ICON A5 - amazing new amphib LSA

[733driver]

Hi all,

just came across this: http://www.iconaircraft.com/index.html

Had never heard of it before but it looks as if they are serious.

It is an amphibian LSA powered by a 100HP Rotax, with foldable wings for trailering and a really cool, sportscar-like interior.

Will be at Oshkosh later this summer. First flight expected soon. Deliveries from 2010 they say.

Costs USD 139,000.- .

There is also this youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_avz621hOo

What does everybody think?

[stickandrudderman]

Looks cool ut just so impractical here in the UK, unfortunately!

[lauchiemb]

Is it my imagination or does the Icon look a bit like this :http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn77/aviate1138/Picture18-1.jpg

[znww5]

All they seem to have at the moment is a non-flying mock-up. The 'photos' on the web site are clearly fake but not described as such - the texture and dodgy montage work are particularly poor.

The 'real' aircraft shown on the you-tube unveiling is just a concept model - look how the prop spins freely, no registration numbers etc etc etc.

Nice concept, nothing more than that - I wouldn't hold my breath :bored:

[733driver]

lauchiemb, I agree, the basic design looks similar but there are lots of unique features to the Icon.

znww5, you are right, but the website says the prototye is nearing completion and on track for flight testing this summer. Also a lot of the people behind this company seem to be quite experienced (scaled composites etc)

I am quite optimistic.

[flybymike]

If the aircraft is half as nice as the Totty they used for the unveiling, it will be a winner...:)

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Interesting project.

I wonder what the maximum safe wave hight will be and what its porpoising characteristics will be like?

[gasax]

The ICONis new to me, but by my reckoning this makes it the fifth new amphibious design (at least) to be aimed at the LSA rules. So if nothing else these rules are certainly encouraging things.

It will be interesting to see which of them actually succeed. The CZAW Mermain and Seamax are probably 'furthest' along with a limited number of customer deliveries.

And of course they all look pretty similar and apart from the Mermaid all are composite.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Insurance rates may go up as these new little toys start to crash during water operations unless the manufacturers insist on proper training on the water.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

There does not seem to be very many flight instruments in the prototype.