Flying an aeroplane is no longer a difficult dream for most people, especially in the United States, as long as it is so difficult to get a pilot's license. In line with the launch of a new regulation by the FAA on rule changes for the category of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) in 2004, where the new rule allows each person can fly a plane without having to go through a long training process and do not need strict medical records are sometimes inhibit them to obtain certification.
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| ICON A5, a sports car in the sky. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1exfgbl) |
For prospective pilots only takes 20 hours of flight training and just have to pay less than $3,500. But there are rules that must be obeyed the SPL (Sport Pilot License) pilot holders. They are only allowed to fly to a maximum altitude of 3,000 meters from the ground and aircraft speed must not exceed a maximum of 222 kph and should not conduct night flights. Similarly, the number of passengers is limited to a maximum only two people including the pilot and the minimum pilot age is 16 years. |
| ICON A5 with fully wings span. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1n06IC9) |
The aircraft was first developed by Kirk Hawkins, a former USAF F-16 fighter pilot who was capture business opportunities of the expansion of new generation aircraft based on the FAA's new rule, allowing the vehicle to fly that offers convenience for consumers but has a different attraction to the sport plane in general.
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| ICON A5 with folded wings span. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1n06IC9) |
The idea is akin to a person buying a sports car and operating it can quickly. Bailer was intercepted when Hawkisn met with Steen Strand, well known product designer who has 14 years of experience designing sports equipment, Hawkins vision to create 'sportcar in sky' getting closer to reality.
Precisely in 2005, Hawkins founded ICON Aircraft with the developtment facilities located in Southern California. Not without reason this place was chosen as the base aircraft industry. California is known as a state that produces quality human resources in the field of aerospace as well as automotive design center of the world.
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| Interior view of ICON A5. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1exfgbl) |
ICON Aircraft engineering team supported by people who have been involved in the development of phenomenal aircrafts such as Voyager, Global Flyer and Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne of Scaled Composite which located in Mojave, California.
Over the three years since the founding of ICON Aircraft, in June 2008 the hard work of developtment team successfully finished their first aircraft prototype named ICON A5, a petite amphibious sport aircraft with a capacity of two passengers. A month later, on July 15, 2008 ICON A5 flying premiere of a lake in California. Test fly directly addressed by the ICON's test pilot and also Aero engineer, Jon Karkow.
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| Left side view of ICON A5 Interior. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1n06IC9) |
The first flight took place properly, the aircraft's performance even more than expected, but still conducted sustainable test until the aircraft ready going into production line. Since the beginning, ICON A5 is designed like a sports car, it could be seen from the shape of the snout and the sloping windshield and a pair of headlights that look like sports car.
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| ICON A5's simple flight instruments console. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1n06IC9) |
So see the cabin, sports car feel more resilient feel, its dashboard panel really different than most aircraft. Detail design is perfect, until the pilot is believed to be sitting in the cockpit aboard a sports car feel rather than being steered plane.
Its equipment facilities include a simple analogue flight instruments, pilot's numerous flying aids, LCD multifunction display, plus a port for modern gadgets like iPod and MP3 to listen to music as well as the addition of glass can be removed while the fly.
To make the ICON A5 more practical, Icon's engineers thought the facility for owners and users of aircraft, such as the main wing can be folded manually or automatically. In folded back condition, the plane would have easily raised the trailer and furthermore can be towed by a car from the garage to the airport, river or lake nearby.
Special aircraft carrier trailer has also prepared by Icon Aircraft as an option. Then the landing gear can be retracted when flying or the landing wheels facilities can also be removed completely in Seaplane version.
ICON specs include a maximum speed of 120 mph and maximum range of 555 km. It measures 23' long and 7.1' high, with a wingspan of 34'. Other features include folding wings, retractable landing gear, Seawings platforms for easy access and docking.
The construction of aircraft structures are built using carbon fiber material, make very light weight and efficient in fuel use. By using a single Rotax 912 ULS engine power of 100 hp neatly embedded just behind the cabin that can consume the aviation or general fuel.
As the security features offered on the Icon A5 is a GPS moving map system that can provide information to the pilot about the nature and the local weather conditions in real time, then Wing Angel of Attack (AoA) indicator, patent-pending Propeller Guard and parachute that can inflate mini rockets launched from the roof when the plane experienced engine trouble while flying.
The aircraft with standard fittings sold at the price of $139,000. It is not expensive when compared with a sport car like Ferrari that sold at $224,640. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ICON AIRCRAFT | POPULAR MECHANICS]
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