Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has given Kenyans glimpses of a rather different side of his life, one that involves taking to the skies and piloting his own aircraft to destinations across Kenya and beyond. Whether travelling to Tanzania for a high-profile wedding or heading to a remote airstrip in the Tsavo wilderness for a family getaway, Mutua has demonstrated his passion for aviation through his personal Sling TSi aircraft.
NEWSUNPLUG.co.ke profiles the four-seater aircraft, registered in Kenya as 5Y-MCM, that has attracted attention following videos shared by the former Machakos governor showing him at the controls during his travels.
What makes Alfred Mutua’s Sling TSi special?
The Sling TSi is a four-seat, single-engine, low-wing aircraft manufactured by Sling Aircraft, a South African aviation company.
It belongs to the Sling 4 family and was designed for pilots looking for a combination of performance, comfort, efficiency and long-distance flying capability.
Unlike conventional commercial aircraft, the Sling TSi is offered primarily as an experimental amateur-built aircraft.
Buyers can acquire kits and build the aircraft themselves, use professional build-assistance services or purchase an already completed aircraft.
Its four-seat configuration accommodates a pilot and up to three passengers, making it suitable for private journeys and family trips.
The aircraft also has a spacious cabin, gullwing-style doors and a modern cockpit designed around electronic flight displays.
Engine, speed and flying range
One of the Sling TSi’s biggest selling points is its turbocharged Rotax engine.
The manufacturer’s current specifications feature the Rotax 916 iS, which produces up to 160 horsepower. Earlier configurations also used the Rotax 915 iS, producing approximately 141 horsepower.
The turbocharged engine is designed to maintain power at higher altitudes, while its electronic engine management system helps optimise performance.
According to Sling Aircraft, the current 916 iS configuration has a typical cruising speed of approximately 155 knots, equivalent to 287 kilometres per hour.
The manufacturer also lists a maximum range of 1,000 nautical miles, approximately 1,852 kilometres, depending on operating conditions and flight configuration.
Its fuel capacity is approximately 198 litres, while its economy-cruise fuel consumption is about 28 litres per hour.
These capabilities make the aircraft particularly attractive to private pilots interested in travelling between destinations without relying entirely on commercial flight schedules.
Sling TSi cockpit
The Sling TSi features a modern glass cockpit, replacing many traditional analogue instruments with digital flight displays.
Its standard avionics configuration includes a Garmin G3X Touch electronic flight display and a secondary Garmin G5 display.
These systems provide pilots with important flight information, including navigation, altitude, airspeed and engine-related data.
The aircraft also comes with an autopilot system, radio, transponder and other integrated avionics equipment, depending on the configuration.
For a pilot undertaking cross-country journeys, the technology provides an integrated way of monitoring the aircraft and navigating unfamiliar destinations.
Safety features, including a ballistic parachute
Another notable feature associated with the Sling TSi is its optional whole-aircraft ballistic recovery parachute system.
Unlike a conventional parachute used by a person jumping from an aircraft, this system is designed to deploy a parachute that can bring the entire aircraft down in an emergency.
The system is intended to provide an additional recovery option in certain situations where a pilot may be unable to maintain controlled flight.
