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SLING TSI KIT
The Sling TSi is a four-person,
single-engine plane from
The Airplane Factory, com-
plete with glass cockpit and
gull wing doors. It’s modern,
easy to fly, and packed with as
many cool toys as you’re will-
ing to install (the more, the
better).

ROTAX 915 IS

Even at max takeoff weight,

with four adults and a load

of fuel, the Rotes 915 iS

can lift the plane into the

sky at 1,000 feet per min-

ute and cruise at 155 knots.

Computerization keeps the

engine running at maximum

efficiency.

AIRMASTER CONSTANT

SPEED PROP

A constant-speed propeller

adjusts the pitch angle of

the blades to maintain speed

regardless of engine rpm.

This allows the plane’s engine

to create different amounts

of thrust depending on what

stage of flight you’re in.

GARMIN G3X TOUCH

This glass touchscreen dis-

play provides many of the

same avionics features the

big boys have, including flight

charts, airport diagrams, a

moving GPS map, and all

manner of aircraft-specific

gauges like fuel, flaps, trim,

alerts, and engine statistics.

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN fascinated with

airplanes. I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria,

where there were barely any roads. The

main road out of our area wasn’t paved,

and during the rainy season it would

become f looded and muddy. When my

sisters and I walked along the f looded

road to school, I’d see airplanes f lying

above us. I’d be envious of whoever was

in the plane because we were down on

the ground, walking in mud.

My family moved to New York City

when I was about 12. At that time,

I never imagined I would be f lying

planes. None of my friends or family

members encouraged my obsession

with planes, and still when I f ly, I

don’t see many pilots who look like

me. When I was in my twenties, after

I met my wife and we moved to Cali-

fornia together, opportunity arose. I

read about this 15-year-old girl who

f lew herself across the country. I said

to myself: It’s now or never. That girl’s

story made me realize I had no more

excuses to give. I went up for the first

time the week of my 26th birthday, and

now I’m building my own airplane.

For most pilots, f lying on your own

is unattainable because it’s really

expensive. Even just getting your

pilot’s license costs a lot of money. But

that’s nothing compared to buying

your own plane. My dream plane—it’s

actually on my dream board, this col-

lage of aspirational images I keep in

Ojo chronicles

his build on

his YouTube

channel,

MojoGrip.

INSIDE MIKE’S KIT

34 March/April 2020