![]() ![]() 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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