The South African light aircraft manufacturer “The Airplane Factory” has recently signed a joint-venture agreement with the Belgian company SONACA based in Charleroi to develop, certify and commercialise what will become the very first aircraft ever assembled in Belgium.

It will be a new generation airplane based on the two seater “Sling 2” aircraft presently manufactured by The Airplane Factory. First commercial production is expected in early 2018. The bulk of the components will be manufactured in South Africa while the final assembly will take place in Belgium in the workshops of Sonaca. Sonaca will also take care of the certification process of the aircrafts according to the EASA (European Aviation safety Agency) and the FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration). The joint-venture called “Sonaca Aircraft”, is based in Charleroi Belgium, with a starting capital of € 2 millions, 65% held by Sonaca (together with the Regional Investment Company of Wallonia - SRIW) and 25% by The Airplane Factory, the remaining 10% being held by Belgian private investors.