8 minute read
Sling High Wing
OSHKOSH MOMENTS
Johannesburg to Oshkosh and beyond
BY ROBBIE CULVER
AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
PILOTS FROM ALL over the world dream of flying to Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture. On July 27, 2022, a group of pilots completed what may be the ultimate AirVenture adventure — flying from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Oshkosh in three Sling High Wing experimental aircraft!
The flight was accomplished over 67.5 flying hours on a route that spanned Africa, the island of Barbados, Nassau in the Bahamas, then on to the continental U.S. Each aircraft was equipped with a total of about 150 gallons in multiple fuel tanks specially installed for this trip, and burned anywhere from 7.5 to 9.3 gallons per hour. The Sling High Wing cruises at about 145 knots true airspeed, and has four seats and a useful load of about 1,036 pounds.
Each aircraft is equipped with a 141-hp, turbocharged, fuel-injected Rotax 915 iS powerplant and an Airmaster three-bladed, constant-speed propeller.
The factory development prototype tail number ZU-SHW (for Sling High Wing) was flown by James Pitman and Matt Cohen. Cohen had flown only 25 hours past his private certificate at the start of the journey. The first customer-owned aircraft, N915HW, was flown by Linda Sollars, and the first taildragger was flown by JP Schulze with William Stiles as co-pilot.
Sollars said she had been “waiting for someone to make this airplane” and described the aircraft as a “spectacular piece of machinery!” She built the aircraft in Johannesburg, but is based as an airline pilot in the U.S.
ZU-SHW had been modified for Cohen, as he had lost the use of his legs some years ago following a motorcycle accident. When asked about the adventure, Cohen said, “What an incredible experience with such great people! I can’t explain.” This is Cohen’s first time to Oshkosh, and the arrival may be hard to beat. Cohen described the journey as “the best experience of my life.” He added that during the flight, he told Pitman that this was “a most incredible life — I am just happy to be where I am!”
Schulze — no stranger to long-distance flying, as he had completed an aroundthe-world flight in a Cessna 210 — described the journey as a “wild ride.” An all-woman crew completed the final legs from Nassau to Oshkosh, with Sollars being joined in 915HW by Jessica Toddun.
PHOTO BY ROBBIE CULVER PHOTO BY ROBBIE CULVER
PHOTO BY ROBBIE CULVER
PHOTO BY ROBBIE CULVER
The longest of the eight legs was on Saturday, July 23, from Praia, Cape Verde, to Barbados, a distance of 2,101 nm. Schulze had finished his kitbuilt taildragger 14 days before arriving in Oshkosh, and spent the first two legs confirming performance data to ensure he could cross the Atlantic.
Upon arriving at AirVenture Oshkosh, a large contingent of South African supporters and many AirVenture attendees who had been following the trip on social media greeted the group as they taxied into homebuilt parking. Sling Aircraft is located on “Sling Island” in Booth 648 in the Homebuilt Aircraft Display area at AirVenture.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
ONE WEEK WONDER UPDATE
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK SCHAIBLE
WE SAW THE completion of some major items on the One Week Wonder build midweek! The general public pulled a lot of rivets on the Waiex-B model, riveting the stabilizers, ruddervators, wings, flaps, and even small parts like the seat pan. Then each participant got to sign their name next to their rivet.
Checkmark stickers added to the big back wall in the One Week Wonder tent included completion of the stabilizer assembly, ruddervators, rudder, turtledeck installation, fuselage tail cone assembly, flap assemblies, and the canopy frame. The forward fuselage took shape, and we anticipated having a finished fuselage box structure on Thursday. We were a few rivets away from having finished wings as well. Other goals included engine mount and landing gear installation, wing rigging, tail installation and maybe even windshield and canopy installation.
Wednesday saw our largest volunteer head count of the week as we tried to stick with preferences for days and shifts that volunteers signed up for. On Thursday and Friday, our need for volunteers will likely be reduced because we can only get so many bodies around the aircraft.
Thank you
to all the sponsors of EAA’s One Week Wonder project
The One Week Wonder project is located at Four Corners across from the EAA Merchandise Center. Stop by, pull a rivet, and be part of the experience!
Presented by: Supported by:
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ONE ENGINE FAILURE SHOULD INSPIRE A SAFER ENGINE. FOUR OF THEM INSPIRED THIS ONE.
In his time as a pilot, our founder survived four engine-out emergency landings. Came time to design his legacy engine, it stood to reason it would have to be safe and reliable. But none of his missions fully prepared him, and us, for the challenges of certifying the first new aircraft piston-engine design since 1956. Today, we are happy to announce, after 16 years of development, our journey is reaching its destination. So, what exactly can you expect? For starters, rather than a traditional four stroke, the DeltaHawk DH180’s highly efficient supercharged and turbocharged design makes power twice as fast and produces higher torque, all while burning significantly less fuel than other engines. There are some 40% fewer parts. The induction system, fuel system, and cooling system are simple, robust and reliable without the addition of endlessly complex sensors and electronics. And our engines will still run even in the event of a total electrical failure. All this, fueled by a readily available global supply of Jet A fuel versus scarce, environmentally hazardous, leadbased aviation gasoline.
The new DeltaHawk DH180 is nearing FAA certification and we expect to begin deliveries in the first half of next year. You’ll no doubt have questions about specifications, pricing, and availability, and we’ll reveal the answers at certification. We think you’ll like what you hear.
For now, please visit deltahawk.com to learn more. Or simply scan the QR code to be notified of our latest updates as they happen.
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Visit the EAA AeroEducate™ Center in Aviation Gateway Park to learn how to engage students in grades K-12 with the world of aviation.
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