![]() ![]() The airframe parts would have been shipped to Icon's Tehachapi, California, plant for final assembly. On August 6, 2012, Icon announced that Cirrus Aircraft would produce composite airframe components for the A5 at its Grand Forks, North Dakota, facility. ![]() A promotion in conjunction with EAA Young Eagles raised more than US$28,000 for the youth flight program. " By August 2011, the company stated that it had sold positions for 694 A5s, up from 400 initially sold at AirVenture 2009. In June 2011, the company announced that it had procured an additional US$25 million investment, which was "needed to allow the company to complete engineering development work and enter production - possibly as early as next year. Production delivery dates have been adjusted from initial estimates. In July 2013 the FAA granted the weight increase. The FAA also requested a signed statement from the company indicating that the aircraft meets the spin resistance criteria specified for light aircraft type certification in FAR 23.221 (a)(2). ![]() In May 2013 the FAA requested more details on the procedures used by Icon to test the spin resistance of the aircraft at the higher weight. In July 2012, the company applied for a Federal Aviation Administration LSA rule exemption to raise the weight of the A5 above the maximum weight for amphibian LSAs, arguing that the required structure to make the aircraft spin resistant necessitated a gross weight of 1,680 lb (762 kg). Lotus Engineering replaced Designworks the same year to develop an "automotive style" aircraft interior and assist with the development of lightweight component manufacturing. ![]() The design meets FAR Part 23 type certified requirements by employing a cuffed wing with multiple proprietary airfoils which change along the wing's span. In 2011, an updated " spin-resistant" wing was flight tested, and finished in February 2012. In February 2009, the prototype entered the second phase of testing to refine aerodynamic and handling qualities. In January 2009, the company announced completion of the first phase (27 flights) of a three-phase testing program, including water handling. Ī prototype was constructed from 2007 to 2008, and made its first flight in July 2008. ICON's media debut in Wired and coverage in the mainstream media showed that there was significant interest from outside the aviation community, and ICON has reported that 35% of its customers are not pilots. It's about getting you out there and interacting with your world." As part of this effort, the cockpit interior was designed by BMW designers, and the exterior was designed by Nissan designer Randy Rodriguez. ICON founder and former CEO Kirk Hawkins said of the aircraft, "it's not about the usual metrics of speed, range, payload, altitude, and complex cockpits. ICON Aircraft positions the A5 with a recreational focus, stating that the aircraft competes with powersports vehicles such as ATVs, motorcycles, watercraft, and snowmobiles, rather than other airplanes. The aircraft is known for having brought significant excitement and publicity to the LSA industry since its unveiling in 2008, although company legal and financial issues have slowed production over the last six years.Ĭockpit layout in 2008, designed to resemble an automobile dashboard A year later at AirVenture, it was temporarily donated to the youth group Young Eagles, with the first official A5 customer deliveries occurring in 2016. The first production aircraft made its first flight on July 7, 2014, and made its public debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on July 27, 2014. A concept aircraft was first flown in 2008, and creation of the production tooling began in December 2012. The ICON A5 is an American amphibious light-sport aircraft (LSA) designed and produced by ICON Aircraft. ![]()
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