Icon Aircraft, creator of the A5 LSA seaplane, is in the spotlight again as bankruptcy proceedings finally come to a close. Short story: Icon will continue making aircraft, after the bankruptcy heard from a new buyer — not the buyer mentioned before in this recent article. The court sought a change in ownership and an effort to grapple with a large amount of debt. From beginning (in April 2024) to an end in mid-June, this proceeding moved very swiftly. Here’s the final settlement. “Icon In a Flat Spin as Bankruptcy Looms” Earlier in the day on June 18th, 2024… Britain’s Flyer magazine reported online that Icon found a buyer but not the one mentioned in the prior link. “Buy an aircraft manufacturer with a certified product and also selling in the Light-Sport Aircraft class for, what? …£100 million? Try again and aim low: just over £12m ($15.3 million),” wrote Flyer staff.
Icon Aircraft
Website: http://www.iconaircraft.com
Email: info@iconaircraft.com
Phone: 800-577-2379
Vacaville, CA 95688 - USANew Buyer for Icon Reported — What Happens Now?
A Buyer Emerges
In a fairly short time, a new buyer emerged, one still headquartered in China. A $13.5 million bid was reported by Yicai Global, a Chinese news source (original article in English).Shang Gong Group manufactures sewing machines. Image from Yicai Global
Too Like Textron? Why Conglomerates Buy…
The production and sale of Icon A5 aircraft will likely remain primarily an American activity. As I researched this story, an always-reliable contact, Chi-Tai Hsieh of AeroJones Aviation, informed me, "The whole of China is very keen on the so-called low-altitude economy at present." However, he clarified, "China is basically focusing on eVTOL. Traditional aircraft do not really attract too much attention."Icon is a global enterprise. While its headquarters remains in Vacaville, California, fabrication is done in Mexico, and ownership is in China. For some years, this American start-up has benefitted from Chinese investment. How much investment has this California company attracted? Numbers I’ve been quoted vary enormously but all estimates run into many millions of dollars. If these guesses are even close to accurate, Icon has generated more investment funding than nearly any LSA producer. Only one outstrips them. That was a reported $200 million sale of Pipistrel to Textron, owner of Cessna and other aviation brands. I hope the aerospace conglomerate got all they hoped for because that is a super-premium valuation for any LSA company, even one as tech-savvy as Pipistrel. Icon has performed reasonably well in recent years (“200 Delivered” report) but prior investments in the company require sales volumes that are difficult to reach, especially with a $400,000 price tag.
Summer’s Almost Here! State-of-the-Sector Report for LSA Seaplanes
One of the most active sectors in light aviation is LSA seaplanes. We've seen ups and downs, arrivals and departures of LSA seaplane producers. Admittedly, these flying machines are more complex than current-day LSA. For example, amphibs need retractable landing gear and substantial boat hulls able to take water loads.
Vickers Wave
Writing for AVweb (part of Firecrown, which also owns Flying and ByDanJohnson.com plus several other publications), my fellow aviation journalist Russ Niles stated, "New Zealand-based Vickers Aircraft Company says it intends to make its first delivery of the Wave two-place amphibious aircraft to a U.S. customer in April of 2025." Its Wave LSA seaplane has been in development for more than a decade.Icon A5
Another colleague Meg Godlewski wrote for Plane & Pilot magazine (also part of Firecrown), "Icon selected… a stalking horse bidder" after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy. She clarified, "A stalking horse bid is defined as an initial offer on the assets of a bankrupt company" to establish a baseline price for assets of the company. The stalking horse is SG Investment America Inc.Progressive Aerodyne Searey
In the LSA seaplane space, one brand has performed far above all other brands. I refer to Progressive Aerodyne's Searey, with more than 600 aircraft flying and a loyal user base of pilots. Most built their Searey and until the U.S. factory ceased operations some months back, that still comprised a share of their enterprise.Brazil's Seamax
This Brazilian entry made a literal splash when it first arrived in the USA at one of the first Sebring LSA Expo events almost 20 years ago. Pilots with discerning eyes admired its clean, effective engineering. Approaching 200 have reportedly been delivered worldwide.Aero Adventure, Least Drama—Lowest Price
One company of the six mentioned here has experienced the least turbulence in their business. This is Aero Adventure, longtime producer of the Aventura I & II line. The two-place model is available as a kit-built aircraft or you can buy a fully-built one with Special LSA credentials. If you want more power and are willing to build a kit, they offer the S-17 Adventura.- Aventura II Kit — ready to ship!
- Two place
- New panel (larger); factory can set it up for you and send it ready for installation.
- All the composite parts go with primer PU
- Dual controls
- Fly doors on or off
- Quick assembly time of 250 hours with basic tools
- All hardware and everything needed to assemble the kit included
- Electric flaps
- 23-gallon (87-liter) fuel tank
- Sails in red; we can customize as you wish
- All made from 6061-T6 anodized aluminum
- Manual retract, standard; electric retract, optional
- Wheels, brakes, tires, and tubes.
- Printed assembly manual
- Possibility to ship it as a "quick build" version
- Possibility to have the factory prepare all the electrical stuff
Atol & LN-3 from Europe, Floatplanes and More
The seaplane market is by far the strongest in America though such aircraft are used in other countries, albeit generally with less waterway access than Yankee pilots enjoy. Nonetheless, overseas producers do target the U.S. market while adding sales to other nations.One of the most active sectors in light aviation is LSA seaplanes. We’ve seen ups and downs, arrivals and departures of LSA seaplane producers. Admittedly, these flying machines are more complex than current-day LSA. For example, amphibs need retractable landing gear and substantial boat hulls able to take water loads. LSA seaplanes constitute a highly fluid market yet we can see clues suggesting what might be ahead for some of the main brands. With summertime approaching, this State-of-the-Sector article attempts to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape (or waterscape). We’ll first look at two high-end entries that have been in the news and conclude with present LSA seaplanes and their status in the market. Vickers Wave Writing for AVweb (part of Firecrown, which also owns Flying and ByDanJohnson.com plus several other publications), my fellow aviation journalist Russ Niles stated, “New Zealand-based Vickers Aircraft Company says it intends to make its first delivery of the Wave two-place amphibious aircraft to a U.S.
Upping the Ante Pre-Mosaic — Icon Bumps Useful Load of A5 LSA Seaplane
Go Bigger!
Icon Aircraft released news about the 2024 A5. "After nearly two years of rigorous R&D, testing, and production preparation, Icon is excited to announce that it has increased the gross weight of the A5 by 60 pounds, resulting in a new useful load of 490 pounds (up from 430 pounds)," the company stated.“In response to feedback from our owners and prospective customers, we elected to undertake further research and development to test the airframe and fully understand what we needed to do to increase the useful load,” said Jerry Meyer, Icon's CEO. “The solution is a reinforcement of our commitment to innovation, and a 60-pound increase is significant, especially in the LSA category.”
4-Blade eProp
In conjunction with the gross weight increase, Icon said the 4-blade propeller that Icon announced in 2023 is now standard on all new A5 LSA. The company said "eProps' new propeller provides a 21 percent reduction in ground takeoff roll in standard conditions, increasing the versatility and safety of the aircraft."ARTICLE LINKS :
- Icon Aircraft, all contact info and content on this website
- Icon's weight increase allowed by FAA, article on this website
- eProps, all contact info and content on this website
- Article about several LSA seaplanes, on this website
- Icon A5 Video Pilot Report, via this website
Mosaic is coming! Are you ready? OK, Mosaic is still around 15 months away (based on FAA’s often-repeated statement). But good companies plan ahead for changes they can foresee. Icon is moving to increase capabilities on their A5 LSA seaplane… plus, the company is responding to customers who gave feedback to the California aircraft manufacturer. As most readers now know, Mosaic LSA can be larger and therefore they can carry more. While these airplanes remain more than a year from first deliveries current LSA models are expanding their capacities in preparation. Go Bigger! Icon Aircraft released news about the 2024 A5. “After nearly two years of rigorous R&D, testing, and production preparation, Icon is excited to announce that it has increased the gross weight of the A5 by 60 pounds, resulting in a new useful load of 490 pounds (up from 430 pounds),” the company stated. This change comes from a gross weight increase to 1,570 pounds.
News Wrap — A60 Junkers Takes Maiden Flight, Icon Launches Higher, Rotax Record Year
Junkers A60 Flies!
Earlier this year, Junkers garnered lots of attention with their highly distinctive A50 Junior, an LSA with tandem seating and a look you won't forget. Not everyone loves tandem, though, so here comes A6o, the side-by-side sibling of Junior.A50 Junior, a handsomely-revived design from 100 years earlier, is a tandem flown solo from the aft seat.
Junkers side-by-side A60 takes its maiden flight in December 2023.
Icon Passes 200
Icon Aircraft's production team poses with the 200th A5.
Record Rotax Year
"Rotax recorded a record year for four-stroke sales," reported Aircraft Engine Manager Marc Becker in early December. More than any company in light aviation, Rotax has a pulse on aircraft production worldwide. The company does business in nearly every country on Earth, fulfilling orders for more than 200 original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, the companies that build the airplanes we know and love.CubCrafters, which never specified the Rotax brand, was the launch customer for the 2023's new 916iS, quite a coup for Rotax and a weight savings for those customers.
Happy Holidays!
As this will likely be my last post before Christmas, let me take a chance to thank you for your loyal readership and your support for many years. I wish you and your families and friends a warm, wonderful Christmas with plenty of tail winds ahead!ARTICLE LINKS:
- Junkers Aircraft, contact info and all content this website
- Icon Aircraft, contact info and all content this website
- Rotax Aircraft Engines, contact info and all content this website
As the end of the year approaches and as excitement builds for 2024, I have some news items of interest to the light aircraft community. Right before Christmas, read about the maiden flight of Junkers side-by-side A60, a year-end recap provided by Icon Aircraft, and year highlights from leading engine producer Rotax Aircraft Engines. Let’s get started… Junkers A60 Flies! Earlier this year, Junkers garnered lots of attention with their highly distinctive A50 Junior, an LSA with tandem seating and a look you won’t forget. Not everyone loves tandem, though, so here comes A6o, the side-by-side sibling of Junior. We saw Junkers Aircraft‘s’ A50 Junior at Sun ‘n Fun 2023, where it made a splashy debut and flew for the first time in front of American pilots off the grass strip in Paradise City (the airshow within an airshow at Sun ‘n Fun). While most who examined it closely admired the detailed workmanship that went into it, not everyone desires tandem seating.
Ups and Downs of LSA Seaplanes — Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Fall 2023
LSA seaplanes are the focus of this article but one article can't begin to cover them all. Atol Avion seen here is back with renewed investment. Read more here.
What's Hot?
Icon Aircraft — "We have some exciting news in the Icon world today," started a news release from the A5 LSA seaplane producer. "Our 200th production just rolled off the assembly line!" The Vacaville, California company reported starting deliveries to customers in early 2018.Icon's Tijuana team assembled for a photo with A5 #200. Primary fabrication is done in Mexico while final fitting happens in Vacaville, California.
What's Not?
The industry's longest-continuously-active supplier, and the builder of another well-known LSA seaplane are experiencing difficulties in 2023. Although some clues existed last year, Progressive Aerodyne appeared at shows with their pioneering Searey as did the Seamax produced by a company once known as Airmax in Brazil. This year, activities slowed to a crawl, as reported by persons close to each design.Seamax Update — Reliable news regarding Seamax is even more sparse, but word at the airport is discouraging. Previously operated by the ever-smiling Miguel Rosario, the maker of the Seamax M-22 found buyers all over the world and got a great start in the USA. However, in recent years, the Brazilian company found itself in difficulty. Other managers have been in charge for some time according to reports trickling out of Brazil but the battle evidently is not proceeding smoothly.
Aventura Still Going Strong
Seeking to end this article on a positive note, another longtime producer, Aero Adventure, is going strong with their Aventura LSA seaplane. What's particularly interesting is the dichotomy of the situation. On one end is Icon's A5 approaching $400,000. New Zealand's Wave has not stated price recently. While it will likely come in under Icon, this is a highly-developed aircraft and it will not be a bargain.Even well used this Aventura II, nicknamed "Bumble Bee," flew beautifully on a recent aerial photography mission where this aircraft carried the camera guy, me.
ARTICLE LINKS:
- Icon Aircraft, all contact info and articles or video on this website
- Vickers Aircraft, all contact info and articles or video on this website
- Aero Adventure, full page of content with contact information
Hard to believe, isn’t it? Summer is over, we’re into fall and looking at winter. Surprisingly, that means that in a couple months the sale of boats and other watercraft begins to ramp up. Marine shows are commonly scheduled for the dead of winter. If that seems odd, think of it this way: When it’s cold and ugly outside, why not think about boats and bikinis? Being pilots, of course, we think about seaplanes. This article focuses on two bits of good news for relative newcomers to this aviation sector, shifts to challenges facing two longtime suppliers of LSA seaplanes, and ends on a positive note. Let’s get into it… What’s Hot? Icon Aircraft — “We have some exciting news in the Icon world today,” started a news release from the A5 LSA seaplane producer. “Our 200th production just rolled off the assembly line!” The Vacaville, California company reported starting deliveries to customers in early 2018.
Announcing a New Series — 50 Most Popular Light Aviation Videos of the Last Decade
Top-Down Approach
On TV, Late Show host David Letterman and his famous top-10 countdowns set one pattern for these kinds of lists. In his case he went from number 10 to climax with number one, holding you in suspense to find out which of his "Stupidest…" topics had topped the list. His lists were short; mine is longer.This image from the #3 video in our top-50 review featured my 25-minute Video Pilot Review.
The home page of Videoman Dave's well-known YouTube channel.
Kirk Hawkins, founder and visionary for Icon Aircraft.
Icon Today
Since those heady days when the Icon buzz was loud, the company found itself in a tight spot after raising large amounts of money to fuel their sprawling enterprise. Those investors eventually wanted financial results. The pressure mounted and ultimately Kirk and his early team were ousted.For those with all the right toys, an Icon A5 fits right in… heck, why not have two?
My most ambitious series ever is a showcase of the best of the best. In this series beginning right now, I will explore dozens of top videos made by my partner-in-movies, Videoman Dave, known properly as Dave Loveman. The videos aren’t my picks or his, though. They’re yours! In each article, I will go beyond a short description and a video link. I’ll also update the information on the subject aircraft (a few engines are included). My goal is to celebrate video success stories while also providing fresh, useful details. Dave and I started doing videos together back in 2007, shortly after Light-Sport Aircraft arrived on the scene. Since I joined him we’ve produced close to 1,000 videos while tripling our audience. My series will touch on the top 50 most-watched videos on Videoman Dave’s Light Sport & Ultralight Flyer YouTube channel. In all we’ll review dozens of aircraft, three engines plus electric, an ultralight review, and a Mosaic update.
How’s This for Affordable? …FREE! You Could Win One of Two Premium Special LSA!
I regularly say this website follows aircraft you can afford. Whenever I write that word, I know someone will object saying that (fill-in-the-price) is too expensive. I get that. We all have a different budget and our budget can change quickly.
Thanks, Flying!
When I was a young pilot — quite a long time ago — one of the first aviation magazines I ever read was Flying. You could buy it on any newsstand. With a 96-year history, anyone getting involved in flying ended up reading Flying magazine.Sign Up to Win
"Flying is giving one lucky winner their very own aircraft," the magazine offered. "Plus, we’re including $30,000 cash to help cover the seaplane rating (if necessary), training, and insurance."Those who are an active subscriber of Flying Magazine between the dates of January 1st, 2023 and March 31st, 2024 will automatically receive one (1) Initial Entry into the Sweepstakes drawings."
Click or tap here to enter.
See Flying and A50 Junior at Sun 'n Fun 2023
Readers of this page who attend Sun 'n Fun probably always visit Paradise City, previously known as the Ultralight Area or more recently "Light Plane." This year, attendees will see changes overall at Sun 'n Fun and also in Paradise City.ARTICLE LINKS:
- Tecnam Astore, content on this website
- Icon Aircraft, content on this website
- Flying Magazine Ultimate Giveaway, sweepstakes website
- Junkers Aircraft, U.S. website for Waco Aircraft (for contact info)
- Junkers Aircraft, manufacturer website page on A50 Junior (historical)
- Sun 'n Fun 2023, event website
To eliminate confusion about how to pronounce their company name, Waco wisely made this helpful T-shirt. Here my wife gives one to a childhood friend, whose nickname happens to be Waco. He pronounces it like the biplane.
I regularly say this website follows aircraft you can afford. Whenever I write that word, I know someone will object saying that (fill-in-the-price) is too expensive. I get that. We all have a different budget and our budget can change quickly. How about if the aircraft was essentially free? And what if you could choose between two highly-desirable models? What if the only cost to get your “lottery” ticket was to subscribe to a popular magazine? Gee, fellow flying fans — I’d say that sounded like the bargain of 2023. It’s the most lucrative giveaway that has been unveiled in the LSA space since it began almost 20 years ago. Thanks, Flying! When I was a young pilot — quite a long time ago — one of the first aviation magazines I ever read was Flying. You could buy it on any newsstand. With a 96-year history, anyone getting involved in flying ended up reading Flying magazine.
2022 In Review — How Did LSA and Sport Pilot Kit Aircraft Fare During a Turbulent Year?
Taking off in a new year, some things remain the same. Zenith is still the clear market leader, but here's some nuances…
Data source: FAA registration database current through the end of 2022 — graciously and expertly provided by Steve Beste. Category explanations are provided below.
Let's Unpack the Numbers
I am using a different approach this year, partly to give added perspective given the challenging start to the 2020s. You can get so much detail on our Tableau Public market share data website — with an enormous THANKS! to Steve Beste for his faithful, timely, and precise work to present this info — that I felt it useful to summarize the results from my point of view.Combining bright colors with beautifully-machined hardware, this "train" of eight Revo models from Evolution Trikes is certain to turn heads.
- Combined Results, all categories, including fully-built, kit-built, factory-built kits (ELSA), and others, even portraying how FAA's 1990s-era Primary Category touches this segment.
- SLSA and ELSA are presented as a group because all must start out identical to the SLSA model first accepted by FAA. After an ELSA owner takes delivery, that person can make changes without factory approval but then loses the chance to offer compensated flight instruction or rental of their aircraft.
- SLSA-only covering only ready-to-fly, separated from ELSA. SLSA can be used for compensated operations like flight instruction and rental.
- EAB and ELSA are shown as a group because in both cases the owner can alter and maintain the aircraft.
- EAB-only separates the ELSA out of the strictly homebuilt segment.
- ELSA are also shown separately as they can become quite different from the SLSA as which they began life. An owner can change avionics, interiors, add equipment, or even change the engine on an ELSA.
- Two remaining, smaller categories include Experimental Exhibition category, used mostly by Pipistrel for its motorglider models, and the Primary Category that presently counts only AutoGyro. Models that pursued Primary Category back in the 1990s (example: Quicksilver GT500) have not continued with that approach.
RV-12 photo from Van's Aircraft RV-12 website. Here's my pilot report on RV-12.
Icon Aircraft A5; recent report.
Rans’ popular S-21 Outbound sits high on big tundra tires. (Zenith's CH-750 Super Duty is seen at the top of the page.)
Flight school video series stars John and Martha King get their powered parachute ratings.
* I used brand names and model names interchangeably in this article choosing the most common term to identify the subject. If you want more detail, type one or more words into our blue search bar at the top of the page to find any of the thousands of aircraft on this website.
The year started with hope. As 2022 arrived, America and most countries (China excepted) were emerging from two years of difficult lockdowns and Covid. The good news was that a flood of money from the U.S. government had buoyed the stock market and I’ve long observed that in a rising equities market, LSA and SP kit aircraft sell well. No one thinks this is because anyone sells stock to buy a Light-Sport Aircraft. Rather, it’s something economists call the “wealth effect,” where rising asset values give stockholders confidence that good times are here and they can buy an airplane to have fun. Then… Russia invaded Ukraine and global markets trembled. Despite a year of war, of plunging stock markets and sky-high energy prices, of protests and riots in multiple countries, plus on-going supply chain strains and lingering Covid fears, the light aircraft nonetheless grew by a very healthy 18%, after rising 10% in 2021.
It Was a Very Good Year — Icon Is Back on Heading with Their A5 LSA Seaplane
Icon's primary factory in Tijuana, Mexico.
What's News at Icon As 2022 Draws to a Close?
Here are some of the highlights released by the Vacaville, California-based company (comments in italics are mine)… Flying — "Icon's A5 fleet, which now numbers more than 165 aircraft, expects to accumulate more than 30,000 total hours by the end of this year.My chance to fly A5 came at the 2015 edition of AirVenture. See full-length video pilot report.
ARTICLE LINKS:
- Icon Aircraft, contact information and all content about Icon and A5 on this website
- Icon Aircraft, factory website
- Garmin avionics, contact information and all content about Garmin products on this website
- Rotax, contact information and all content about Rotax engines on this website
Some might say Icon Aircraft has experienced a rather turbulent flight. The company came off the starting line boldly with splashy marketing including an immense, fancy tent right at the entrance to AirVenture. Each year at Oshkosh, the company hosted an annual party with special features and free drinks. It became a must-attend event for those lucky enough to get an invitation. When A5 was finally accepted by FAA as a Special LSA, the company shrewdly arranged to get on the cover and be the lead article in the same month of American aviation’s top three magazines (by circulation): Flying magazine, AOPA Pilot, and EAA Sport Aviation. I’ve been around and observing aviation publishing for a few decades and I’d never see such a triple play before. These magazines are friendly to each other but nonetheless compete vigorously. The rarely (never?) want the same cover story as their rivals. Icon accomplished this without spending a dime advertising with the publications.
What Do Russia and China Have to Do with Light-Sport Aircraft? Plenty!
Icon Will Continue Production
Recreational airplanes at the Icon Aircraft manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico. • photo by Alejandro Cegarra / Bloomberg News
Icon Aircraft’s manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico, last year. • Photo by Alejandro Cegarra / Bloomber NEWSimage used in Wall Street Journal article
Icon Aircraft co-founder Kirk Hawkins at the company’s offices in Los Angeles in 2013. Photo from Wall Street Journal • By Ann Johansson/Corbis/Getty Images
Flight Design and its Ukraine Factory
I hardly need to say more than Flight Design does its primary fabrication in a town called Kherson in the south of Ukraine. Until very recently, you may not of been able to find that on a map, but recent events have changed perspectives significantly. It's also changed how business is done for Flight Design.Visitors at Aero Freidrichshafen 2019 check out the new F2 at Flight Design's display.
Flight Design USA's Tom Peghiny appearing on AOPA TV.
Aeroprakt Also Affected
AOPA also contacted Dennis Long, importer for the well-selling A22 and A32 LSA made in Kyiv, Ukraine that is presently under attack.Two wildly divergent events occurred in the last few days. They are completely unrelated yet they show the global interplay in modern light aviation. One story involves relative newcomer Icon Aircraft and their A5 LSA seaplane. The other revolves around the producer of the most successful LSA in America, Flight Design. Both airplane producer stories made it into mainstream media. If we go way back in time, to 2003, that is, before Light-Sport Aircraft, we saw a world where Americans flew kit-built airplanes while European pilots were flying what they called ultralights or microlights. Of course, this is an oversimplification but we had no idea the two methods of production would converge as they have in the last two decades. Using widely-accepted consensus standards, Light-Sport Aircraft can operate in multiple countries — thanks to the useful work of many volunteers that assembled and maintain ASTM standards embraced by FAA and other CAAs all over the planet.
Seeking a Higher Altitude — Flight Design’s F2 and Icon’s A5 Go for Certification
Flight Design F2
In early December 2021, Flight Design in Germany announced F2 is now an EASA CS-23 certified aircraft. CS23 is a full-certification system modeled on FAA's Part 23 approval process. Achieving this is a high bar to hurdle.Flight Design F2 images by Jan Fridrich
Icon Aircraft A5
California-based Icon Aircraft wants to expand their international sales and to facilitate that, the company chose to pursue Primary Category approval by FAA. Icon has already achieved SLSA approval; number 137 on our SLSA List.https://youtu.be/ONzOx6tEay4
Rather loudly and persistently I beat the drum about “affordable aircraft,” but readers also enjoy learning about other aircraft. I will never write about jets or multimillion-dollar turbines but I will continue to follow any “light” aircraft that meets LSA parameters now or after the Mosaic rule. In this article I will describe how two aircraft are pursuing conventional certification: Flight Design’s F2-CS23 and Icon’s A5. Contrary to common language, LSA are not “certified.” Instead a manufacturer declares they meet ASTM standards and FAA “accepts” that declaration. Frequently at first, FAA audited producers in a point-by-point check of their declaration plus verifying that producers use generally-accepted best practices in their manufacturing. Companies with prior approvals may not be required to undergo an audit; it’s always FAA’s choice. I’ve been involved with ASTM for many years and I can attest to these standards being very rigorous. They were welcomed by many countries where they are in active use.
AirVenture Day 2: LSA Sales Backlogged • Fun Fly Zone Relocation
Sales Running Strong
Perhaps it's because Americans have been saving at a far-higher-than-usual pace in 2020 and into 2021. Perhaps it's what happens after eighteen sluggish months dominated by virus talk. Perhaps the industry has matured to such a state that more pilots have faith in the products; the LSA safety record has been "acceptable," FAA has often stated.Can "sleek" and "gnarly" combine in one aircraft? Maybe, if it's Pipistrel's Virus LSA using tundra tires. Many pilots like the look.
Changes Ahead
FUN FLY ZONE RELOCATION — It may be sign of success. Judging from a full contingent of vendors in the light plane area, with a few vendors reporting they could not get space until someone backed out, this area reflects the health of light aircraft and ultralights. As with the LSA purveyors up north on the field, the Fun Fly Zone airplane sellers are reporting solid activity in leads and sales. At least some vendors had been informed about and were therefore discussing a possible movement of the Fun Fly Zone, colloquially known as the "Ultralight Area," to a position further south on Wittman Field. Historically, this area has already moved considerably south. It was once much closer to the Vintage Aircraft area (near Theater in the Woods). Proposed with the new idea being discussed is a longer, better positioned runway. To their credit EAA and the Ultralight Area managers over the years have made the angular Ultralight Area strip work successfully. Yet to maneuver for short final, pilots must make a series of turns, all while staying well west of traffic on the main north/south runway. It is far from optimal even if good leadership and cooperative pilots have made the current runway work. This week, EAA is demonstrating once again that they know how to produce a great show so I'd expect they'll make the Fun Fly Zone relocation go well and look good.Day 2 AirVenture began with “rain that went sideways,” according to one vendor. After a late night cranking out a report, I was grateful for an excuse to get another hour’s sleep. The overnight rain gave way to another beautiful, if hot, day in Oshkosh. Tuesday, I hiked up to the north side, where the main displays are located. Most of the higher end Light-Sport Aircraft are located in this high-traffic area. Several LSA companies have jockeyed for years to find what they consider to be the optimal location for their exhibit. Being near the main foot-traffic road is very alluring to vendors. In almost two decades of Light-Sport Aircraft (the then-new rule was announced at AirVenture 2004), LSA have integrated themselves into mainstream aircraft manufacturing …and not simply because of the aircraft offered. As late-night TV ads once said, “There’s more!” LAMA board of directors member Phil Solomon — active in the flight school business and a former importer of Tecnam — expressed that the sales of LSA and the growth and development of the industry is only one of its successes.
Kit Aircraft Are Up; New Sales Are Off — Recreational Aviation Copes with Covid
This is the home page from Tableau Public; visit to see much more detail.
Broad View of Market
As Steve notes from his study of the current data, "Overall, registrations are down 11% year-to-date from what they were at this time a year ago." Total registrations declined rom 387 to 344 aircraft of all types. This still speaks to a year with around 700 aircraft registered.Comparing the YTD situation now with the YTD situation a year ago. —chart by Steve Beste
Most Notable: Icon
One well-known company heads our list of most-changed …and unfortunately, not for the best. You guessed it: Icon Aircraft and their handsome, if troubled, A5 LSA seaplane.Icon A5 aloft over California. —photo by Icon Aircraft
Good News Leaders
Another brilliant photo from teacher-photographer-videographer, Paul Hamilton flying his Evolution Revo.
Gyroplanes Go "Inside"
This beautifully-lighted image of a Magni M16 tandem gyroplane was taken on a flight from Texas to Cuba (here's the whole story).
Our fastest-with-the-mostest partner tracks the health and performance of the light aircraft industry and is once again punctual. Datastician Steve Beste has proven his capabilities to collect the registration data quickly, accurately, and with an insider’s viewpoint. Steve is a trike pilot, so he is “one of us.” In his former life he was a database expert in the tech field explaining his great facility with these systems. Here we are reporting facts for the period of April, May, and June 2020. Given the spectacular upheaval around the world, I’m happy to see the recreational aircraft industry holding its own fairly well. Reporting for the companies making larger, heavier aircraft, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association also reported sales are down. I cannot imagine anyone is surprised. If I was reporting numbers for the restaurant, bar, hotel, airline, theater, sports, or concert industries it would be an ugly bloodbath. This report is far less glum and beaten-down than those enterprises.
Light-Sport Aircraft and Sport Pilot Kit Market Shares in 2019
Five Months In Combined Report
The first chart reflects both LSA and SP kit registrations through May of 2019 and also depicts the equivalent performances for the full years of 2017 and 2018. What the chart suggests is that 2019 is a solid year with the light sector on track to hit 725 aircraft for the year, up about 5% over last year and up more than 10% over 2017. For space reasons the chart only shows ranks 1–18 but all are available on Tableau Public.Separating LSA from SP Kits
Flight Design continues its recovery, on pace to increase from last year's low number by 50%. Now that we can separate CubCrafters RTFs from kits, the CT maker is back atop the all-years SLSA rank list. Number two producer, Czech Sport Aircraft should be about even from 2018 but is well off their 2017 registrations. Powrachute and AutoGyro slipped from stronger performances in recent years. On the downside, Glasair suspended production for their Merlin that never found reception in the market.One More Thing: ELSA Factor
You might see that kits appear to be the larger enterprise over fully-built LSA. That's correct, but consider the kit companies have been building their business and networks for far longer and they have lower price points …although you obviously must invest a good many hours to complete a project and some will get discouraged along the way and never finish the job.A funny thing happened on our way to quarterly reporting of LSA and Sport Pilot kit market shares. Our first quarterly report in many years should have come about April 1st. It did not. That date came as Sun ‘n Fun was getting underway separated by only one day from the German Aero show. So involved were we in those season-starting events that we just blew past the date. Five Months In Combined Report The first chart reflects both LSA and SP kit registrations through May of 2019 and also depicts the equivalent performances for the full years of 2017 and 2018. What the chart suggests is that 2019 is a solid year with the light sector on track to hit 725 aircraft for the year, up about 5% over last year and up more than 10% over 2017. For space reasons the chart only shows ranks 1–18 but all are available on Tableau Public.
DeLand Showcase 2018 Off to a Good Start; Industry Players Generally Upbeat as Year Closes
A view from Scott Severen's Jabiru J-230D cockpit as he approaches DeLand Showcase 2018.
Van's Aircraft RV-12iS — image by Roy Beisswenger / Powered Sport Flying magazine
Who Is Succeeding?
In one day, we did not speak to every vendor and we did not get to the inside booths yet. However, those we did approach for news and updates provided feedback that was significantly on the positive side. Here is a partial recap (again cautioning that this is not inclusive):Icon Aircraft A5 — image by Roy Beisswenger / Powered Sport Flying magazine
BRM Aero Bristell — image by Roy Beisswenger / Powered Sport Flying magazine
M-Squared SLSA version of Zenith's Cruzer — image by Roy Beisswenger / Powered Sport Flying magazine
Aeromarine-LSA Merlin PSA — image by Roy Beisswenger / Powered Sport Flying magazine
Day One of the third running of DeLand Showcase is complete. As Videoman Dave and I scoured the show grounds looking for good stories, we spoke to a few vendors reporting that 2018 has been a good year. Our video news gathering exercise brought a pleasant discovery. Many companies are reporting a solid year of sales. The light aviation industry is composed of many small companies. None are corporations the size of Cessna or Cirrus so they don’t require hundreds of unit sales to break even. A U.S. importer delivering 20 aircraft can experience a good year from sales and other services they offer. When several companies report noteworthy sales success it suggests the market is healthy and customers are buying airplanes they want to enjoy. In parallel, the used LSA market also appears active and a virtuous circle begins to take form. The show itself enjoyed the great organization we have come to expect from director Jana Filip.
Icon A5 Crosses America — Company Debuts a New (more affordable) Way to Own
Introducing a Fractional A5
At this summer's Oshkosh event, Icon announced a new "Managed Fractional Program." They describe it as one "to allow easier and lower-cost access to A5 ownership."One More Thing
If you feel the fractional program doesn't work for you, yet you admire what Icon has done …well, one more possibility exists for your involvement.Here's my review of Icon's A5
https://youtu.be/ONzOx6tEay4* A Carbon Cub isn't priced much less than an A5 yet has steadily risen to be the top selling Light-Sport Aircraft in America.
Have you noticed how much LSA seaplanes pop up on this website and all over the web and print world? I admit to fascination with the developments these versatile aircraft are bringing to market but my attitude is shared by many others. For example, I enjoyed reading AOPA journalist Dave Hirschman‘s account of his solo trip crossing the width of the United States in an A5. Read the whole story here. Dave is an excellent writer and an experienced pilot. His account is very positive, yet balanced. Having flown the A5, I found his observations largely matched mine. However, a problem exists. As time passed, Icon has steadily raised the price of A5. What started as an affordable seaplane with innovative features has progressed to be an aircraft that even founder Kirk Hawkins agrees can only be bought by rather wealthy owners. That same scenario can be used for Cirrus Aircraft and its SR20 and SR22 (their most expensive model that accounts for a solid majority of their sales).
Sebring 2018 — Day One… “How was the first day?”
Sponsor CubCrafters placed one of their well-decked-out aircraft at the main terminal entrance to Sebring 2018.
Scott Severen is taking over all sales of Jabiru in North America.
Aircraft of Interest
Icon is on display and in the water at Sebring 2018.
For all who could not attend, our title forms a common question. On day one of the fourteenth running of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, even many onsite asked how the first day went; I’ll bet I heard the question a dozen times. Short answer: A great start! The airport that hosts the annual event lucked out with a day of gorgeous weather, in the high 70s (25° C). Clear blue skies and modest breezes made for a beautiful beginning. They booked a full display of more than 100 vendors and plenty of shiny aircraft to examine. Morning hours looked to have reasonably good attendance; the parking lot was on its way to a good fill at 8:30 AM. These shows rarely seem crowded — and that’s not a bad thing if you want to talk to an aircraft designer or take a demo flight — but at times various aircraft were surrounded by visitors.
Icon Updates: Crash Cause …yet Onward with Deliveries
Customer Deliveries Begin
Entrepreneur Julian Gates enjoys his A5 in Southern California.
Mike Sievert is COO of T-Mobile in Seattle, Washington. He poses by his A5 with wife Suzanne.
Another entrepreneur Andy Wilcox flies his A5 on lakes in picturesque Montana.
Icon Aircraft CEO Kirk Hawkins shared a computer depiction of events leading to the crash of an A5 flown by factory chief pilot, Jon Karkow. From A5’s onboard black box Icon engineers assembled a second-by-second path for the ill-fated Light-Sport Aircraft. The data showed speed, power settings, flap position, and more. According to the Napa Valley Register relating a National Transportation Safety Board report, “Pilot error caused the crash that killed two men in a small airplane on May 8, 2017 in Lake Berryessa.” NTSB wrote, “The pilot, Jon Karkow, of Icon Aircraft in Vacaville, was flying too low, and mistakenly entered a canyon surrounded by steep rising terrain.” The investigative agency said Karkow had taken off from the Nut Tree airport in Vacaville at 8:50 a.m. accompanied by passenger, Cargi Sever, a new Icon employee. The pilot intended to take Sever on a familiarization flight in the Icon A5 amphibious Light-Sport Aircraft, said NTSB.
Information on Icon A5 Incidents; Preliminary Details
A severely damaged Icon A5 rests after the crash. Image from KathrynsReport.com
Icon Engineering Fellow and Chief Test Pilot, Jon Karkow. Image from Icon Aircraft
Image from Google Earth; red pin only identifies Little Portuguese Canyon not the impact location.
Icon Director of Engineering, Cagri Sever. Image from Icon Aircraft
A few weeks earlier, as many enthusiasts were headed to Sun 'n Fun, the company suffered another incident although no one was injured.
Image from KathrynsReport.com
Image from NTSB courtesy FAA
Normally we elect not to delve into accidents on ByDanJohnson.com but where it can be instructive and when readers are keen to learn more — and when we have direct information — discussing such matters can be useful. To say the last month has not been good for Icon Aircraft would be a gross understatement. While the company struggles to increase production of their often-ordered LSA seaplane, they now must deal with much more difficult events. Most recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported, “On May 8, 2017, about 9 AM Pacific time [an] A5 impacted terrain while maneuvering near Lake Berryessa, California. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage.” The aircraft was piloted by Icon’s chief test pilot, Jon Karkow who was taking the recently hired Director of Engineering, Cagri Sever, for a familiarization flight. “The flight was Sever’s first in the A5 and was to be his introduction to the product on which he would be working at Icon,” reported the Vacaville, California company.
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