AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2015 - 68

But after finally getting a chance to fly
the first fully conforming Icon A5 in June,
I can say with confidence that this airplane is for real. It's extremely graceful on
the water and in the air, offers exceptional
control harmony and visibility, and absolutely will not spin no matter how much
it's provoked.
"We had very specific design goals going
into this project, but we think you'll agree
that we achieved them," said Icon President
Kirk Hawkins. "It's taken longer than we
wanted. Much longer. But it was important
that we take the time to get it right."
FIRST FLIGHT

My first flight is at Northern California's
Lake Berryessa with Hawkins in the right
seat. After starting the 100-horsepower
Rotax 912 iS engine and pointing toward the
placid middle of the lake, he advances the
throttle, neutralizes the elevator, and lets
the airplane rise on the step on its own. We
accelerate to 45 knots in about 14 seconds
covering roughly 900 feet. Then, a slight tug
on the stick gets the A5 airborne.
68 | AOPA PILOT August 2015

Raising the flaps 10 feet above the water
causes no sink, and we accelerate smoothly
to 90 KIAS in level flight. The view over the
down-sloping nose is expansive, and with
side windows removed, the mild, sweetsmelling, 70-degree California air swirls
through the cabin and accentuates the
sounds, sensations, and sense of connection
to the airplane and these idyllic surroundings. Ground and water pass by in a rush,
giving the impression you're flying through
an IMAX movie of your own creation.
Even though we're moving slowly by
airplane standards, we're fast compared to
personal watercraft-and the A5, in essence,
is a personal watercraft with wings.

sales. And by designing the A5 to comply
with Light Sport aircraft rules, new adherents can fly it with as little as 20 hours of
flight training instead of private pilots with
a minimum of 40.
Icon rejects the staid GA pitch that flying is a transportation-oriented, time-saving
tool for busy executives that adds to a company's bottom line. Their product is purely
about good times on the water.
To succeed in its chosen outdoor/recreation market, Icon knows the A5 has to be
easy and safe for new pilots, and capable of
operating at lakes and marinas far removed
from busy airports, which the company
regards as stressful, unfriendly, buzz-killing places. The A5 must be aesthetically

DESIGN OBSESSION

Icon set out to create an aircraft so different it would attract an entirely new
market. Instead of focusing on traditional
GA buyers, the company aims at youthful,
adventurous consumers who have propelled
the "power sports" industry (which includes
fast boats, motorcycles, sports cars, and personal watercraft) to $30 billion in annual

THE FREE-CASTERING nosewheel (top left)

makes for a tiny turn radius. The round
landing gear handle (bottom left) and water rudder are logically located together on
the configuration portion of the panel. The
panel could have been lifted from a highend car (bottom right), but the instruments
themselves are pure aviation. An angle of
attack indicator is front and center.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2015
