Sling Pilots Forum

Can anyone give me the full rundown of procurement options for the TSi? I’m wondering if there is an option for a fully factory built plane to avoid the EAB designation. The closest I’ve seen is the quick build kit with build assist.

Options I’m aware of. Please let me know if there are labor hour estimates for each of these

- Kit purchase

- Quick build kit purchase

- Quick Build kit with build assist (Torrance)

- Fully Sling built??? (Torrance or SA)

I've been wondering about the mechanism for selling fully built planes, too. The 2-seat trainers they sell are S-LSA's, but the TSi has too many seats to qualify as a LSA, so I don't see how they can sell them (in the USA) as anything but a normal category, fully certified aircraft, and as far as I'm aware it is not. Looking at the airplanefactory web site, I only see the LSA as a factory-built.

I think I saw a video where they talked about fully building TSi's though. Maybe the rules in South Africa are different?

The rules in many countries are different. They build a lot of planes at the factory, all sold in countries where the certification rules are different.

If you want to register a TSi in the US, it has to be E-AB.

Try talking to Doug at CAB https://www.customaircraftbuilders.com/

I'm very skeptical of these "builder assist" programs that seem to advertise that they will build the plane for you:

Don't have time? We’ll keep your project moving even when you’re not at our facility.

Don't want to build alone? Come and experience building with our team.

How is this legal? These build-assist people are getting paid to work on your plane, they are not building "for recreation and education". A quick-build kit must already be pretty close to the 51% rule, so how much "assistance" can these people give without risking the certification as Amateur-Built? If they were just there to provide guidance and help you along, it would be one thing, but when they clearly say they'll keep building even if you're not even there it seems clearly in violation of the spirit and also, seems likely to me, the letter of the EAB rules?

Not sure if you've seen this FAQ from the EAA at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-buildi ... rcent-rule but I suspect it may answer many of your questions. With the 51% there are certain items you have to do and there is a weight on each of those items. It's been a while since I've read through the process, but it's all laid out in B&W.

When you hire a build assist they accomplish the things you may/may not want to do as long as you hit the points you must do.