to really understand and get involved in the process of creating a flying machine! If you’re the type that wants to know the ins-and-outs of your aircraft you can build your own and truly get a feel for her. And when you eventually fly her, the experience will be that much more rewarding as you have accomplished a great deal. The Sling 2 Kit is identical to the Sling LSA and upholds the same performance qualities as its S-LSA ASTM-standard sister aircaft. It can handle almost all types of flying but really excels as a performance handling, cross-country aircraft with its completely harmonized controls and 800+ nm range. The kit allows the builder a bit more freedom in the assembly and registration processes. The kit can be certified as an E-LSA or Experimental-Amateur Built depending on the owner’s needs and desires. Each kit comes with a full set of instructions and builder’s log for progress reporting and record keeping. If you want to feel like a King, build a Sling!   Register as:

E-LSA or E-AB (1,320 lb max gross)*

*Can be flown with the Sport Pilot Rating

Experimental-Amateur Built (1,540 lb max gross)

Available as Standard or Quickbuild Kit

Quickbuild Kit (FAA audited 51% kit) saves 400 hours

Well-Engineered, Proven Aluminum Construction

With pulled rivets for ease of assembly (solid rivets used in spar and spar box (completed at factory))

The Airplane…

Design and Construction

The Airplane Factory is proud to be the producer of high quality, high performance Light Sport and Experimental Aircraft. We take every step to ensure that each aircraft produced, whether ready-to-fly or kit version, is held to the highest of standards, above and beyond that required by ASTM or the FAA. The reason for such meticulous design and construction is because most of us here at The Airplane Factory are pilots. We know and understand the concerns of our fellow aviators and we would never build anything we did not 100% believe in or endorse. Every new design prototype is tested to its ultimate breaking points to ensure maximum reliability and durability, not too mention the extraordinary efforts The Airplane Factory goes to in order to make sure handling and stability are in the upper echelon of all airplanes on the market today. In addition, each kit we produce is inspected and assured to be top quality before being shipped to the buyer. The Airplane Factory founders feel that the Sling airplanes and kits are the best on the market and believe that you will soon agree!

The design was conceived in 2006 as a result of Mike Blyth’s desire for a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) that had better performance and handling characteristics than anything on the market. This vision would be an airplane capable of acting as either an exciting pleasure craft or a forgiving trainer. Mike decided to go with a stressed skin, riveted design for its proven technology, durability, and ease of construction. He also wanted to make an all-metal, low wing airplane that would have excellent visibility, sporty handling, and a sleek and sexy exterior.

The aluminum he chose was 6061 Aluminum Alloy. To be more specific, 6061-T6 Aluminum, a tempered grade that has been heat-treated and aged to add a significant strength element. The Sling uses all traditional AN Hardware in its construction, meaning it lives up to the US Air Force/Navy Standards. Solid rivets are used on the main spars, which are standard aviation type spars with our own unique design for added strength, and pull rivets for the rest of the structure, making construction a bit easier while maintaining structural integrity. The Airplane Factory uses high quality rivets manufactured in Germany that are well known throughout the aircraft manufacturing industry. Composites are also used throughout the airplane where appropriate, for example, cowling, fairings at the wing roots and the intersection between the vertical stabilizer and the fuselage, wheel pants, as well as the instrument panel and canopy structure. For reduced weight but added strength, the landing gear is also composite construction which can take a heavy amount of stress regularly without issues.

The standard assembly process for each Sling begins with the different aircraft subsections being assembled. After the Empennage, Wings, and Fuselage are ready they are sent off to receive their Primer and Epoxy painting. Concurrently, the engine, electronics and canopy are fitted. When the parts come back from painting the wings and empennage are bolted to the fuselage and tested. Lastly, the fairings are put in place and the aircraft is ready for testing.

Each part of the aircraft manufacturing process has a full set of quality control procedures that The Airplane Factory directors personally oversee. Each part part is carefully inspected and all metal is punched precisely by our CNC machines. The quality assurance managers then inspect the entirety of the shipment before sending out to the buyer.

Handling

The Sling’s flying characteristics make for a perfectly coordinated, highly responsive control setup. This gives her the distinct qualities of a fighter jet aircraft, while not being overly sensitive. The Sling is a Pilot’s Airplane. You fly it for the love of it. Aviation writers have called it “the best-handling LSA” and said that it “handles like a fighter”.

Looks

Ramp appeal. You want your airplane to look as good as it flies. The Sling has bold, sexy, aggressive lines. You’ll feel proud stepping out of it.

Glass Cockpit

The Sling’s avionics options make for a very unique, state-of-the-art flying experience, at a fraction of the cost of our certified competitors. Full integrated EFIS with autopilot, radio and transponder with 2020-compliant ADS-B is available with live weather and traffic alerts in the cockpit. No more flying blind.

Sliding Bubble Canopy

The Sliding Bubble Canopy offers great visibility and cool taxiing in summer. Never break a sweat during taxi again. The wide cockpit, excellent all around view and substantial luggage capacity make the Sling a very comfortable, yet versatile aircraft.

Strength

The Sling’s airframe strength and durability means that she won’t break easily and, if you treat her right, she’ll last you for the rest of your life. Easily stands up to the rigors of flight training. Its aluminum construction makes for ease and consistency of construction, while offering proven strength and a longer lifespan than some of our composite rivals.

Safety

The sturdy construction of the Sling make it an aircraft able to go the distance, reliably. The incorporation, by design, of a ballistic parachute, makes the Sling an exceptionally safe aircraft to fly. The use of high quality components throughout gives you, the owner, the peace of mind that you deserve, when making this kind of investment.

Performance

The Sling’s performance matches and outdoes almost every aircraft in its class, while being highly economical and fun to fly.

600 fpm climb (1,540 lbs)

700 fpm climb (1,320 lbs)

115 kts

Economy

With an operating cost of around $50/hr and burning just 3.8GPH of car gas (912iS model), the Sling is the efficient, economical cruiser of the modern age.

3.8 GPH

ECO Mode

Sling LSA Videos

Detailed, Industry-Leading Assembly Manual with CAD Exploded Diagrams

Specifications

Sling 2 Performance and Specifications51% Kit
Cruise Speed:115 kts
Fuel Burn:3.8 gph
Rate of Climb:700 fpm (1,320 lbs)
Rate of Climb:600 fpm (1,540 lbs)
Max Range:850+ nm
Fuel Capacity:39.6 gals
Max Gross:1,540 lbs
Empty Weight:850 lbs
Useful Load:690 lbs
Wing Span:30.1’
Cockpit Width:16.5"
Engine Type:912 ULS/iS or 914
Power:100 HP or 115 HP

Basic Pricing Estimate

Prices current as of March 5, 2024, and subject to change without notice.

Sling 2 Kit (2 seats)TailWingsFuselageUndercarriageCanopy/Instr./FinishingTotal - All KitsPackage PriceEngine/Avionics/Prop Total
Kit Sub-Assemblies$4,370$15,240$16,110$9,620$9,490$54,830$53,733$88,995$142,728
Kit Prices exclude shipping from CAEstimate
Engine Rotax 912ULS (Rotax 912iS Optional)
Max Gross weight: 1,320lbs (LSA) or 1,540lbs
Ballistic Parachute Optional
Build Time approx:1200 hrsWith quickbuildTotal - Quickbuild
Quickbuild Kit Option(saves ~400 hours):$24,995$78,728$167,723

How to Order

  • Sling Kits can be ordered as a complete kit or as individual kits. The empennage kit is normally the first kit ordered if ordering kit by kit. It is inexpensive, fairly small, quick to build, and the assembly of the tail kit uses the same skills you will use throughout the build. After putting this together over a weekend, you will have a fairly good idea of what you are in for with the rest of the kit!
  • Shipping is quoted on a per shipment basis

Whenever possible, all kits in stock in California and ready to go! We are ready to help you build the airplane of your dreams. Contact Us now to place an order

Note: Due to high demand there may be lead times on some kits.

Quickbuild Kit Option

Get it done quick (51% kit)