ICON flew its first customer-destined A5 amphibian a couple of weeks ago and says it’s on track for serial deliveries “this summer.” In a Facebook posting May 8, the California company said the first flight of the first customer aircraft took place April 24. “Test pilot and Lead Aero Engineer Jon Karkow confirmed that all systems performed flawlessly, paving the way for a sequence of test flights,” the posting said.
The company says it now must have an FAA audit before deliveries begin. The A5 is a composite amphib with folding wings and is powered by a Rotax 912iS. It’s a light sport aircraft but was granted a weight exemption from the FAA to a maximum of 1680 pounds (the regular limit for amphibious LSAs is 1430 pounds) to accommodate the extra wing and tail structures required for its spin-resistant design. The plane incorporates automotive styling and the company’s stated goal is to “democratize aviation … by fusing outstanding engineering with world-class consumer product design.”
