During the EAA AirVenture airshow being held in Oshkosh, ICON Aircraft revealed that an improved version of its A5 light sport aircraft ...
During the EAA AirVenture airshow being held in Oshkosh, ICON Aircraft revealed that an improved version of its A5 light sport aircraft is under production.
Dubbed the Model Year 2018 (MY18) A5, the version will incorporate numerous design refinements to improve usability and serviceability of the LSA.
The first MY18 A5s with ICON-made airframes will be ready for delivery in September 2017. ICON said further details about the version will be released later.
ICON plans to gradually ramp up A5 production in 2017 and then accelerate rapidly throughout 2018.
The MY18 improvements will be based on the feedback from the 3,500+ flight hours clocked by the A5 fleet, since first flight in 2008.
The type was involved in one fatal crash and another hard landing incidents in this year.
NTSB's preliminary report into the May 9 2017, fatal crash at Lake Berryessa, California, included details from the eyewitness account that indicated the aircraft was flying slowly at about 50 feet over the water where it entered a steep, narrow canyon.
The aircraft was then observed to increase power, pitch up, and enter a left turn in the canyon before it impacted the side of the lake bank.
The fatal accident claimed the lives of two ICON employees, ICON’s Engineering Fellow and Chief Test Pilot Jon Karkow and Director of Engineering, Cagri Sever.
