I’m generally biased in favor of anything that flies, but truth be told there have been a few light-sport aircraft that I haven’t enjoyed flying. I felt that those airplanes were so light on the controls that it was rather unsettling. While the Icon A5 looks cool, I was prepared for the worst when I went to fly the two-seat amphibian. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
Icon A5 Light-Sport Aircraft Review
Key Takeaways:
- The Icon A5 is an amphibious light-sport aircraft designed as an "ultimate flying toy" for the outdoor recreation market, prioritizing safety, ease of flight, and a "badass" aesthetic over traditional performance metrics.
- It features a simplified, luxury-car-style cockpit with intuitive Angle of Attack (AOA) display, folding wings for transport, and a spin-resistant design that the author found provided exceptional stability and controllability even in cross-controlled stall conditions.
- The author experienced the A5 as surprisingly easy and fun to fly on both land and water, noting its smooth handling; Icon offers extensive training programs tailored for non-pilots, though the final price of $247,000 for early models is higher than initial estimates.
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