Icon has delivered the first of its Model Year 18 aircraft, the company said on Thursday. The new version incorporates “numerous functional and manufacturability improvements,” the company said. The changes include improved nosegear, which makes the A5 easier to steer and taxi; instruments with better legibility, illumination and reliability; and reduced complexity, weight and airflow of the oil cooler. “This aircraft marks the start of a new production phase of the A5 as we resume volume production and ramp up rates to deliver customer aircraft on a larger scale,” said CEO Kirk Hawkins.
Other changes for the MY18 include 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, and improved access panels in the wings and fuselage for easier serviceability. The first 100 airplanes in MY18 will also feature the Founders Edition livery, which includes a unique paint scheme, numbered badging and graphics, and a personalized plaque. The Founders Edition aircraft was created specifically for “owners whose passion and advocacy for the Icon mission helps lead the way in bringing aviation to many more people,” the company said. The first MY18 delivery, a Founders Edition A5, went to Roy Halladay, a former professional baseball player, who took possession of the aircraft at the company’s site in Vacaville, California, this week.
