Seaplanes led the news at EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh this year, with Icon’s debut of the final production version of its aircraft. The company is ramping up for production at a new plant in Vacaville, Calif., with plans to start deliveries of the LSA seaplane next year. Also, a new contender, MVP.aero, showed off a concept with a bundle of unique features. The mock-up and graphic display of the MVP.aero Model 3 amphibian’s unusual design, targeting fun flying, featured a cockpit that opens up to a deck for fishing, relaxing, and camping out.
The show at Oshkosh was one of the best in years, by most accounts, with robust attendance, great weather and happy vendors reporting healthy sales activity. EAA’s One Week Wonder project gave hundreds of visitors a chance to contribute to building an airplane from scratch, and the airshow featured first-ever displays by the Thunderbirds and Alaskan STOL competitors. Cessna introduced a diesel Skyhawk, and the new owners at Mooney delivered their first new airplane. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said a proposed new rule for the third-class medical will be published later this year.
