Video Released Showing Spin-Resistant Characteristics Of ICON A5

ICON Aircraft announced earlier this year that it successfully completed spin-resistance testing of its A5 amphibious LSA to the standard specified by the FAA for Part 23 certified aircraft. This historic achievement will make the A5 the first conventional production aircraft to be designed to and fully meet this standard once it enters production.

Spin resistance represents a dramatic safety advancement for light aircraft that can significantly reduce accidents that occur as a result of stall/spins. Stall/spins account for 41% of pilot-related fatalities and are the single greatest cause of pilot-related fatalities (2010 AOPA Nall Report). To visually demonstrate the profound effect a Spin-Resistant Airframe (SRA) can have in preventing stall/spin loss-of-control situations, ICON flew the A5 alongside a conventional "spin recoverable" aircraft ... a Cessna 150 ... and applied the same control inputs to both in an effort to initiate spins.

The video produced by ICON shows the C150 entering a spin, while the A5 flies along at a fairly normal attitude. The video also demonstrates the ICON A5 being flown in a full stall in banks as high as 30 degrees to both left and right, as well as the airplane flying in a stalled condition near a skydiver, demonstrating the rate of descent of the airplane during a stall. (Frame capture from ICON video)

FMI: Watch the Video