Los Angeles-based Icon Aircraft has begun flight testing its first prototype aircraft, an amphibious composite light sport dubbed the A5.
The two-seat, full-scale prototype made its first flight on 9 July from an "undisclosed lake location" in California, according to the company.
The 100hp (75kW) Rotax 912-powered aircraft was piloted by lead aero engineer and test pilot Jon Karkow, who previously was chief project engineer and test pilot for the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. Karkow is among a group of highly experienced ex-Scaled Composites engineers now making up the brains trust at Icon.
Icon says it will continue flight testing over the next year to finalise the design, after which it will build a pre-production model to verify US Federal Aviation Administration and ASTM compliance standards, the de facto "certification standards" for FAA light sport aircraft.
Design features include a 104kt (190km/h) cruise speed, retractable landing gear, folding wings, a platform for cabin entry and docking, a complete airframe parachute system and propeller guard for the Rotax engine, which can burn aviation or automobile gasoline.
Plans call for production and deliveries of the $139,000 aircraft to begin in 2010. The company is accepting $5,000 refundable deposits on its website.
Source: Flight International
