Username Protected wrote:
the aircraft was aimed at a recreational market. (think personal watercraft) recreational markets are noteworthily fickle look at the history of snowmobiles , small outboards etc.
if they survive after the initial infatuation by the public there must be a long term use for the device that generally involve it being used for something other than just running around. like for boats, fishing, skiing transportation around lakes.
Icon also requires knowledge and skill unlike an ATV or Utv where any idiot can buy one and go out and kill themselves. with out government approval.
on our lake there are a huge number of personal watercraft just sitting after the first year of running around in circles.
with the Icon's folding wing if it had a useful load of 600 lbs with full fuel (two people and stuff) it would be a very useful small runabout aircraft.
the aircraft should fly fine at 2000 lbs gross or so and could be very useful for someone in the boonies.
the other problem with the icon is it does not handle big waves very well. whenever I ask them what happens when it hits a 1 ft high boat wake they refuse to answer.
More from today's paper.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-chines ... lead_pos12It's a nice flying aircraft. Much better on water than land. Some docking limitations due to the low wings - most of the time they show it beached, ramped, or in a sort of "U" shaped dock. Wings are easy enough to fold and unfold that trailering like a boat is feasible Unlike say an RV-12 where IMHO the removable wings are a PITA.
As only furnished with 100 hp, wonder if eventually will fit the 914 w/turbo to maintain SL hp even when it's 90 degrees out. Maybe not necessary since the majority will be at or near sea level.
At present cannot take off with full fuel and two normal sized pax. Not sure why they "gave back" some of the (I think) 250# GW the FAA was going to allow them while still retaining SLA status. Think they only took 120# or so above the 1320# landplane limit.
Has really no bad habits on water including the ability to dig in a wing without flipping over. Seemed to manage wakes ok but didn't cross many. Any seaplane has to be mindful of those. Doesn't really stall either. No opinion on the content of the WSJ article but it was highlighted on the home page...
