Seaplane Sunday

Photo: Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.

The Icon A5 is a revolutionary light-sport amphibious aircraft designed for recreational flying with a focus on safety and accessibility. Its sleek design, folding wings, and intuitive controls make it the "sports car" of the seaplane world—blending performance with the pure joy of flight.

Icon Aircraft was founded in 2006 by Kirk Hawkins and Steen Strand, with the A5 concept revealed in 2008. Development focused on creating a safe, user-friendly aircraft that would make flying accessible to more people. After extensive testing and design refinements, the A5 received FAA approval in 2015 and first customer deliveries began in 2017.

Specs: Length 6.7 m (22 ft), wingspan 10.7 m (35 ft), powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912 iS engine. Maximum takeoff weight 700 kg (1,540 lb); range 555 km (345 mi).

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The A5 is currently in production and represents a new category of recreational aircraft. Its innovative safety features—including spin-resistant airframe, angle of attack indicator, and ballistic parachute—make it uniquely accessible. The folding wings allow for easy trailering and storage.

• Recreational Focus: Designed for lake hopping, coastal exploration, and flight training.
• Amphibious Capability: Operates from both water and land with retractable landing gear.
• Modern Cockpit: Glass panel avionics with Garmin displays and intuitive controls.

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For Wind & Wireless, the Icon A5 represents the democratization of seaplane flying—bringing the joy of amphibious aviation to a new generation. We're watching how this aircraft influences recreational flying culture and potentially inspires similar designs worldwide.

• Market Impact: Potential to expand the seaplane pilot community through its accessible design.
• Technology Watch: Future variants may incorporate electric or hybrid propulsion systems.
• Flying Culture: The A5's trailerability could create new patterns of "fly-in" camping and exploration.