An amphibious seaplane that can be flown with just 20 hours of training could soon bring recreational flying to the masses.
The light sport aircraft, dubbed the Icon A5, has a top speed of 110mph (177km/h) and and will set you back $197,000 (£110,000).
Described as the 'Tesla of planes', the all-composite flying boat weighs just 1,000 lbs and has a range of 450 miles (725km).
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An amphibious seaplane that can be flown with just 20 hours of training could bring recreational flying to the masses. The light sport aircraft, dubbed the Icon A5, has a top speed of 110mph (177km/h) and and will set you back $197,000 (£110,000)
A production model of the A5, from Los Angeles-based aviation firm Icon, was tested this week on New York's Hudson river.
It has a retractable landing gear and is built of a lightweight carbon fibre with a 34.8-foot wingspan, with a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 engine.
The aircraft weighs around 1,000 lbs and seats two for a maximum weight of 1,510 lbs.
Only 20 hours of flight training is required to fly the vehicle, which is half of what it takes for a typical private license.
LA-based Icon says its intent is to 'democratise' aviation the same way that brands like Apple, BMW, or Oakley have done.
The manufacturer hopes to capitalise on new Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) rules making 'sport planes' less regulated, and sports pilot licenses easier to obtain.
Earlier this year, FAA officials issued an airworthiness certificate for the plane, giving it the go-ahead for commercial production.
A5s come with an optional ballistic parachute, a parachute ejected from the casing via a small explosion on top of the plane that brings the entire airplane gently to the ground in case of an emergency.
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Described as the 'Tesla of planes', the all-composite flying boat weighs just 1,000 lbs and has a range of 450 miles (725km). A production model of the A5, from Los Angeles-based aviation firm Icon, was tested this week on New York's Hudson river
The A5 was built over a five-month period, from January to June of 2014, and successfully completed its first flight on 7 July 2014
The aircraft was built over a five-month period, from January to June of 2014, and successfully completed its first flight on 7 July last year in Tehachapi, California.
Reviews of the seaplane have so far been largely positive.
'It's extremely graceful on the water and in the air, offers exceptional control harmony and visibility, is a joy to fly - and would not stall and spin no matter how much I provoked it,' wrote AOPA editor Dave Hirschman.
'The feeling of putting the A5 into a bank is like the smooth cabernets and sauvignons of the Napa Valley where our flight tests are taking place. The control harmony reminds me of a DeHavilland Chipmunk or a T-38. Think it and the airplane obeys,' added Plane and Pilot's Marc Lee.
Overall, it has a maximum speed of 110 mph and a range of 450 miles on 20 gallons of gas, going as high as 10,000ft.
LA-based Icon says its intent is to 'democratise' aviation the same way that brands like Apple, BMW, or Oakley have done. The manufacturer hopes to capitalise on new Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) rules making 'sport planes' less regulated, and sports pilot licenses easier to obtain. Pictured is the interior of the Icon A5
A5s come with an optional ballistic parachute, a parachute ejected from the casing via a small explosion on top of the plane that brings the entire airplane gently to the ground in case of an emergency
It has a retractable landing gear and is built of a lightweight carbon fibre with a 34.8-foot wingspan, with a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 engine.
The 10.36m wings are foldable for easy towing and will fit in a garage, while the engine runs on both regular petrol and aviation fuel.
It also has something known as an 'Angle of Attack' (AoA) indicator.
This is a feature more often found on military aircraft which shows when a wing will stall to help maintain flight.
Base price for the A5 is $197,000 (£110,000), with up to $50,000 in additional options.
Bloomberg reports that, to date, Icon has received more than 1,500 preorders, which represent more than $400 million in sales.
With the opening of a new factory in California, orders placed today will be delivered in three years.
The 10.36m wings are foldable for easy towing and will fit in a garage, while the engine runs on both regular petrol and aviation fuel
With the opening of a new factory in California, orders placed today will be delivered in three years
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