N248BW

N248BW is a Sling TSi, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by MERTKE DONALD G. SkyMeter has tracked 232 flights totalling 148 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 2 callsigns. The most frequent segment is 75FL to KAAF. Service window in our records spans 356 days. Of those flights, 10 (4.3%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Sling TSi has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,050 lb.

About the Sling TSi

The Sling 4 is a South African-designed four-seat light aircraft that has carved out a distinctive niche in the experimental and kit-built market since its introduction in 2013. Manufactured by The Airplane Factory (TAF) in Johannesburg and marketed globally by Sling Aircraft, it represents one of the few modern all-metal kit planes optimized for both amateur construction and factory-built Light Sport or Experimental certification. Powered by a 115-horsepower Rotax 914 turbocharged engine, the Sling 4 delivers respectable cruise speeds around 140 knots while maintaining docile low-speed handling characteristics with a stall speed under 50 knots in landing configuration.

The aircraft's aluminum construction and relatively spacious cabin have made it popular among builders seeking a capable cross-country tourer that can be assembled in a home workshop, typically requiring 1,200 to 1,500 hours of build time. Its high-wing predecessor, the Sling 2, established the brand's reputation for straightforward construction and good flying qualities, but the Sling 4's low-wing configuration and four-seat capacity opened the design to family and small-group travel missions. The type has gained particular traction in the United States experimental market, where its combination of modern avionics compatibility, fuel efficiency, and relatively affordable kit pricing appeals to owner-builders.

SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.