Summer 2017 Newsletter
July 18, 2017
Overview
A lot has happened in the last 12 months. We built A5s at a low initial production rate, refining ICON's quality standards in the process, and have now completed 21 aircraft. We put thousands of flying hours on the fleet, testing the reliability and durability of the A5 in the field by using them for one of the most demanding types of flying: flight training. We learned and made changes. We've rolled design and manufacturing improvements into a revised Model Year 2018 (MY18) A5, which is now available. We built a greenfield, ICON-owned and operated, high-tech, carbon-fiber manufacturing facility in Baja California. We also opened the first two ICON Flight Centers (IFCs), located in Tampa and Northern California, and have trained more than 125 pilots. This gave us the chance to thoroughly vet the ICON flight training syllabus, which we created from the ground up to focus on sport flying and water flying fundamentals. And finally, after working through the extraordinary challenges that come with creating a new aircraft and new aircraft company, we've started delivering A5s to customers to take them home and fly them wherever they want. As we ramp up production of the new MY18 A5, there are a few open slots in the first half of 2018 that we'll offer on a first-come, first-served basis to deposit holders already on the list.
Customer Deliveries
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ICON Owner Julian Gates on Lake Powell, AZ, on July 4th.
The A5 is ready-in fact, it's more than ready. We've now started delivering aircraft to customers who have already started their own flying adventures. In June and July, the first few left the ICON nest: Mike Sievert (COO of T-Mobile) took his home to Seattle, Andy Wilcox flew his to Flathead Lake in Montana, and Julian Gates took his home to Southern California after spending the 4th of July weekend on Lake Powell.
Andy Wilcox told us, "My A5 didn't miss a beat on the way back to Montana, but the real fun began when we got the plane home. It's everything ICON promises and more. Sure, it saves me an hour-and-a-half drive stuck behind lines of motorhomes on the way to the lake, but words and videos can never capture what the experience is like flying this plane on and around the water with the windows out. It gives you a completely different perspective on the world, even compared to other aircraft I have owned, and the response of my family, friends, and strangers is like nothing else."
Julian Gates wrote, "Unbelievable time flying on Lake Powell. Wow. I admit I was a little concerned at first, given the 3,600-foot lake elevation and temperatures over 100F every day. But while you can certainly feel the effect of the 8,000-foot density altitude, we flew the aircraft daily at gross weight off the water. As for fun? Off the charts. I've owned a lot of planes in my life, but never had this much fun. Tell the ICON team they nailed it and should be proud."
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Andy Wilcox's A5 on Flathead Lake in Montana.
To support these A5s out in the field, we've trained authorized maintainers at the home airports of the delivered aircraft. We are continuing to grow the third-party partner network to service upcoming deliveries that aren't near factory service centers, currently in Vacaville and Tampa. ICON is currently evaluating other candidates, so if you know a world-class, customer-focused aviation business in the U.S. that could be a future service partner for ICON, please contact us at info@iconaircraft.com.
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Mike Sievert's A5 at Ace Aviation, the new ICON-authorized maintainer for the Seattle area.
Production Update
Technicians prepare carbon fiber airframe components for bonding. The fuselage consists of two halves with various bulkheads and other structural elements inside.
Slowing production last year was a tough decision, but it was the right decision. Bringing composite construction in house was necessary to deliver the best aircraft and give us the self-reliance to build A5s at the numbers and quality levels that ICON demands. Built in less than a year, the new 300,000-square-foot facility is now operational, and the first fuselage it produced was completed and delivered to ICON's Vacaville factory at the end of June for paint and final assembly. The completed airplane will be ready for delivery to a customer in September.
Adhesive is carefully applied to all contact surfaces before the two halves of the fuselage are joined.
ICON technicians prepare to remove the newly joined fuselage halves from the tool in which it was bonded.
Model Year 2018 A5
The A5 fleet now has about 5,600 hours on it, put on by hundreds of different people, including flight training students, rental customers, journalists, and ICON pilots. Thanks to the feedback from operations in fresh and salt water, during day and night, in hot and cold temperatures, and from sea level to over 8,000 feet density altitude, we incorporated a number of technical improvements into the Model Year 2018 (MY18) A5, including:
Improved nose gear which makes it easier to taxi and steer the aircraft
Instruments with better legibility, illumination, and reliability
Reduced complexity and weight of oil cooler while also improving airflow
Stiffer rudder pedals with better grip and improved adjustment and locking mechanism
Landing gear actuators with better performance at low temperatures
Improved canopy design with no airspeed limit for windows-out operation
Improved access panels in wings and fuselage for easier serviceability
We're currently offering a limited number of MY18 ICON 100 aircraft with first- and second-quarter 2018 delivery dates. Only 100 of these specially equipped aircraft will be built, so contact ICON Sales at sales@iconaircraft.com or 707 564 4100 if you're interested in taking delivery of an A5 in less than a year from now.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and Deposit Promotion
Our favorite aviation event of the year is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and from 24 July to 31 July, we'll be at our usual spot on Celebration Way, between the Cessna and Cirrus displays. Whether you're an AirVenture veteran or you've never been, we hope to see you in Oshkosh. During the week of the show, we will offer a reduced deposit promotion, which will be available online or in-person at the show. As production ramps up and the wait time for aircraft decreases, we expect to shift to a "direct to contract" model and phase out the deposit program, so this is a great opportunity to get on the list.
Keep Up with ICON Online
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Gear Up With ICON
Our online store is open for business 24/7 and features a variety of ICON gear and accessories. From tees and hats to desktop models (pictured), there's something for ICON fans of all ages. Shop online at store.iconaircraft.com
