BeechTalk - BT - Latest Video from ICON A-5

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 10:07

I hope this company makes a go of it. Nice little aircraft.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/T-aZTi8bY3Q[/youtube]

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 11:33

If they can get it all to work (folding wings-trailerable, retract gear and floats) then this will be an excellent LSA. I wish them luck - a plane like this could spark a lot of interest in GA.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 11:37

It's a jet ski with wings.

If they're going to take the time to create something like this, why do they make it so tiny and unusable for anything but screwing around? Does it cost so much more to create a legitimate cross country version?

I love the idea but what are you really going to do with it?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 11:41

The insurance costs will probably be more than a Bonanza or Baron.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:06

Username Protected wrote:

It's a jet ski with wings.

If they're going to take the time to create something like this, why do they make it so tiny and unusable for anything but screwing around? Does it cost so much more to create a legitimate cross country version?

I love the idea but what are you really going to do with it?

You could lose the chick in your avatar to one of these... :tape:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:14

Username Protected wrote:

It's a jet ski with wings.

If they're going to take the time to create something like this, why do they make it so tiny and unusable for anything but screwing around? Does it cost so much more to create a legitimate cross country version?

I love the idea but what are you really going to do with it?

You could lose the chick in your avatar to one of these... :tape:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:19

Username Protected wrote:

You could lose the chick in your avatar to one of these... :tape:

Don't understand.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:24

Yeah, It's really cool. If you had one, would you fly it that low?

If that was a Bonanza in the video, everyone here would be crying foul and calling the FAA.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:26

Username Protected wrote:

Yeah, It's really cool. If you had one, would you fly it that low?

If that was a Bonanza in the video, everyone here would be crying foul and calling the FAA.

Agreed - thought the same while watching.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:27

Username Protected wrote:

If they can get it all to work (folding wings-trailerable, retract gear and floats) then this will be an excellent LSA. I wish them luck - a plane like this could spark a lot of interest in GA.

Can a LSA have retractable wheels? I do recall some exception for amphibs but I didn't think a full retract like was pictured here was allowed.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:30

I have to disagree with some of the previous comments (about the limitations and market...not about losing the girl to the ICON driver... :lol:

).

Personally, I think the ICON is one of the best things to happen to aviation recently. It's a pure recreational vehicle. One that will have exposure way beyond airports (which non-pilots rarely visit). Orders alone already prove that it will reach out to a large market, some of it new to aviation. It IS like a jet ski. And, there are a lot more jet skis and boats out there than planes.

I can easily see a new group of people attracted to the ICON they saw at the lake/beach and willing to get their license in order to use one. I saw one displayed on one of the O'Hare concourses and it was mobbed with people checking it out.

I may be overly optimistic, but I do think that there will be some folks pulled into LSA aviation by the ICON. Then, once they get some experience and see the utility that other aircraft offer, they might wind-up right here talking about their new Bonanza!

That said, I don't think they'll sell that cool "JetSki/Plane" that fits in their garage anytime soon!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:32

Username Protected wrote:

:coffee:

I have to disagree with some of the previous comments (about the limitations and market...not about losing the girl to the ICON driver... :lol:

).

Personally, I think the ICON is one of the best things to happen to aviation recently. It's a pure recreational vehicle. One that will have exposure way beyond airports (which non-pilots rarely visit). Orders alone already prove that it will reach out to a large market, some of it new to aviation. It IS like a jet ski. And, there are a lot more jet skis and boats out there than planes.

I can easily see a new group of people attracted to the ICON they saw at the lake/beach and willing to get their license in order to use one. I saw one displayed on one of the O'Hare concourses and it was mobbed with people checking it out.

I may be overly optimistic, but I do think that there will be some folks pulled into LSA aviation by the ICON. Then, once they get some experience and see the utility that other aircraft offer, they might wind-up right here talking about their new Bonanza!

That said, I don't think they'll sell that cool "JetSki/Plane" that fits in their garage anytime soon!

I agree 100%. I'm sure everyone else does too.

My only question was "how much more difficult would it be to build a legitimate cross country version compared to the LSA version? Seem to me it shouldn't be that much harder BWTHDIK?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:35

Yeah, that guy was "real cool" flying 3 feet from rocks with his wing tip. I am so impressed, that guy is my hero!

Agree, short of a "fun on Saturday plane" it has no real world application.

- Mark

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:35

I wonder how they filmed it.

From the front, rear, side, inside, the passenger had her hand out of the window with no visible wind on her sleeve. The sound did not include wind or motor noise while flying with the window open. They were extremely low. Was this really filmed live?

Just wondering...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Feb 2011, 12:36

Mark, you can say that again...