Los Angeles-based Icon Aircraft has cut A5 deposits from $5,000 to $2,000 at the 2012 EAA AirVenture show, and will donate $100 of the deposit to the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA). The promotion covers in-person and online sales.
“The Seaplane Pilots Association has a critically important mission to act as the voice of the seaplane pilot community,” said Icon Aircraft CEO and founder Kirk Hawkins. “Icon is a staunch advocate of responsible seaplane flying and effective community seaplane integration. SPA works hard to help both the public and regulators treat seaplanes and all other users of public waterways with fairness. We’re honored to be able to contribute to SPA as part of our promotion to show our support for this worthy mission.”
Steen Strand, Icon COO and co-founder, told AOPA that this is Icon’s last airshow before production on the A5 starts in Tehachapi, Calif., by the end of the year. “We come to AirVenture to show people where we are in the development process,” he said. “We view Oshkosh as an annual check-in with the industry. It’s a great show for us.”
In other news, Linden Blue has joined Icon’s board of directors. Blue is vice chairman of General Atomics, which builds the Predator UAV. He is also CEO of Spectrum Aeronautical, which is currently developing a high-performance, economical, composite business jet.
Blue has served as executive vice president and general manager of Learjet, and was president and CEO of Beech Aircraft Corp., where he oversaw the conceptualization of the Starship. He has logged more than 10,000 hours as pilot in command, and has jet, helicopter, and seaplane ratings.
