ICON A5. The Sport Flying Revolution.
The Sport Flying revolution has just begun. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), working closely with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) created what has been called “The biggest change in aviation in 50 years.” They created an entirely new category of aircraft (Light Sport Aircraft) as well as a new category of pilot license (Sport Pilot), both aimed specifically at consumer recreational flying. Now, the dream of flight is more accessible and more affordable than ever before. Satisfy your sense of adventure… It’s time to join the ICON revolution.
In creating the new “Light Sport Aircraft” (LSA) classification of planes in 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) filled the much-needed performance and price gap between less sophisticated ultra-light aircraft and larger, more complex transportation focused aircraft. Since LSA are targeted to recreational pilots who primarily fly for fun, LSA are designed to be affordable, lightweight, and easy to operate. All ICON Aircraft are classified as S-LSA (special-light sport aircraft), which are factory built, ready-to-fly aircraft. All LSA are inspected and receive an airworthiness certificate from the FAA prior to flight.
– 1,320 pounds maximum takeoff weight (1,430 pounds for seaplanes)
– Maximum airspeed of 120 knots (138 mph)
– Maximum two-person seating capacity (pilot + passenger)
– Single, reciprocating engine
– Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller
– Non-pressurized cabin
– Fixed landing gear (retractable gear allowed for seaplanes)
– Maximum stall speed of 45 knots (52 mph)
ICON’s sport aircraft are not only designed to deliver an amazing and safe flying experience, but also to inspire us the way great sports cars do. After years of development with some of the world’s best aerospace engineers and industrial designers, ICON Aircraft has released the first of its line of sport planes, the ICON A5. The A5 is a bold yet elegant design that communicates beauty, performance, safety, and most importantly… fun.
ICON was founded in 2005 by Kirk Hawkins. Hawkins, a graduate from the Stanford Business School, is an accomplished engineer, former U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot, and long-time motorsport enthusiast. With its world-class team of engineers, designers, advisors, and investors, ICON is located in Southern California – home of the world’s largest concentration of both aerospace and automobile design resources. ICON’s engineering and development team came from Burt Rutan’s famed Scaled Composites, which created such record setting projects as Voyager, Global Flyer, the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne, and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.
