Flying a Sports Car with Wings | CNN

Tampa, Florida
CNN

When it comes to flying, I don’t have much knowledge.

In fact, I never considered trying it before.

However, as we soar over Tampa Bay in Florida on a beautiful November morning, my attention is drawn to the ICON A5, a two-seater aircraft that resembles a sporty vehicle, glides like a jet ski, and is incredibly cool. The company claims that even a beginner can learn to fly it in less than 30 hours.

Measuring 23 feet long and weighing 1,510 pounds, it is classified as a sea sports plane.

Designed to prioritize the joy of flying without worrying about unexpected situations, there is nothing else like it available.

Now that I’m in control, my entire body is filled with excitement for five minutes. Am I prepared to operate this shiny new machine independently? I’m not entirely sure.

However, I take comfort in the fact that the A5 was specifically designed for people like me and is intended to handle like a car. Additionally, having Icon’s CEO and founder, Kirk Hawkins, next to me in the cockpit is reassuring. He can take over control at any time.

So far, so good.

We comfortably soar through the air at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, and the view is liberating. The breathtaking Fort De Soto Park does not disappoint.

The area is decorated with picturesque white sand dunes surrounded by water that resembles the Caribbean Sea.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, with its impressive cable-stayed design, is also a sight to behold.

The adrenaline is still rushing through my body. And in typical surreal fashion, things only get better from here.

To start with, there’s another ICON A5 aircraft flying alongside me, which is quite fascinating. We are flying in an orderly formation, and my task is to mimic the movements. One might think this would be daunting, but it’s surprisingly not.

It’s simply a lot of fun.

This is music to Hawkins’ ears. As the mastermind behind this innovative plane, an idea that took 10 years to materialize, he has dedicated his adult life to making aviation accessible to everyone.

With experience as a former Air Force F-16 pilot and a graduate of Stanford Business School, Hawkins aims to create an aircraft where the average person can explore the world without the burden of becoming a pilot.

“The concept was to make an airplane that would enable ordinary individuals to see the world without the need to become a pilot,” he explains.

This explains why the dashboard of the ICON A5 resembles that of a car. It features only a few gauges that I am unfamiliar with.

“It’s the Apple way of doing things,” he remarks. “You make it more human, simpler, easier, and cooler.”

Hawkins is confident that people will be eager to fly (and buy) his planes, which is why he recently opened a flight training facility at Peter O. Knight Airport.

Located on Davis Island, just five minutes away from downtown Tampa, this facility is surrounded by beautiful yachts and boats.

ICON’s other training center is situated in Vacaville, California, where the company is based.

By 9 o’clock in the morning, it’s time for a brief water landing practice.

Hawkins takes control as I have been busy learning to fly in formation (not something pilots typically get to try) and even considering learning water landings on my own. Hawkins tells me that most people can learn it in under 30 minutes.

After a few Gs and 360-degree turns, flying the plane feels incredibly exhilarating. Sometimes, I even stick my hands out of the window, just because I can.

A few hundred meters above the water, we have a clear view of a boater waving at us, a group of pelicans, and even some stingrays.

“We’re going to make a quick stop here and get out for a moment,” Hawkins says.

It may seem like they’re laughing, but as soon as he lands on the water, he unbuckles his seat belt, and I know he’s not joking.

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Suddenly, the roof opens, and we ascend onto the wings, which can also double as diving boards. At this point, it feels more like being on a boat and getting a tan rather than stepping off an aircraft.

Everything is bathed in a shimmering golden hue. I can imagine lounging on a nearby beach or embarking on a weekend getaway.

With a full tank capable of covering approximately 430 kilometers, the plane is designed for shorter flights.

“This whole thing is about inspiring people,” Hawkins emphasizes. “Once you learn to fly, you will never see the world the same way again. You’ll have a different perspective on the sky and the earth.”

“Advanced piloting skills are made simple,” Hawkins adds. “Within less than 30 minutes, we have people flying solo with an instructor on their first day.”

However, some time is allocated to developing a defense. The spin-resistant airframe ensures that if a pilot makes a mistake, the aircraft won’t lose control.

Furthermore, the plane is equipped with a full parachute as an additional safety measure.

Chris Dupin, an aviation consultant and former US Army commander, points out that “most aircraft accidents occur due to loss of control during unstable flight.”

In addition, the ICON A5 features an angle of attack indicator, which is a rarity in lightweight aircraft. It indicates whether the wing is in a stable (green) or critical (red) position.

It is the pilot’s responsibility to keep the wing within the green or yellow zone on the gauge. These features make water takeoff and landing easier to learn.

“Kirk Hawkins has employed a highly creative and innovative approach to pilot training, which is smart: escape first, learn later. This differs from how people learn to drive a car,” says Christine Negroni, former aviation journalist and author of “The Crash Detectives.”

“With a shortage of pilots worldwide, it is important to offer diverse training methods that cater to different learning styles, resulting in a more diverse pilot community.”

Based on this information, approximately 40% of the customers who have invested in the ICON A5 are not pilots, indicating that the aircraft is attracting newcomers to aviation.

After an hour and a half of flight time, Hawkins lands us at the airport, a procedure that can be accomplished after becoming proficient in several water landings. It can be a bit challenging due to the need for precision and familiarity with crosswinds.

At this point, if I owned this plane, I would transport it on a trailer, fold up the wings, drive it home, and store it in the garage.

If you want to own an ICON A5, be prepared to join the waiting list. More than 1,800 customers have already placed deposits.

If you’re not ready to spend $207,000 on buying one, you have the option to visit ICON’s training center in Tampa or the facility in Vacaville, California, and enjoy a day of flying.

The Sport Flying Introduction class lasts 1.5 hours and costs $595. To obtain a Sport Pilot License, you’ll need to complete over 20 hours of training, and the prices may vary.