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 A5
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Aircraft Spruce—WideBody FK9—Icon in Tijuana
Article Updated 9/7/15 — See new information at the bottom of this article. Coming up TOMORROW! — September 8-9-10, 2016 — is the Midwest LSA Expo. I’m on-site for all three days in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. More info: Midwest LSA Expo. Only six years after Steve Jobs proudly announced the first iPad, the tablet device seems to have fully conquered aviation. Airline captains routinely use iPads in lieu of bulky printed instrument charts. GA airplane owners with analog panels commonly use an iPad to join the digital revolution without needing to get FAA’s permission. And, LSA developers often accommodate the iDevice; indeed, some Light-Sports make do solely with iPads, occasionally multiple devices. Despite his visionary prowess, I bet Steve Jobs never imagined such a result. Unfortunately, he didn’t live long enough to see the cockpit transformation his gizmo caused. However, if you’ve flown with an iPad, you know you need some way to hold it that allows access to its wealth of information without interfering with airplane operation.
Icon Aircraft — A5 (Video Pilot Report)
Finally! I got to fly Icon's long-awaited A5 LSA seaplane. In a word: superb. Well done, Icon. In this 25-minute video join Icon Sales VP, Craig Bowers, and me as we run the highly-anticipated Light-Sport through its paces including a series of stalls that show the value of their hard work to create a spin resistant airframe. No airplane is perfect for every buyer but the California designer and manufacturer hit just about every correct note. We bet you'll really enjoy this one.
Finally! I got to fly Icon’s long-awaited A5 LSA seaplane. In a word: superb. Well done, Icon. In this 25-minute video join Icon Sales VP, Craig Bowers, and me as we run the highly-anticipated Light-Sport through its paces including a series of stalls that show the value of their hard work to create a spin resistant airframe. No airplane is perfect for every buyer but the California designer and manufacturer hit just about every correct note. We bet you’ll really enjoy this one.
Icon Aircraft — A5 Seaplane (2012)
Icon's A5 has been so shrewdly promoted that the Southern California company has gathered nearly 1,000 delivery position orders. Some folks wonder if it will make it to market. In this summer 2012 video, we speak with CEO Kirk Hawkins and ask him about a new development -- involving spin resistant airframe -- that may have delayed production but produced some very interesting results that those waiting owners should love. Enjoy many flying photos while we talk.
Icon’s A5 has been so shrewdly promoted that the Southern California company has gathered nearly 1,000 delivery position orders. Some folks wonder if it will make it to market. In this summer 2012 video, we speak with CEO Kirk Hawkins and ask him about a new development — involving spin resistant airframe — that may have delayed production but produced some very interesting results that those waiting owners should love. Enjoy many flying photos while we talk.
Icon Aircraft — A5 Seaplane (2011)
One of the biggest splashes - literally and figuratively - in the Light-Sport Aircraft industry was the entry of California's Icon A5. The super sleek LSA design is new nose to tail, wingtip to wingtip. In fact, no one ever saw anything quite like the A5. Mainstream media has fallen in love with the distinctive design. Join us for our LSA Insider view.
One of the biggest splashes – literally and figuratively – in the Light-Sport Aircraft industry was the entry of California’s Icon A5. The super sleek LSA design is new nose to tail, wingtip to wingtip. In fact, no one ever saw anything quite like the A5. Mainstream media has fallen in love with the distinctive design. Join us for our LSA Insider view.
Video Pilot Report: Icon Aircraft A5 LSA Seaplane
Icon has come a long way since it was first announced but the finished product is a roaring success at design, brilliantly aimed at its target market of new or returning pilots.
Call it the Quintuple Crown of aviation marketing, capturing five magazine covers in the same month. Think about what that took to achieve.
A5's interior looks like a luxury car, by very explicit design. Remember, they hope to appeal to non-pilots thus a more familiar (and handsome) interior was needed.
In addition to their engineering staff, Icon retained Adam Morrison of Streamline Design to consult on meeting ASTM standards, about which Morrison is an international expert. A tribute to their engineering staff and Streamline, Icon easily passed FAA audit in June 2015.
Come on along for our Video Pilot Report on A5, appearing just below. Before the engine even started I was already smiling. So might you.
The Video Pilot Report below may be one of the most anticipated VPRs my video partner Dave and I have produced. I did the flying at AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 on Lake Winnebago in late July, but because Icon preferred to provide the video footage, it has taken some weeks to put it all together. Production of one of these VPRs is a two-part effort. First, I invested some time to get to where Icon did their demo flying (away from all the other flying locations associated with Oshkosh). Weather and the company’s desire to take aloft a reported 150 of their waiting owners forced a couple schedule changes. Since returning home, we worked with several helpful folks at Icon to assemble all the right video pieces. Finally, Dave invested many hours editing what you see below (or here). Our video should show you most of what you want to see about this impressive LSA including water takeoffs and landings, in-flight maneuvering, stalls (such as they are), low flying over the water, and the interior of the airplane including Icon’s highly emphasized Angle of Attack indicator.
DemoVenture 2015 — Flying at Oshkosh
Your author finally got a chance to fly the Icon A5 at AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. Watch for an upcoming Video Pilot Report on this warmly-received LSA seaplane.
M-Squared's Breese 2 powered by a Rotax 912 flew many demo flights and drew the vice mayor from the Chinese city of Anyang who visited AirVenture with a delegation.
The ultra-deluxe Revo trike flew an impressive number of demo missions. The Chinese group see interest in weight shift aircraft in their country and paid a visit to Evolution Trikes' display. See plenty of activity on a fun video found on Evolution's Facebook page (August 17, 2015 post).
Shows like Sebring and Midwest LSA Expo are known for being great places to demo fly a Light-Sport or light kit you may be considering to buy. They earned that reputation because it is typically much easier to fly at those lower-key, less crowded events than at giant shows like AirVenture. However, some companies make demo flying a mission at Oshkosh and this article covers three that delivered an exceptional number of demo flights. Icon reported doing around 150 demonstration flights in the first public outing of the long-awaited LSA seaplane. Writers for aviation’s largest magazines got their private crack at the new bird beforehand … since returning from Oshkosh, I’ve seen A5 on the covers of Flying, AOPA Pilot, Sport Aviation, and Plane & Pilot. That’s an enormous splash. I can’t recall any single aircraft capturing all four titles in the same month, quite a credit to Team Icon for deftly executing such a major marketing push.
AirVenture Wrap-Up: Shiny Part 103, Icon Rising
The big summer celebration of flight has ended. I have more info from AirVenture 2015 and next I plan a summary article. A preview includes the most positive prognosis from industry players I have seen in recent years; strong sales reported by several producers; several interesting developments or benchmarks; and a wonderful week of weather as icing on the cake. My video partner and I put in long days to secure perhaps 30 or more new videos including many on the freshest topics in light aviation. Stay tuned for more and go here to see the hundreds of videos we have posted from previous events. The Shiniest Part 103 … We shot a video interview on the line of Hummel Aviation light aircraft, including two Part 103 models and one Experimental Amateur Built version. Toward the end of the week, one that had been sheltered in a tent on one end of the sprawling AirVenture grounds was hand towed to the Ultralight Area — called the Fun Fly Zone — so people could see this mirror-finish (highly polished aluminum) UltraCruiser in the air.