ICON Aircraft
By Sarah Rico
In 2004, after 12 years of study, the FAA changed the future of recreational aviation by creating a new sport pilot’s license and a new category of light aircraft. The FAA’s goal was to broaden the appeal of recreational flying and make it more accessible. The new Sport Pilot License requires 20 hours of flight training–roughly half the time and cost of a traditional pilot’s license—and restricts flying to daytime only, good weather, and uncontrolled airspace. The new Light Sport Aircraft category allows small aircraft to be more easily designed and manufactured as long as they follow a detailed set of restrictions, including a top speed of 138 mph and a maximum weight of 1,320 pounds.
A5 Specs
MSRP $139,000
• High-strength, lightweight
carbon fiber airframe
• High-performance wing and airfoil
• Reliable 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS engine
• Runs on auto gasoline or aviation gasoline
Maximum Speed (Vh): 105 kts (120 mph)
Range: 300 Nautical Miles
Interior Cockpit Width: 46 in
Wingspan: 34 ft
Aircraft Length: 22 ft
Aircraft Height: 7.1 ft
Trailered Width: 8.5 ft
Trailered Length: 28 ft
Trailered Height: 8.3 ft
For more information on ICON Aircraft and the ICON A5, including sales information, please go to: www.iconaircraft.com
For more information on the LSA class and Sports Pilot license, please go to: www.sportpilot.org or
www.aopa.org/sportpilot
Kirk Hawkins, former U.S. Air Force F16 fighter pilot and Stanford Business Graduate, founded ICON Aircraft in 2005. He set out to leverage these FAA changes by creating an aircraft that had all the appeal of power sports products like boats, jet skis, motorcycles, and sports cars.
For most of us, being a pilot seems unattainable. The closest I ever came to piloting was getting a set of pin-on wings from our childhood hero in the cockpit of a commercial airliner. This is where the
ICON A5 comes in. This light sport aircraft is not just some concept unveiled at a science fair; it’s a reality to the tune of more than 400 already sold, with buyers ranging from the most experienced of pilots to everyday people who have always dreamed of learning to fly.
Designed and engineered by some of the best minds in the industry, the A5 prototype has logged over 140 hours of flight time since its public unveiling and first test flight in 2008. At first glance it looks like something out of a Sci-Fi flick. The A5 is amphibious, with a hull that resembles a top of the line watercraft, yet has the capability to take off and land on the ground, allowing owners to pick which remote lake or secluded area they would like to spend their day. Once you are in the cockpit, with its iPod dock, removable side windows, and GPS system, you‘d think you were in a luxury sports car. The A5 has also redefined the convenience of owning a plane. With its wing fold capabilities, it can be trailered and towed behind a truck or SUV and stored in a home garage. Don’t worry about fuel either; it flies on either aviation gas or high-octane auto gas. With an estimated price of $139,000, it is comparable to most luxury cars and other recreational vehicles, making it the ultimate toy. Meet us on the lake?
