ICON has been in a significant and ongoing hiring phase, more than doubling its engineering staff since the beginning of 2011. The conclusion of spin-resistance testing has allowed the engineering team to move forward on production design and tooling and is a major milestone toward the completion of the aerodynamic OML (outer mold line) freeze.
As previously announced, A5 production is scheduled to start later this year in Tehachapi, CA. The preliminary manufacturing workflow and production layout have been completed, and ICON is now in the process of building out the manufacturing facility.
ICON's designers and engineers are working hard on the cockpit of the A5, detailing and refining it for production. Each and every component of the interior, from the seat cushions to the ventilation ducts to the avionics, is being carefully defined, including how it will be manufactured, what it will be made of, and how much it weighs. ICON is also particularly focused on ensuring that the fit and finish holds up well over time and meets ICON's high standards.
ICON engineers have also made significant progress on the composite manufacturing front. A weight-test article (a right wing) was made using production fabrication techniques. It was used to validate the weight estimates engineers are using for the "as built" weight of the airframe. ICON engineers are also closely studying how best to manufacture tooling and the airframe itself, while always keeping an eye on minimizing weight.