Summer’s finally here! That means it’s time to prep for some epic weekend getaways. And what better way to do so than spending some time on the water? By taking to the skies of course! And as luck would have it, the amphibious Icon A5 allows you to have the best of both worlds. This two-seater vehicle provides some of the best adventures at sea. And, then, when you’re ready to get some aerial scenery, this sporty boat transforms into an easy-to-drive aircraft. So get ready for some of the most fun you’ll ever have in the sun!
Motor and Specs
You’d probably think that an amphibious plane wouldn’t offer much when it comes to power. But in truth, the Rotax 912iS engine does a pretty stellar job of getting this fine piece of aviation where it needs to go. In fact, at a max speed of 109 mph, you’ll find no problems having a bit of fun while exploring the sky. Plus, on water, the Icon A5 offers a cruise speed of roughly 85 knots. So again, this amphibious plane is perfect for exploring and relaxing on the waters.
Furthermore, the range on this aircraft is perfect for any weekend trips to the beach or lake. At 427 miles with a 45 min reserve, you’ll have all you’ll need for an awesome sightseeing adventure. Plus, the 20-gallon tank even works with automotive gas if you prefer. So there’s plenty of accessibility and affordability in that respect.
Design: The Plane Anyone Can Pilot
Icon designed its A5 with a major goal in mind: make a plane anyone can fly. Seriously, everything about this plane’s design allows for some easy piloting.
For starters, Icon placed the propeller in the back of the plane. This means the view in front of you remains completely unobstructed. So you won’t need to train your eyes to adjust to the propeller. Moreover, you’ll get some of the world’s most alluring views of nature as you pilot hundreds of feet above the earth.
To also help newer pilots, the Icon A5’s gauges look more like those you’d find in a car than a typical plane. So your altitude and speed gauges are those easy-to-read analog displays. Even more important, the Angle of Attack gauge remains front and center. In other words, you’ll certainly know when you’re about to stall. Thus you can make any adjustments immediately and accordingly.
Altogether, this amphibious plane weighs an ultra-light 1,510 lbs. Add to this its small size and you have an aircraft that’s easily carried by your standard towing trailer. So overall, it’s a fantastic aircraft to take to any short weekend vacation.
Safety
Going back to the topic of stalling, This A5 does an amazing job of keeping the plane under control during such an incident. While most aircraft enter fatal emergency mode and start spinning toward the ground during such an incident, the A5 handles things quite differently. Instead of crashing toward the earth, the A5 hovers in place. Therefore, so long as the engine doesn’t overheat, you can gain your composure and take any necessary actions. It’s an exceptional safety feature, to say the least.
As you might have guessed, the design plays a huge role in explaining how this plane remains spin resistant. The carbon fiber frame combined with huge wings, stall resistant cuffs, and a large tail with a strong tail boom all help keep this aircraft under control. So it’s really the clever design as a whole that keeps you safe when you decide to soar in the sky.
Another nice safety feature here involves the ICON parachute system. As the name implies, this is a parachute in case anything does go wrong. All in all this feature helped save more than 300 lives. So it’s a great reassurance that this plane will keep you safe.
Icon A5 Price, Availability, and Classes
Beginning in 2019, you can buy a base Icon A5 for as low as $269,000. But if you want the fully equipped A5, you can buy it now for $389,000.
Of course, remember that buying an A5 is one thing. Learning to fly an A5 is another thing altogether. Thankfully, Icon offers flight courses in Vacaville, California and Tampa, Florida. Introductory classes start as low as $495.
Final Thoughts
Can’t decide whether you want to spend your weekend at sea or in the air? Then the Icon A5 amphibious plane is waiting for you! It’s hard to find a small plane these days that offers quite as much fun as the A5. Plus, all those safety features keep even the most novice of pilots covered and secure. So whether you’re new to flying or an expert by this point, there’s no other aircraft on the market that will help create as many fun weekends and getaways.
