Sling Family coming together

Andrew Pitman from The Airplane Factory is helping me join the dots collecting pics of each of the Sling airplanes built or being built at the moment. I have created a special page on my blog for The Sling family here. If you own or are building one, mail me some pics to add to the album. This magic shot is of Marc Gregson's Sling. James did a barrel or aileron roll in my Sling when I went to Tedderfield to take delivery and I was amazed at how sleek and smooth the Sling handles these types of manouvres, although the Sling does not yet have an aerobatic rating.

Not much weather-wise

Was pretty shitty weather in Durban this past week so I didn't get much more to do that sit in the red rocket, although I did go for a short flight down the coast before the gathering clouds drove me back. In anticipation of a weekend away next week perhaps flying to Fredenheim, we drove to Ballito and met up with my old friend Paul Lintott who runs Air Magic and makes a range of microlight headsets and helmets at his factory here as well as chocks and tie-downs for aircraft, so I'm now equipped and ready for the weekend away.

First passenger to fly licenced

My National Pilots Licence was issued in Johannesburg yesterday and picking it up from the courier this morning, and despite the less than perfect weather, it was up into the sky with my first passenger as a licenced pilot. I was confident, despite the scattered low clouds lurking around and the 15kt crosswind at Virginia Airport...

So up we went on a short flight to Coopers Lighthouse and back, passing a few clouds which disappeared below us as we climbed. It was soon all over and we were back safely on the ground. Llewellyn was a little apprehensive but I felt relaxed and calm and went through all of my pre-flight, en-route and landing checks like routine and I think befuddled Llewellyn with the ATC speak out and back to 120,6!

Great feeling. I'm free as a bird!

First day with my licence

 Today was a great day as I took to the air solo for the first time as a licenced NPL pilot. I took it easy with a short trip to Light Flight to welcome Ivor and Jack's new Sling to Durban. In the photos the new owners show off their respective planes and the silver bullet and red rocket nose each other.

Have Wings, can Fly!!

Instructor Brad handled my Flight Test and Sling Training

Today was the day. Finally the weather improved after a week of rain and clouds; so after several postponements, I was able to do my flight test today and was awarded my wings.

Brad put me through my paces and although the landings and some of the manouvres were not 100%, I can fly this little red rocket safely and can handle the exercises. Perfection will follow.. perhaps not, one is always trying to make the next landing the most perfect one. The fun is trying.

Hey, what are these clouds doing in my sky?

Thanks to Geoff, Noel and Brad - the team at Light Flight and Tasha on accounts, for the past few weeks of exhileration and training at Light Flight in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Thanks also to the team at The Airplane Factory for making this awesome little red rocket for us. What a dream to fly!

Some fun time

I was supposed to do my final flight test today, but the weather was acting up. Instead I did a solo circuit at Virginia, spent some time polishing the plane, and was joined by my friends Shawn, Mark and Michelle who cheered me up. :-)