ICON A5
Encyclopedia
The ICON A5 is an American
amphibious light-sport aircraft
being developed by ICON Aircraft
. A concept aircraft was flown in 2008 but production has not started.
-type amphibious
monoplane
with a carbon fiber airframe and retractable undercarriage
. It seats two people in an enclosed cockpit
and is powered by a single 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS engine driving a three-bladed pusher propeller. Sponson
s provide hydrodynamic stability
and act as a step for crew and passenger. The wings can be folded aft for ground transport and storage. Equipment includes an angle of attack
indicator, an unusual feature in general aviation
aircraft. An airframe ballistic parachute
is optional.
In June 2011 the company announced that it had procured an additional $25 million investment, which was "needed to allow the company to complete engineering development work and enter production - possibly as early as next year[2012]."
An updated "spin-resistant
" wing was tested in July 2011, and production was forecast to start in late 2012.
In August 2011, the company stated that it had sold positions for 694 A5s, of which 143 were received at the 2011 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show. A promotion in conjunction with EAA
Young Eagles
raised over US$28,000 for Young Eagles.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amphibious light-sport aircraft
Light-sport Aircraft
A Light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and which meets certain regulations set by a National aviation authority restricting weight and performance...
being developed by ICON Aircraft
Icon Aircraft
ICON Aircraft is a privately-held American aircraft design and production company. It is currently focusing on the refinement and development of the ICON A5, an amphibious light sport aircraft that is scheduled to begin production in late 2012....
. A concept aircraft was flown in 2008 but production has not started.
Design
The A5 is a high-wing flying boatFlying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
-type amphibious
Amphibious aircraft
An amphibious aircraft or amphibian is an aircraft that can take off and land on either land or water. Fixed-wing amphibious aircraft are seaplanes that are equipped with retractable wheels, at the expense of extra weight and complexity, plus diminished range and fuel economy compared to planes...
monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
with a carbon fiber airframe and retractable undercarriage
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
. It seats two people in an enclosed cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
and is powered by a single 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS engine driving a three-bladed pusher propeller. Sponson
Sponson
Sponsons are projections from the sides of a watercraft, for protection, stability, or the mounting of equipment such as armaments or lifeboats, etc...
s provide hydrodynamic stability
Hydrodynamic stability
In fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic stability is the field which analyses the stability and the onset of instability of fluid flows. Instabilities may develop further into turbulence....
and act as a step for crew and passenger. The wings can be folded aft for ground transport and storage. Equipment includes an angle of attack
Angle of attack
Angle of attack is a term used in fluid dynamics to describe the angle between a reference line on a lifting body and the vector representing the relative motion between the lifting body and the fluid through which it is moving...
indicator, an unusual feature in general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft. An airframe ballistic parachute
Ballistic parachute
A ballistic parachute, ballistic reserve parachute, or emergency ballistic reserve parachute is a parachute ejected from the casing via a small explosion*, much like that used in an ejection seat. *Also there are slug fired systems, mortar fired systems, , & A.I.R. rocket systems...
is optional.
Development
A prototype was constructed in 2007-2008 and made its first flight in July 2008. In January 2009 the company announced completion of the first phase (27 flights) of a three-phase testing program, including water-handling. In February 2009, the prototype entered the second-phase testing to refine aerodynamic and handling qualities.In June 2011 the company announced that it had procured an additional $25 million investment, which was "needed to allow the company to complete engineering development work and enter production - possibly as early as next year[2012]."
An updated "spin-resistant
Spin (flight)
In aviation, a spin is an aggravated stall resulting in autorotation about the spin axis wherein the aircraft follows a corkscrew downward path. Spins can be entered intentionally or unintentionally, from any flight attitude and from practically any airspeed—all that is required is sufficient yaw...
" wing was tested in July 2011, and production was forecast to start in late 2012.
In August 2011, the company stated that it had sold positions for 694 A5s, of which 143 were received at the 2011 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show. A promotion in conjunction with EAA
Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
Young Eagles
Young Eagles
Young Eagles is a program created by the US Experimental Aircraft Association designed to give children between the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating children about aviation. This program is offered free of charge with donations and...
raised over US$28,000 for Young Eagles.
Awards
In the 2009 IDEA/BusinessWeek Design Awards, ICON was awarded Gold in the Transportation Design category. The competition included all cars, motorcycles, watercraft, and every other motor vehicle designed in 2008. ICON was also awarded a 2009 Gold Spark Design Award and a Design Distinction in ID Magazine’s Annual Design ReviewI.D. (magazine)
I.D. was a magazine covering the art, business and culture of design. It was published eight times a year by F+W Media....
.
- 2008 Popular SciencePopular SciencePopular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
100 Best Innovations of the Year - 2008 I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review
- 2009 IDSAIndustrial Designers Society of AmericaIndustrial Designers Society of America is an organization of professional industrial designers primarily in the United States. Recently IDSA has started chapters in Canada and in China...
International Design Excellence Award Gold - Transportation - 2009 IDSAIndustrial Designers Society of AmericaIndustrial Designers Society of America is an organization of professional industrial designers primarily in the United States. Recently IDSA has started chapters in Canada and in China...
International Design Excellence Award People's Choice Award - 2009 Gold Spark Design Award
- 2010 Wallpaper* Magazine "Life-enhancer of the Year" Judges Award
- 2010 Red Dot Product Design Winner