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While watching flashy videos of Icon A5, I did not quite appreciate the thought that went into the design. It only dawned on me when I watched a video with Dan Johnson just how un-airplane the interior was, in particular the instruments. Basically, A5 is a concentrated effort to create an airplane that is not intimidating to boaters.

On web forums a comparison of airplanes and boats is a common discourse, since the price range overlaps quite a bit, an yet the numbers of boaters exceed the number of airplane owners by an order of magnitude at least. It is true that oneours regulations for airplanes have a lot to do with the disparity, but they do not tell a complete story. For example, where do you keep your airplane when you are not flying? Where is your nearest airport and how much a hangar rent?

A5 is a valliant effort to address some of these questions. It is very clearly targeted at being launched at your nearest marina or slipway. That is why the folding wings and the roadable wheels: so you can tow it. I thought that the amphibious design was a clever way to exploit a loophole in LSA regulations, because LSA seaplanes are permitted a larger gross weight. But actually A5 is made a seaplane to permit a boat-like operations, and the weight is just a bonus.

And of course, being an LSA, A5 can be flown by people who cannot be bothered to receive a Class 3 Medical Certificate.

Now that I understand the idea, the program seems like a very worthy endeavour to me. Unfortunately, A5 is not an airplane for me, as I am not interested in pure sports flying, and it is useless for touring, for instance. A5 is basically a jet ski with wings, as far as its value goes. I find jet ski boring. I rent it now and again, but I would not want to own one. But other people do, and it's great. Maybe they'll give A5 a try when it comes out.

UPDATE: Someone posted at SPT:

I'm not embarrassed to say that I took my discovery flight after I saw the Icon A5 featured on a tech blog I frequent.

Perhaps the propaganda and the imagery will be A5's lasting legacy. Of course the reality is nowhere as glossy: speed restrictions when towing, high costs, need for training, no beer while flying, and let's be honest: if anyone with 20 hours tried the maneuvers that Icon's test pilots performed, he would kill himself right away. But a man has to dream.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at 07:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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