Project Update: Building a Sling 2 Experimental Aircraft

Building a Sling 2 Experimental Aircraft First Project: Building my metal workshop with Mary Ann from a custom kit . Finished September 2019 For me, the Sling 2 was love at first sight. I took a trip to TAF USA in Torrance, CA. The goal was to test fly a Sling 2 with the Rotax 912iS engine.

PROJECT UPDATE (continued)

I ordered my quick-build kit in July and I’ve had my empennage sub-kit since August, but had yet to pull my first rivet. I’m finding that it’s taking many hours for research to learn enough background information to make confident choices that will set the direction and metrics I will endeavor to satisfy as I build. I think that’s part of the fun.

In December I was privileged to have a visit from a fellow EAA Chapter 430 member and Technical Counselor – Harry Cook. Together we reviewed my build environment and progress. I was pleased to receive positive feedback relative to my understanding of what I’m doing and workmanship involving the vertical stabilizer to the point immediately prior to covering.

The horizontal stabilizer assembly started by fitting together 2 sections of rear spar channel with the center section sandwiched by doubler plates – front and back.

I’ve been tracking the progress of my shipping container since it left the factory at Tedderfield Airpark, near Johannesburg, South Africa on December 1. The container found its way aboard the Xin Ri Zhao and sailed from Durban on December 24, bound for Singapore where the container was transferred to the YM Up-surgence. The Upsurgence made several port calls in Thailand, Vietnam and China. Finally, on January 26 YM Upsurgence departed Yantian, China. Next stop – Tacoma, Washington USA! It looked like it would enter the Strait of Juan de Fuca during daylight hours on February 10. Mary Ann and I drove to nearby Ediz Hook in Port Angles, WA and had a perfect view of the strait. There she was!

After nearly two months from the day she left the factory, my Sling 2 quick-build kit found its way to my shop. The fuselage, two wing panels and four wooden crates were sequenced out of the container.

PROJECT UPDATE (continued)

This is a brief summary of Richard’s project. You can view details of each step in the building process on his website: https://sling2.slantalpha.com/ You can also contact him at rhowelljr@hotmail.com with questions or plan a visit to view his Sling 2.

I will continue to update his project in the newsletter.

If you have a building or refurbishing project and would like to see it featured in the newsletter, please contact me at newsletter@eaa430.org (Editor: Skip Brown)