Places Opening Bid At $250,000
This is among the most unusual eBay listings we've ever seen. The holder of delivery position #23 for an A5 LSA has placed the position on the online auction site with an opening bid of $250,000.
Or, if you want to guarantee that slot, you can "Buy It Now" for $975,000.
In the eBay description, seller marketmaeklare says: "You are purchasing NEW the scheduled JUNE 24 2016 DELIVERY of the all-new, fully-loaded, state of the art ICON A5 Founders Edition Aircraft. Only 100 of these will be made. Ever. Some buyers have been waiting the better part of a decade for theirs to be produced. YOUR can be flying yours in a matter of weeks!
"Always wanted to fly? You can jump ahead of an order backlog of roughly 2,400 depositors and start flying your ICON A5 2-seater plane by Independence Day. Join the elite group of aviators ranging from the ranks of fighter pilots to astronauts to first time pilots set to fly this trailer-transportable, highly sophisticated, amphibious aircraft, exclusively designed for safety and comfort."
To attract non-pilots, the description says that ICON "offers a full Sport Pilot flight training program to prepare you. This is an exciting new, simplified pilot license which can be earned in a couple of weeks."
In the "Fine Print" section of the post, the seller says "You are bidding to receive delivery #23 of the coveted 100 first run "Founders Edition" of this much acclaimed and sought after ICON A5 aircraft. ICON has set production for June 2016 with a Production Notice schedule date of June 24 for this aircraft. Otherwise you could face a four-five year wait list. If you want a fully loaded ICON A5 Founders Edition before 2020, here's your chance. This is the only Icon A5 Founders Edition now available, according to the company.
"Much less desirable spots, still months or years from delivery, have been sold previously for prices between $325,000 and $370,000. A fully outfitted Icon A5 ordered today at $248,000 comes with a delivery date likely to be no sooner than early 2020. And, it won't be the exclusive Founders Edition," the seller says on eBay.
The seller says existing ICON A5 reservation holders are welcome to bid, and will be accommodated by ICON, so they are apparently aware of the listing. The seller says a potential buyer can contact him or her, or ICON directly, for details.
(Images from file)