G-TIZY (LAA 400A-15625) Sling 4 TSi

Built by Trevor Henegan and Lizzie Biggin

The attraction and reasons to build a Sling 4 TSi are well documented, and clearly Trevor and Lizzie were attracted to the type for those very reasons. But taking yourself off to South Africa to assemble a homebuilt aircraft is relatively unique.

Trevor gained his licence in 2016 and has flown the usual long in the tooth Pipers and Cessnas and was ready for his first build project. Having chosen the Sling four-seater a plan started to evolve. As it was a new type wouldn’t it be a good idea to build it on the airfield where Sling Aircraft are located then assistance wouldn’t be too far away if needed, once built? And what an adventure it would be to fly the aeroplane all the way back to the UK!

The kit was purchased as a standard flat pack kit with the exception of Quick Build fuel tanks and the contracting of Sling Aircraft to take care of the painting, otherwise it was a very conventional build simply following the manual with little support sought from the onsite factory.

Trevor and Lizzie live in a flat in Bristol, so making the aeroplane at home was not an option, especially something the size of the Sling 4 TSi, so a workshop would need to be rented. This was the catalyst for building all that way south. Additionally, as an IT contractor, Trevor can choose when to work and when to take a break for a period or indeed where to work from. Long before the rest of the country was introduced to working from home, this was normal practice for Trevor as it is for many freelance IT workers, sitting at a computer in Bristol or Johannesburg makes very little difference to getting the job done.

Lizzie is an artist and yoga teacher, and in the brave new world of Zoom, yoga classes were delivered from the hangar between pulling rivets and designing the paintwork and interior for the aeroplane.

Above G-TIZY seen here in July 2021 at Tedderfield Airpark, South Africa.

The project started in April 2019, but periods of being locked out of, and locked into, South Africa because of the pandemic have played havoc with the build schedule. At the start of 2021 Trevor and Lizzie managed to work full-time on the project through to June of that year when the aircraft was essentially finished. Testing and paperwork then brought us to the present day. Had it not been for Covid the project would have been completed a year earlier.

Was it cheaper to rent a hangar in South Africa? Yes, but with all of the delays and the extra year it’s probably been more expensive. But the cost was never the motivation for this course of action – it’s all about the adventure.

All of the test flying has now been completed as a UK-registered LAA aircraft in South Africa, the paperwork has been submitted and the Permit to Fly should have been issued by the time of reading.

Trevor and Lizzie have now returned home to the UK to prepare and plan the next part of the adventure – the trip back. No records are to be broken, the trip back is to be a pleasurable meander, taking time to explore places along the way. The route home is as yet not fully formed but is imagined to take in Madagascar, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt and then across into Europe.

So from having gained his licence just over five years ago and completed a couple of cross Channel trips, Trevor and Lizzie have now built their own very capable aircraft and plan to fly it effectively halfway around the world. I think we’d all wish them good luck on the next part of the adventure and hope that we read an account of it in Light Aviation before the end of the year.

G-YSIR (LAA 303-15446) Van’s RV-8

Built by Robin Rotherwick

The mission for G-YSIR is long distance flying.

I a m an IR rated pilot and have flown my homebuilt aircraft around the USA, Africa, up to Pakistan and many other places. G-YSIR will hopefully gain IFR clearance eventually and its built-in Mountain High oxygen system approved. During my time long distance flying, the best solution I have found is often to fly above 10,000ft because of weather, winds and high ground.

Below left What a fantastic hangar!

Below right An extremely capable Garmin-equipped panel.

G-YSIR is designed to do this, as well as getting into small grass strips. I like a well laid out uncluttered panel with everything to hand and I believe G-YSIR has this.

Including this latest one, I have built six aircraft, a CFM Shadow, a Sky Arrow G-GULP, a Glasair II G-KSIR, a Glasair III G-USSI and RV-8 G-LEMI.

It might be time to go back to model aircraft building now. n

Above Robin test flying his creation.

Right A stunning looking aircraft, Robin has painted his second RV-8 in a similar paint scheme to his first.

New Projects

If your aircraft has been featured in the New Projects list, please let Project News know of your progress at: projectnews@laa.uk.com

Cleared

If your aircraft has featured recently in the magazine and has subsequently completed its maiden flight, Project News would like to hear from you at: projectnews@laa.uk.com n Denney Kitfox MK 7 Supersport (LAA 172D-15818) 8/3/2022

Mr P Johnson, 73 South View, Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor, Co Durham, DL16 7BN n Replica DH2 (LAA 428-15820) 28/3/2022

Name & Address held by LAA Engineering n G-PAPJ Van’s RV-8 (LAA 303-15240) 28/3/2022

Mr Peter Jenkins, 104 Cassiobury Drive, Watford, WD17 3AQ n G-TIZY Sling 4 TSi (LAA 400A-15625) 5/3/2022

Name & Address held by LAA Engineering n G-AZHX Bulldog Series 100 Model 101 n Zenair CH650B (LAA 375-15819) 21/3/2022

Mr L Galloway, 37 Lulworth Drive, Leeds, W Yorkshire, LS15 8PE n Replica Maurice Farman S7 Longhorn (LAA 430-15821) 30/3/2022

Name & Address held by LAA Engineering

(BH100/126) 3/3/2022

Name & Address held by LAA Engineering n G-KJBS Sportcruiser (s/n 09SC308) 24/3/2022

Name & Address held by LAA Engineering n G-YSIR Van’s RV-8 (LAA 303-15446) 24/3/2022

Name & Address held by LAA Engineering