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Icon A5, the sporty amphibious plane for the rest of us
A former Air Force F15 pilot rolled out this personal aircraft yesterday, and he’s calling it Icon A5. The $139,000 plane can take off and land on water or dry land, and has controls that are more like a car than an airplane. Fold up its wings, and you can tow it behind your car. Expected to go on sale in 2010, its 32-foot wingspan makes it a relatively small plane, but it's still not the smallest one we've seen.
Icon A5 fits right into the FAA’s new Light Sport Aircraft category, restricted to flying in daylight under 10,000 feet with a top speed of 140mph. It must be easy to pilot the thing, because you can get the Sport Pilot License required to fly it with about 20 hours of flight training.
Flying in this little pocket rocket got you scared? Not to worry — it's a whole lot safer than a personal helicopter — if you make a flying mistake, this beautifully designed plane has its own built-in parachute.
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Icon, via Business Week
By boxerfanatic at 1:04 PM ON 06/13/08
I SOOOO want one of these. An even slicker little plane than the Seawind 300C.
HUD, and side-stick controls would be welcome additions.
By murc at 6:18 PM ON 06/13/08
thats a cool looking little plane.
By SeaNymphette at 6:43 PM ON 06/13/08
Brilliant,
I love it. My father was a small plane recreational pilot, and I always wanted to get a private pilot license myself, but the planes are so expensive, I never dreamed I'd be able to afford to own one. This sexy little number, makes ownership economically feasible! Bravo skipper!
By dancesonsnow at 10:02 PM ON 06/13/08
A 5 seat version would be very cool, but this is still cool. However I think by 2010 avation gas will probably cost $8 - $10 per gallon. Ouch!
By Planet X at 2:43 PM ON 06/14/08
amazing plane... but a bit expensive
By Edward at 5:10 AM ON 06/18/08
That is so cool. i must have one. just need to find the money.
By 911 Fan at 3:46 AM ON 06/19/08
Looks like fun to me.
By Threeballstting out the equivalent of vapor at 6:43 AM ON 06/19/08
I would have a lot more faith in this item if the images were of a working model, rather than entirely CGI renderings. This strikes me as a preliminary attempt at a concept to determine the market for such an item by putting out the equivalent of vaporware.
By radiogeek at 8:55 AM ON 06/19/08
This is an awsome plain. As a pilot in the making, I would be interested in this little plain. I could park it on a trailer in a shed in my own back yard. No renting space in a hanger or at the local airport.
By JABBA04 at 11:21 AM ON 06/19/08
COOL PLAN.
By LotteryWinner15M at 4:27 PM ON 06/19/08
So is the article saying that you do not need a pilots licence? Only the 20 hour Sport Pilot Licence?
By aztecace at 10:53 AM ON 06/20/08
I just hate the helicopter type joystick, would rather have a steering wheel configuration, seem like this would be harder to work over a long flight.
By Spacelock at 7:11 PM ON 06/20/08
Looks cool and looks to be easy to learn to fly it
By J4Cub at 9:02 PM ON 06/20/08
It may only be a concept but it sure looks like it would be neat to fly.
By zenobia911 at 12:37 AM ON 06/21/08
I would if I could. I'm 61 now and just learning scuba diving. I'll be 64 when this personal transportation device goes into production. So maybe when the time comes, I'll discover I can, and I will.
By Calex2008 at 10:37 AM ON 06/21/08
This is really cool item. If only it could use hydrogen for its fuel then this will become a awesome commodity.
Calex2008, RI
By TerryB at 2:30 PM ON 06/22/08
Neat looking But would be more interested in seeing some of the specs. I see it will hold 2 people but how much cargo weight (camp gear and such} Also What is the Range?
By njc1001 at 4:31 PM ON 06/22/08
By jjlasne at 1:42 PM ON 06/24/08
This is a pretty interesting concept. If it was more designed like an automobile and less like a fighter jet, it would be accessible to more people. With ground traffic to a standstill due to large amount of uneducated drivers and oversized vehicles, air traffic sounds like the way of the future. By the time, GM, Ford and Chrysler go out of business, fuel prices would have dropped to reasonable levels and this should be affordable. In the sky, there is no speed limit and less traffic. Good bye, CHP! Hello, ATC!
By kkaoss at 11:26 AM ON 09/23/08
I don't see this aircraft garnering the sport pilot's license classification, as it has landing gear which can be repositioned in flight -- a sticking point with the FAA in regard to the Light Sport Aircraft designation. I am sure a waiver has been applied for but to date, I know of no aircraft which the FAA has approved for sport plane status with retractable gear.
By sjuneau69 at 3:58 PM ON 01/05/09
I want one ASAP. When will they be available for sale.
By arocho263 at 10:16 PM ON 06/04/09
kkaoss, if you don't already know the FAA allows retractable landing gear on the light sport aircraft if it is a seaplane design
By Roscoe at 11:57 AM ON 01/09/10
It is excellent in design and perfectly suitable for what one wants; but will it be available for commercial use or is it just a concept that just emerged and surely will evaporate in nearby distant future ?
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Roscoe:
It is excellent in design and perfectly suitable for what one wants; but will it be available for commercial use or...More »