ICON A5, Icon Aircraft Pilot Report and A 5 Aircraft Review.

www.sportaviationmagazine.com - ICON A5, Icon Aircraft Pilot Report and A 5 Aircraft Review. Dan Johnson take us for a ride in the ICON A5, from Icon Aircraft.
Shows like Sebring and Midwest LSA Expo are known for being great places to demo fly a Light-Sport or light kit you may be considering to buy. They earned that reputation because it is typically much easier to fly at those lower-key, less crowded events than at giant shows like AirVenture. However, some companies make demo flying a mission at Oshkosh and this article covers three that delivered an exceptional number of demo flights.
Your author finally got a chance to fly the Icon A5 at AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. Watch for an upcoming Video Pilot Report on this warmly-received LSA seaplane.
Icon reported doing around 150 demonstration flights in the first public outing of the long-awaited LSA seaplane. Writers for aviation's largest magazines got their private crack at the new bird beforehand ... since returning from Oshkosh, I've seen A5 on the covers of Flying, AOPA Pilot, Sport Aviation, and Plane & Pilot. That's an enormous splash. I can't recall any single aircraft capturing all four titles in the same month, quite a credit to Team Icon for deftly executing such a major marketing push.
Once arriving in Wisconsin, Icon made sure many their owners-in-waiting got a chance to fly the bird they hope to own before long. Interspersed among them, more aviation journalists got their chance. I had to bide my time until near the end of the week due to an intense schedule and a couple days of less than ideal weather, but I finally got my shot at the much-talked-about LSA.
Icon staffers were very accommodating, even mounting four GoPro cameras on the A5 in which I flew with ex-military jock and now Icon's vice president of sales and marketing, Craig Bowers. Look for our coming Video Pilot Report as soon as the video editing can be completed. Icon did their demo flying off-site where they could better control the experience.
A group of perhaps 15 personnel moved people in and up in a pair of A5s with some staffers first briefing each pilot while others took care of fueling, taking photos, assisting the water docking and more in the expert fashion we've come to expect from the California company.
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www.lightsportaircraftpilot.com - ICON A5, Icon Aircraft Pilot Report and Aircraft Review.
• ICON A5, Icon Aircraft...

[@rjwintl]

my Dad built an Osprey in the garage back in the 70's !!! ... he would have loved the Icon-A5 !!!

[@fstwrtr]

the elbow out the window is a nice touch.. kind of adds to the relaxed flying experience

[@canalcaribeno]

Oh my God, i love this plane. Imaging this aircraft with four seater for tourism tour around the caribbean island in dominican republic. Amazing plane love it...

[@canonphoto]

And that would take it out of the light sport class.

[@DrewLSsix]

+canonphoto By his statement the plane would be outside the US anyway. And as part of a tourism related business it couldn't be an LSA anyway, whatever the specs were.

[@futurestar3348]

The already have that anyway, you would just be changing that plane for this one...........................

[@SGspecial84]

I wouldn't trust this plane in the open ocean. It doesn't look like it can land in choppy water well.

[@josephvallejo9533]

As a Flight Instructor I have to say.....Sorry to disappoint you. At Max Allowable Gross Take Off Weight with full tanks, this airplane can only carry two persons of no more than 155 Pounds each, any additional weight would drive the weight beyond its legal limits. If you operate an aircraft outside of legal limits you are committing a violation which will invalidate insurance parameters. The airplane is underpowered, an aircraft ability to climb is based on excess horsepower, this airplane only has 100HP. giving you poor performance. Bad deal.... Overpriced, flies slow, low and underpowered, easy to get over grossed.......At the present price.....dead in the water !!!!! It is a sexy looking airplane, such a pity !!!!!

[@MrGarey1]

liked the video , but the audio is a bit messed up. But I want one of those

[@claudiodovalle9925]

Flying low over the water is amazing. I did it a lot with the albatroz. Sea effect. You get much less air resistance so you speed up keeping the same fuel consuption. I would love to fly the A5. Congrats !!!

[@acexprt]

Still an all time favorite aircraft for me! It's beautiful!

[@Tharkunify]

Great video and an amazing plane. Loved "You got the plane" when buzzing along about 10 feet above the water and handing the controls to Dan. The instructor reminded me a little bit of Colonel Kilgore.

[@dr123hall]

Yes, By Far Away The Best A5 Review ... The Dan and Greg real life flying! Thank you guys very much Im full in by 2018!

[@keylargo70]

Looks like a nice airplane. This would be a bunch of fun in places that have a lot of lakes. I flew airliners for 30 years and never understood why we did not have an AOA indicator in the jet. We had AOA but it was used differently. Not real fast but neither is a cub on floats. I hope they can produce a bunch and get more US made planes in the air. Ca. is most likely not the best place to build them if they want to reduce costs. Not a real fan of the bass boat paint look. We own 2 gliders and white is about the best color for longevity of plastic airplanes. I am also glad new LSA aircraft are using a control stick and not a wheel.

[@mikebe41]

What are the advantages of a stick versus a wheel not a pilot here

[@steffeness1]

Know the cost of this aircraft out the door?

[@dougharker9913]

BEAUTIFUL UNIT !!

[@ajjs02]

Well, I'm just going to say it.. THIS IS AN AWESOME LITTLE PLANE!!!.. and it looks fantastic.. I'm sure i'll be shocked by the purchase price.. ^_^

[@bobwampler3387]

Impressive aircraft!

[@Eltoca21]

Looks like you both really enjoyed yourselves

[@Vliegnet]

Great video. I really enjoyed it!

[@jmwSeattle]

Re: the "my plane, your plane, my plane thing" that is an FAA Focus/Emphasis matter/area so they are demonstrating it for the GA crowd in order to be good examples. They kind of have to do it. It did cost my CFI a big problem when a student ran a 172 off a short field runway and then there was a ditch which caused an inversion and prop strike and the FAA put him through the ringer. The student probably had a heavy foot on the right rudder peddle.

[@Paulo_AMG]

loved it.

[@nukulerstrategery]

I would like to see a high powered, pressurized craft built like this. It's the perfect configuration. The engine is at the CG and on top of the wing. This makes it simple to double the horsepower and add a variable pitch propeller. Keep it simple and inexpensive as possible. This configuration lends itself to many variations.

[@adamwe12]

I’ve been a fan of icon for years! I am glad you’re finally in production. Is it a good commuter plane for island communities like the Caribbean or Hawaii?

[@jamesmurray3948]

Yes, as the demo pilot says, that single pointer altimeter is stupid for an aircraft that is touted for fun flying at low level. I wonder if they made that change and if Halladay's Icon had a more accurate altimeter. AOA is great but when you are managing energy close to the ground accurate altitude and rate of descent (VSI) are important.

[@Twister051]

I've never owned an amphibian, never flew an amphibian and don't have a seaplane rating but......dang!....that's a good looking plane! : - )

[@DanielMorales-dz4nv]

Exelent view, open windows fun to fly! I have not decided which to buy but this one is good.

[@JeffWelcherMedia]

The stabalized content coming off of the left wing GoPro is trippy as he11.

[@NightSky777]

Nice video/views. Really appreciate the info you gave at the end.

[@yakkadeeyak5129]

Thanks. i really enjoyed this video.

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

12:37 loved your question, and you got some great answers. That's how good manufacturers improve their products.👍

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

Actually, never heard what were your constructive criticisms about this plane which they could improve upon?

[@flip-da-loop]

great video, ICON A5 I want one......now!

[@supercat380]

This is a well-designed aircraft with amazing features. With proper marketing strategy, this aircraft can sell very well both locally and abroad. A strong and motivated sales team at Icon aircraft can ensure the success of this aircraft, as it rightfully deserves to be!!!

[@marlengaddis4937]

good to me know if I can Flying out on my way to go on vacation one day

[@JimPaar]

I ordered one

[@ictpilot]

Just imagine how much better performance if you didn't have the parachute. But like the Cirrus, it probably couldn't be certified without it.

[@malcolmar]

AMAZING!

[@irwansyahlubis2756]

Good day...ICON A5..very very amazing aircraft..ilove you ICON A5..for the Full Activity..for Surveilance..plesure and monitoring control areas my Country..god bless..ilove ICON A5..

[@stevefridland5681]

truly incredible

[@jaroslavkasa6944]

Beautiful and amazing aircraft 😍👍

[@dieseldrivermt1]

i agree even in the states to me this aircraft to be four seater no matter the new specs and like to see a front with rear motor, would be best use for me

[@imontime77]

Great puddle lake jumper, but i would only skim along the edges of the big blue shores with this one.

[@raydreamer7566]

What a great air craft. Tee tail and large sponsons instead of wing tip floats ( pontoons) that will catch waves and stop you from water launching with waves.

[@bunnykiller65]

Beautiful little plane. But for $269,000.00 to $389,000.00 (for a kit plane), you would think it would have a multi function display instead of steam gauges. They need to knock about $150,000.00 off the price tag. Check out the MVP.

[@Flightsworldwidevideos]

great video!!

[@GryphonArmorer]

Wow. With all that stall work they did, looks like the only way the plane can crash is on purpose and even then it would be hard. I want one. I would rack up hours like a mad man.

[@JacquesVrolijk]

Looks like you really enjoyed that one.

[@davidsabre9118]

Amazing video. I felt like I was in the right seat

[@ultralightnews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@barneybruns887]

Good review!

[@TheMonkeyrock77]

nice plane.

[@peterpedersen1641]

Watching this little "Floater" I was amazed at the stall characteristics. Damn, rate of descent at less than 900 fpm. WHAT? How is this if the loss of power without water to cushion? Not using the parachute. I live in both NYC and the Pocono Mountains. We have over 1,000 lakes around here. I have seen floatplanes land on some of the lakes, and the Delaware River. I have flown a few larger floats. This is a fantastic little bugger. I need one!!! Just cannot really justify putting out over $300k. Hmmmm....

[@reddrydor]

Great aircraft ! I would love to see them stick the 915 engine in it and try to shorten up the takeoff distance

[@thepieman4398]

beautiful

[@thatdutchguy2882]

They are having way too much fun xD.

[@SGTReem]

In words of Chuck Yeager "To me that's stupid, it's tells you what your angle of attack is, if you don't know it you shouldn't be flying"

[@kaleihoopai7332]

What is the max winds for this aircraft? I want one for hawaii but it can get gusty here.

[@dukeman7595]

Wow that is a very nice airplane and appears simple to operate due to the configuration of the instrument panel, more like a car and not at all intimidating.. Love to have one someday, need to save my pennies first..

[@jvmalum]

Just 2 questions, how much does it cost and does it have air conditioning? This thing is awesome.

[@Josephsvideoalbum]

Watching the whole series of videos about these things. Remembering what life is really about.

[@danniles5256]

Cool video.Looks like fun.

[@bozotheclown935]

Wow.... looks like fun...

[@philmoredennie526]

would like the option of a third seat ,center aft.

[@freddiebowers1125]

Dan you were doing a lot of smiling :)

[@Fraiyia]

Okay guys, found out , you can fly this with a LSA ticket. So too cool. I plan this year to get my commercial rating so those of us with ppl, IFR and Com can fly this without a sea plane add on.

[@BrokenRRT]

Improve production by 100% and decrease the price by 40% and they would make more profit than only selling/delivering a few a year at much higher price. Great idea bad management!

[@MrPaige222]

BrokenRRT When they were first introduced, the price was 185k....all in. After their main test pilot with chief engineer on board tempted fate and crashed, I believe their widows sued and are now forcing them to charge an absolutely ludicrous 400 grand per copy. There are a couple of copy cats available offered at less than 200 grand. And the Aventura is MUCH less with a better power plant....around 85 grand. I love this airplane, but I have no respect for anyone who crashes it and then whines about it. No plane is going to be crash proof. They were messing around at low altitude and couldn't recover in time. 2 things that are useless in flying......altitude above you and landing strip behind you.

[@carstenhansen5757]

I think it's so cool you can open the window that much. But it also limits it's use, in colder areas. You take the windows off, or they roll down or? Would have been nice to hear the engine constantly, and not only when speaker system is active. Nice vid otherwise. :)

[@andybarnes00]

Makes tight turns with no lookout at all!

[@Hyperious_in_the_air]

only thing I wish for this plane is that they make a model that can include a full IFR garmin kit.

[@benignorivera3419]

What's the fuel capacity and the distance that you can fly in this plane

[@carpenterpilot487]

I like it, I was a student pilot in the 1990 to 95 I didn't finished my check ride I wish I finished it up. oh well just to be in the air flying is a wonderful pleasure. its a lot of studying finish up ur private pilot license very costly now these days. The ICON is a winner. Maybe I will go for sport license.

[@robertxavierbetancourtjuni8291]

when can i fly into salton sea from hemet ryan?

[@jamesbaxter2812]

I see a lot of people talking about the AoA, But there ia a screen in the middle, I need to knowwhat that is for.

[@shadowddc4117]

+James Baxter That's the artificial horizon right between the airspeed indicator and the altimeter.

[@seriouscatisserious]

RIP, Roy. :(

[@davidholdman8015]

Awesome

[@dsonnic]

when will you make a four seater

[@DeltaAirtran]

They're offering my brother a job and free pilot training for their aircraft. He's very lucky.

[@dadohamze5461]

Perfect

[@travissk5036]

That plane is amazing

[@adrianlarkins7259]

That AOA indicator is great BUT even as a VFR private pilot, as I was years ago, I had sufficient training on the artificial horizon and the turn and bank indicator. This was in case I found myself in unexpected cloud. It is easy to be tempted to carry on. Mistake! That's where a little bit of instrument training can mean the difference between life or death. In short, I would insist on those gauges be installed.

[@kylehelmke2066]

I think it's like that because it's strictly VFR. Im a student pilot right now. But being a light sport I doubt you can ifr this thing

[@adrianlarkins7259]

+Adrian Larkins In reply to the linked comment. Yes, I'm sure the aircraft is strictly for VFR but the problem is, humans being humans, they sometimes make wrong decisions. I did it once myself. I carried on, thinking I could go round the weather when in fact, I should have turned back. Luckily, I had a bit of training with the AH and T&B indicator. That got me out of trouble. It is impossible to fly by the seat of your pants in cloud. Your brain can't cope.

[@dukeman7595]

Adrian Larkins: Didn't the old fly by your seat pilots use a string with a weight tied to the end if they got into clouds, which would tell them their disposition ? I heard this from someone and wondered if it is true..

[@adrianlarkins7259]

I wouldn't know. I'm old but not that old! All I DO know is about 12 -15 hours training on a Links Trainer and also proper time in the air, possibly saved my life when I became overconfident at roughly 200 hours. Instead of turning for home, I pushed on. Big mistake. I never did it again.

[@cinnamanstera6388]

Joseph M I have heard something like that. Some gliders still use that, it's called a yaw string. basically tells you if you have a coordinated turn.

[@jamesbaxter2812]

Thanks

[@MoanikaLewinsky]

I think I'd wait till they can finally come up with a personal-airplane that is quiet inside and you don't have to be all wired up so you can hear your own thoughts!

[@DirtNerds]

so is it a molded fiberglass lower?

[@davidhollman34]

love it ! so ready to buy one

[@adellzachary3171]

david hollman Why haven't you yet?

[@Fraiyia]

I like it. So you do not need an amphibious add-on to your certificate to fly it?

[@kingg406]

+Veronicca Lakewood Hey that is a good question. I want the answer. I did fly a 185 on Edo 3500 Am fibz! I like this waterbird!

[@benignorivera3419]

They make it seem so easy is it really that easy to fly

[@101southsideboy]

was that water sprout at the 1:40 mark ?

[@albxdotcom]

beautiful design. i'd love to have an aircraft that's the size of a Ford F150 cabin....nice and roomy!!

[@kurtjensen7264]

Bar none. This is my favorite airplane. ❤️

[@wakeupidiotsnow2611]

Roy Halladay must of learned to fly the A5 from Jon Karkow as it appears they both just turned off or ignored the AA safety system.

[@researchcapt]

Great plane but plagued with production problems and purchase agreement problems. Very expensive for what you get. Look at some of the other light sport seaplanes before purchasing.

[@alucard0712]

for example?

[@jacquesraymond6892]

I think the FERRARI 458 has inspired for the making of the A5 dash board.

[@bipolatelly9806]

love this plane.... but it's under a bit of a cloud at the moment, i think, since a couple of crashes!

[@JohnBaileyDarke]

That was no rich playboy that crashed and killed himself. That was ICON's chief pilot, an experienced test pilot who should know every nuance of this aircraft, yet crashed (spun in) killing himself and another ICON employee. This aircraft looks great but I would take a Piper Cub on floats, ugly and old fashioned as it may look, over this unit.

[@davidleoncampbell]

Actually, he didn't spin in. He flew into a wrong canyon, a closed canyon and didn't have room to make a 180 or climb out of the canyon. Pictures of the crash show the plane at the bottom of the canyon wall.

[@getsmarter5412]

Kind of ominous, these two guys flying right above the deck. Roy Halladay would have loved one of these.

[@bax6096]

Can this aircraft taxi with the wings in the stowed position ?

[@tonyshaw7389]

I like what IC looks like A Plane for me but then again I haven’t flown in 30 years twin Engine Outré was the last plane I flew Miss flying love to do it again I’m Nother plane I like this one and a backyard flyer to my favourite planes love to fly in the water I left a short takeoff AND landings i’ve the backyard flyer I also like water landings water take offs Of your plane sounds like fun looks like I might own two maybe three planes next year or so thank you for the video it was more insightful than you know thank you once again T. Shaw

[@canonphoto]

They found a market, they are targeting the people that have every toy and making it easy for them to get. I love flying and have always loved personal aircraft, I have many friends with planes and I also know that most people think it's out of reach to get a pilots license. Icon is doing a great job getting people in the air quickly, this in turn will also increase the number of people that continue on to get more certifications and other aircraft. People bitching about the car like interior or saying people shouldn't be able to fly if they can't understand regular gauges, just because you have a pilots license and didn't have an easier alternative when you started doesn't make you king $h@t decider of how life should be. We all started in the same place knowing nothing and you are part of the problem of why there isn't more pilots and recreation pilots because people talk to you and you tell them how hard it is and that they would be lucky to ever get to your royal level. Fun!!!

[@AdamsBrew78]

Seems like the on board parachute would cause this to drop faster than it does at a dead stall!

[@Giggidygiggidy12]

damnit I want one

[@su5119]

Is this considered a Sport Light? I notice in your video that you two are nice and snug in the cockpit. I have flown many aircraft including a Mooney. That too was snug. I'm 6'1" and 210. Wondering about room.

[@ultralightnews]

Yes it is a light sport aircraft. The Ultralight Flyer

[@su5119]

If I wanted to get my pilots license could I get a certified flight instructor to give me lessons in the Icon A5? If so, how many total hours does it take?

[@mansees]

Another iconic American design.

[@lotharvonrichthofen4474]

Nice flight review...too bad that it will likely only be produced in very few numbers with very few owners

[@EvolvedApe]

Drop costs by a tesla style assembly line. Get the price below $200K and it will be a huge hit.

[@steffeness1]

This aircraft is $200 grand? Ouch

[@mattman237]

The 7:00 mark is rather ironic given the fatal crash of ICON employees who entered a canyon and couldn't turn around : (.

[@shannon1664]

The investigation (not by ICON) showed that he entered a canyon, mistaking it for one he was familiar with that had enough room to turn, and didn't have room to 180 or climb out of it. Box canyons are a nightmare.

[@cleberferreiralima412]

Tem q vim a geração pra 4 passageiros

[@jayasaputra1991]

I like it

[@wasim486]

gorgeous plane but what's with all the flexing in the horizontal stab

[@onlygearwarrior]

The RC does this also. The plane does have some unique flight characteristics but over all, at least in the RC version, it's a very docile flyer. I've reinforced mine with carbon fiber for stiffness. Weakest part of the fuselage is right behind the propeller. The thing has a huge rudder and elevator. It surprisingly has no dihedral effect despite mass bing so low centered, so steering with the rudder and elevator alone is out. In the video he mentions using little aileron to keep the plane on the ball. I have to use lots. On the water performance is lots of fun. If I had the real one, I'd want to play on the water, too. Out of all my RC planes this one is the clear winner. It doesn't do much in the way of stunts but learning to navigate on the water and land properly is lots of fun.