VH-XHD

VH-XHD is a Sling Aircraft Sling 2, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by HOWSON, Desmond James. SkyMeter has tracked 80 flights totalling 70 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is YMIG to YRBN. Service window in our records spans 434 days. Of those flights, 50 (62.5%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Sling Aircraft Sling 2 has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 lb, light wake category.

About the Sling Aircraft Sling 2

The Sling 2 is a South African light sport aircraft designed by The Airplane Factory and manufactured by Sling Aircraft, first introduced in 2009. Built primarily as a kit aircraft for amateur construction, it represents a modern approach to affordable recreational flying with its all-metal construction, side-by-side seating, and efficient Rotax 912 powerplant. The design emphasizes practical cross-country capability within the LSA category, offering a cruise speed around 115 knots and a range exceeding 600 nautical miles, impressive performance for an aircraft that meets the 1,320-pound maximum takeoff weight limit.

What distinguishes the Sling 2 in the LSA market is its conventional all-aluminum semi-monocoque construction rather than composite materials, making it more familiar to builders with traditional aircraft experience and potentially easier to repair in the field. The aircraft features a low wing configuration, tricycle landing gear, and a spacious cockpit with excellent visibility. Its handling characteristics are docile enough for student pilots while remaining engaging for experienced aviators, and the type has gained popularity in flight training operations, particularly in South Africa, Australia, and the United States.

The Sling 2's operating envelope includes a never-exceed speed of 145 knots and a stall speed as low as 39 knots in landing configuration, providing a comfortable margin for short-field operations. Its 1,320-pound gross weight positions it at the upper limit of the LSA category, maximizing useful load for fuel and passengers. The type has proven reliable in diverse climates and has spawned a family of related designs including the four-seat Sling 4 and the high-wing Sling HW. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.