A Look at the ICON A5 – Your Ticket to Anywhere

The ICON A5 is a next-generation, light sport aircraft that performs both as a seaplane and an airplane. It’s described as a sports car with wings, which manoeuvres like a jet ski – and because it’s easy to store and transport over land, you’re always ready for the next adventure.

Making flying fun and easy for everyone

When you set on an off-the-beaten-track adventure, ideally you’d want to rent a private plane to get you to those hard-to-reach places. A private jet charter can have you in the air at short notice. What’s more, as well as skipping airport crowds and queues, you can take along outsized items on charter flights, such as snowboards or skis without the hassle of specialized packaging and excess baggage fees. The ICON A5 is the closest you can get to having your very own charter plane at your beck and call.

The ready-to-fly aircraft has been designed by manufacturer ICON Aircraft to be so intuitive that even a novice can learn to handle it in under 30 hours, the company claims. The recreational plane can be flown by anyone holding a sport pilot license. This is because the ICON A5 is classified in a similar way to other recreational powersports vehicles such as ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), motorcycles, watercraft and snowmobiles.

If you’ve never flown before, you can take an ICON Sport Pilot course or one of two transition courses if you are already a licensed pilot or sport pilot: TX-S if you have a water endorsement or seaplane rating, and TX-L if you don’t.

A closer look at the ICON A5

The American amphibious aircraft isn’t meant to go far (its range of 491 miles would get you from Las Vegas to Albuquerque on a full 20-gallon tank), and it hasn’t been built for speed: 109mph is as racy as it gets. But what the A5 lacks in distance and speed, it more than makes up for in innovation.

Its canopy treats pilot and passenger to panoramic views as they sit in the cockpit, with the engine at the back and a low instrument panel. For a truly immersive flying experience, the side windows can be easily removed and stowed in the baggage areas.

If the aircraft’s controls are reminiscent of a high-end sports car, that’s because they were created by BMW designers. Taking credit for the sleek exterior, meanwhile, is ex-Nissan designer Randy Rodriguez. The innovative design includes folding wings that can be opened by a single person in just two minutes. This feature and the size of the aircraft – at 23ft in length and 8.1ft high – mean the A5 can be stored in a standard home garage. Even refueling is a breeze: you can tow it or pull in at the gas station to fill up with either 100LL (100-octane, low-lead) or 91-octane auto gasoline. 

The private plane is also the first spin-resistant light sport aircraft in the world. This isn’t down to any specific feature, but rather a combination of design elements. For example, the outsized, foldable wings have stall-resistant wing cuffs, and there’s a slight twist in the plane’s carbon-fiber contours and innovatively designed airfoils. The bigger wings called for a larger tail, which in turn required a stronger tail boom. The result was a larger and heavier airframe, with a maximum gross weight (fully loaded with passengers and equipment) of 1,510lbs (685kg). A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) weight exemption was required to nail the spin-resistant design, though, because the maximum gross weight of other amphibious light sport aircraft is 1,430lbs.

The ICON A5 also has a feature that keeps this private jet airborne and controllable, even when the pilot has inadvertently stalled it. Typically, most aircraft held in a stall, even at full power, go into a rapid descent that can degrade into a loss of control or a spin; but the A5 is designed to float in midair indefinitely, so long as the engine doesn’t overheat.

The plane’s latest avionics innovation is a Garmin G3X Touch™ interface flight display with an optional two-axis autopilot. This optional configuration adds another layer of situational awareness and sophistication to the 2021 ICON A5 Limited Edition (S-LSA).

Since the first unit rolled off the assembly line, the A5 has clocked up some prestigious awards, including:

• 2008 Popular Science 100 Best Innovations of the Year

• 2009 I.D. Annual Design Review

• 2009 International Design Excellence Awards (“Gold” in Automotive & Transportation)

• 2009 International Design Excellence Awards (People’s Choice Award)

• 2009 “Gold” Spark Design Award

• 2010 Wallpaper “Life-Enhancer of the Year” Judges Award

• 2010 Red Dot Product Design Winner

• 2015 Flying Editors’ Choice Award

Innovation timeline: from fledgling to full flight

The A5 prototype made its maiden test flight on July 16, 2008. By January 2009, ICON had completed its first phase (included 27 flights) of a three-phase testing program, including water handling. In February 2009, the prototype entered its second phase of testing to refine its aerodynamic and handling qualities.

From 2011 to February 2012, the updated spin-resistant wing was flight-tested: the design met FAR Part 23 type certified requirements, thanks to its cuffed wing with multiple proprietary airfoils that vary along the wing’s span. Designworks, a global creative consultancy owned by BMW, developed an automotive-style interior for the aircraft, and helped with the development of lightweight component manufacturing.

The first ICON A5 was unveiled on July 27, 2014 at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin. It had been constructed between January and June 2014 at the company headquarters in Tehachapi, California, and flown for the first time on July 7. Following an FAA audit in 2015, serial production began in July 2017. A total of 15 aircraft were delivered to customers in 2017, followed by 200 in 2018.

The Model Year 18 versions of the A5 include an improved nose gear design, more legible and better night illuminated instruments, a simpler and lighter oil cooler with better cooling airflow, an improved rudder pedal design, upgraded landing-gear actuators, an enhanced canopy design with no airspeed limit for flight with windows removed, and improved wing and fuselage access panels.

In January 2019, ICON had completed 90 aircraft with 1,300 on backorder, and by July 2019, 100 aircraft had been delivered.

ICON A5 specifications

Number of seats: 2

Wingspan: 34.8ft (10.6m)

Empty weight: 1,080lbs (490kg)

Maximum take-off weight: 1,510lbs (685kg)

Baggage (max): 60lbs (27.2kg)

Take-off distance: Runway 640ft (195m) / Water 840ft (256m)

Landing distance: Runway 590ft (180m) / Water 700ft (213m)

Fuel: 91 Octane Auto or 100LL Aviation

Fuel capacity: 20 US gallons

Max speed (VH): 109mph (175kph)

Engine: Rotax 912 (100hp) – fuel-injected, air and liquid-cooled; four cylinders 

Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Cost of the ICON A5

The aviation innovations achieved by the ICON A5 have resulted in significant interest in the aircraft from outside the aviation community. ICON reports that 35% of its customers were not pilots prior to ICON A5 Sport Pilot training.

Tempted to give the A5 a go? A fully equipped 2018 model will set you back around $296,000, while the ICON A5 Limited Edition (S-LSA) starts at $359,000 for delivery in the US. The plane’s total variable operating cost per hour is $79.

Book a private flight on a charter jet with ACS

If you want to get out there and interact with your world but can’t afford the price tag of an A5, a private plane rental is a good option. At Air Charter Service (ACS), we offer a broad range of private jets to suit your needs. Get a fast private jet quote now, or contact us to speak to our team, who will take you through a wide range of charter flight options, which include private jet leasing solutions and the world’s most flexible jet card.

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