Icon Aircraft has pushed back first delivery of its Icon A5 light sport aircraft from the second half of 2010 to mid-2011 due to a delay in securing new financing.

The two-seat amphibian, which has now completed more than 50 flights, made its air show debut at AirVenture. Icon chief executive Kirk Hawkins says flight testing is proceeding smoothly, but the company has been forced to push back entry into service by nine months.

Hawkins says the programme was slowed after a new round of financing that was scheduled to close last year was held up by the credit crisis. Icon was able to close the financing deal recently.

Icon has already received more than 400 deposits for the A5. "The orderbook is still open, but were thinking about closing it because there is a two-year backlog," Hawkins says.

Icon A5
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Source: Flight International