January 19, 2010. Copyright 2010, Graphic News. All rights reserved

A luxury sports plane for first-time fliers looks set to take off next year
By Susan Shepherd

LONDON, January 19, Graphic News:  At first glance, the sight of the ICON A5 unfolding its wings in the company's promotional video takes you right back to Leonardo da Vinci and man's primeval longing to imitate the birds. The huge mechanical arms da Vinci designed -- after studying the flying skills of bats -- have been endlessly updated so that, now, anyone with sufficient nerve can glide off mountains, launch on water and buzz around the skies at leisure.
 
This latest addition to the recreational market can take off from land or lake and folds down to fit on a trailer, so you can tow it to your chosen launch site. Its two-seater cockpit looks very similar to a luxury car interior and comes complete with a dock for an MP3 player. The control panel, with its simple, minimum instruments, has been positioned overhead, leaving room for a wide, clear canopy giving unobstructed views.
 
ICON Aircraft say they brought in naval engineers to advise on the construction of the hull and give it a sophisticated, state-of-the-art sleekness. Based in Los Angeles, about 10 minutes from the city's international airport, the company's headquarters is close to the hangar where, in the 1940s, Howard Hughes built his famous Spruce Goose flying boat, a gigantic seaplane commissioned by the U.S. government to transport troops. ICON will be hoping its own project has a more successful start and a longer life than its famous neighbour, which suffered delays during the research and development stage so that the Second World War was over before the plane ever flew, while its eventual cost went well beyond budget. 
 
In fact, plans to make the A5 available in 2010 had to be abandoned last summer as the global recession caused problems with financing. However, enthusiasm is growing among the wealthy, would-be weekend pilots; ICON's website shows that more than 450 orders have now been taken for the craft, which will cost from $135,000. The first 100, limited edition specials, will start delivery in autumn next year. 
 
Central to the appeal of the A5 is its simplicity. Regulated in the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration, these light sport models need only about half the training time previously required for a private pilot's licence. They can only fly in daylight, using VFR -- visual flight rules -- and stay well below the height of commercial air traffic. The company's founder and CEO, Kirk Hawkins, says it's a safe and exciting way for people to experience flying their own plane and that test flights have proved the A5 performs "exceptionally well". And for those who want extra reassurance, an optional parachute can be provided.
/ENDS