Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
ICON designed the A5 for recreational flying from water and runways. The two-seat amphibian has a compact boat hull, retractable landing gear and a high-mounted engine driving a pusher propeller behind the cockpit. A broad canopy provides visibility around the cabin.
Aircraft background
Wikipedia contributors · Read more ↗Wet feet are part of the introduction
Hirschman reached the A5 with wet feet, already placing the flight in a different setting from an ordinary airport demonstration. Inside, the handle and controls fell naturally to hand, while open side windows brought air into the cockpit. Flying with Kirk Hawkins over Lake Berryessa gave him an introduction shaped by sunshine, water and the company founder’s enthusiasm.
AOPA · August 2015. Manufacturer-hosted A5 demonstration at Lake Berryessa with founder Kirk Hawkins, in calm water and fine weather.
AOPA · Read more ↗Released product and variants
VSKYLABS offers its ICON A5 amphibian as separate native X-Plane 11 and 12 products. The project is an independent simulation with its own documentation and operating scope.
ICON A5 · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube ICON Aircraft · 6 min ·
What an ICON A5 demo flight looks like
ICON introduces the A5 through a customer demonstration flight.
Real aircraft · ICON A5
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet ICON A5
ICON designed the A5 for recreational flying from water and runways. The two-seat amphibian has a compact boat hull, retractable landing gear and a high-mounted engine driving a pusher propeller behind the cockpit. A broad canopy provides visibility around the cabin.
ICON A5
Aircraft type designators
Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.
History & design
Folding wings extend the design beyond the flight itself
During his 2021 checkout, Twombly folded the A5’s wings under Stamps’s supervision and found the task straightforward. His report also describes a transport trailer still at prototype stage, showing how storage and ground transport formed part of the aircraft’s development.
Water Flying · Breaking ground in the ICON A5 ↗First-hand wing-folding experience; trailer production was a future plan in this report
Pilot accounts
Wet feet are part of the introduction
Hirschman reached the A5 with wet feet, already placing the flight in a different setting from an ordinary airport demonstration. Inside, the handle and controls fell naturally to hand, while open side windows brought air into the cockpit. Flying with Kirk Hawkins over Lake Berryessa gave him an introduction shaped by sunshine, water and the company founder’s enthusiasm.
Water landings added to the enjoyment, and the aircraft’s trip up the ramp attracted applause from nearby boaters. Those moments explain the appeal he felt beyond the instrument panel or performance figures: the aeroplane connected flying with the activity already taking place around the lake. The report describes a particularly inviting demonstration in favourable conditions, rather than establishing how every A5 outing will feel.
AOPA · August 2015. Manufacturer-hosted A5 demonstration at Lake Berryessa with founder Kirk Hawkins, in calm water and fine weather.
Read the full account · AOPA ↗A wave supplies an unplanned part of the flight report
Weather and a busy demonstration schedule complicated Johnson’s chance to fly the A5 at AirVenture. When the flight with Craig Bowers finally happened, learning to include the angle-of-attack display in his scan became part of getting comfortable with the aircraft. He enjoyed the experience while also identifying cockpit details he would have liked arranged differently.
The lake supplied a more memorable interruption: a wave came through the open window and soaked him. His phone survived the splash, leaving the incident as an amusing addition to the evaluation. Afterward he spent an hour at a restaurant recording notes on his iPad.
Plane & Pilot · September 2015. Written account of a July AirVenture flight on Lake Winnebago with Craig Bowers; embedded video has not been used as evidence.
Read the full account · Plane & Pilot ↗Three training flights end with homework and a certificate
Poor weather kept Twombly in ground school with Genesah Duffy on his first visit. He returned in better conditions to fly with Sean Stamps, beginning with a thorough inspection before heading out over Tampa Bay. Learning to give the angle-of-attack display a central place in his approach scan became the main adjustment during the water-landing practice.
The course also exposed the ordinary maintenance behind a polished aircraft. Before a later flight, Twombly noticed a loose fairing; a mechanic repaired its damaged mounting hardware. After completing three flights, there was still a written examination to send back. The electronic certificate arrived afterward, marking the end of a learning process that included preparation, flying and follow-up work rather than simply a demonstration ride.
Water Flying · March–April 2021. Seaplane transition training at ICON’s Tampa centre with Genesah Duffy and Sean Stamps; historical course experience.
Read the full account · Water Flying ↗In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
Compare simulator versions →MSFS 2024ICON A5
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
ICON A5
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
MSFS 2020ICON A5
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
ICON A5
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12ICON A5
VSKYLABS · Released
ICON A5
VSKYLABS · Released
Manuals & resources
Find your next read
Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.
Simulator documentation
Released product and variantsICON A5 · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS offers its ICON A5 amphibian as separate native X-Plane 11 and 12 products. The project is an independent simulation with its own documentation and operating scope.
Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14
VSKYLABS · Read the source ↗Pilot account
Wet feet are part of the introductionAOPA · August 2015. Manufacturer-hosted A5 demonstration at Lake Berryessa with founder Kirk Hawkins, in calm water and fine weather.
Hirschman reached the A5 with wet feet, already placing the flight in a different setting from an ordinary airport demonstration. Inside, the handle and controls fell naturally to hand, while open side windows brought air into the cockpit. Flying with Kirk Hawkins over Lake Berryessa gave him an introduction shaped by sunshine, water and the company founder’s enthusiasm. Water landings added to the enjoyment, and the aircraft’s trip up the ramp attracted applause from nearby boaters.
Dave Hirschman
AOPA · Read the source ↗A wave supplies an unplanned part of the flight reportPlane & Pilot · September 2015. Written account of a July AirVenture flight on Lake Winnebago with Craig Bowers; embedded video has not been used as evidence.
Weather and a busy demonstration schedule complicated Johnson’s chance to fly the A5 at AirVenture. When the flight with Craig Bowers finally happened, learning to include the angle-of-attack display in his scan became part of getting comfortable with the aircraft. He enjoyed the experience while also identifying cockpit details he would have liked arranged differently. The lake supplied a more memorable interruption: a wave came through the open window and soaked him.
Dan Johnson
Plane & Pilot · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Manual
Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft manualsMicrosoft / aircraft developersAircraft background
Icon A5Wikipedia contributors · Research background · Wikipedia revision 1361743313 · retrieved 2026-09-12Resource
MSFS 2024 FAQ and edition aircraft inventoryMicrosoft MSFS 2020 FAQ and edition aircraft inventoryMicrosoftDeveloper documentation
VSKYLABS ICON-A5. Advanced add-on for X-Plane Flight Simulator.VSKYLABS · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14 VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations Aircraft Center: VSKYLABS ICON-A5VSKYLABS · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14Type designator
ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03Built-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 2 profile choices
VSKYLABS ICON A5
VSKYLABS · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS ICON A5: Direct mechanical controls motivate aerodynamic feedback in the profile.
ICON A5
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2024 · MSFS 2020 · X-Plane 12 · X-Plane 11
ICON A5: Direct mechanical controls motivate aerodynamic feedback in the profile.
VSKYLABS ICON A5
VSKYLABS ICON A5: Direct mechanical controls motivate aerodynamic feedback in the profile.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- VSKYLABS ICON A5 · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 12 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
ICON designed the A5 for recreational flying from water and runways. The two-seat amphibian has a compact boat hull, retractable landing gear and a high-mounted engine driving a pusher propeller behind the cockpit. A broad canopy provides visibility around the cabin.
This profile selects VSKYLABS ICON A5 for X-Plane 12.
How this profile feels
Direct mechanical controls motivate aerodynamic feedback in the profile. Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
The elevator tab supplies pitch relief; folding-wing equipment does not supply roll trim. Valid trim provides the configured pressure relief. Autopilot following is off.
Controls and trim
ICON documents direct mechanical controls and an electric elevator trim tab. The amphibious hull, retractable wheels and electric flaps support water and runway use. Folding wings, AoA indication and water rudder are separate equipment rather than primary trim mechanisms.
The selected implementation
The A5 has direct mechanical controls, electric elevator-tab trim, electric flaps and retractable amphibious wheels. Its folding wing and rescue system are separate equipment.
About the values
The gains are normalized profile settings. They describe the chosen effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its output limits. IAS references are tuning values rather than operating limits. Physical acceptance of this revision remains pending.
Documentary review and sources
These decisions describe the documentary basis and remaining gaps for this revision. Aircraft documentation and a starting setting describe different kinds of evidence.
Aircraft and variant
InheritedThis profile selects VSKYLABS ICON A5 for X-Plane 12.
Flight controls
InheritedICON documents direct mechanical controls and an electric elevator trim tab. The amphibious hull, retractable wheels and electric flaps support water and runway use. Folding wings, AoA indication and water rudder are separate equipment rather than primary trim mechanisms.
Trim
InheritedThe elevator tab supplies pitch relief; folding-wing equipment does not supply roll trim. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.
Autopilot and stability
InheritedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe A5 has direct mechanical controls, electric elevator-tab trim, electric flaps and retractable amphibious wheels. Its folding wing and rescue system are separate equipment.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
InheritedThe profile targets xplane12. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
InheritedThe settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
Starting settings and their rationale
These configured values are starting estimates. The explanations describe what each setting controls; physical validation appears separately below.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyDirect mechanical controls motivate aerodynamic feedback in the profile. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 45 KIAS. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 85 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value85 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.64 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.64 and 0.82, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.82 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 44 starting settings and their rationale
The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyDirect mechanical controls motivate aerodynamic feedback in the profile. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 45 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.04 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 85 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value10 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value85 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0.15 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.15. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 45 KIAS, with the squared-speed ratio capped at 5. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value5 | What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.64 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.64 and 0.82, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.82 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyThe elevator tab supplies pitch relief; folding-wing equipment does not supply roll trim. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
| Force Trim Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification. |
| GLoad Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| Rate Damping Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot neutral hold strength | Starting value0.6 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0.35 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.24 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.18 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.32 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Sample manufacturer manual establishes architecture, not exact add-on compliance. Rescue system, AoA display, water rudder and spin resistance are not independent force triggers.
- Physical and installed-aircraft acceptance deferred. Gains, damping, frequency envelopes and airspeed references are estimates.
- No unqualified AP following, trim actuator demand, failure behavior or dynamic equipment detection.
Physical validation
No physical force validation is recorded in this public catalogue for this revision. Documentary review and software checks do not establish how a particular device feels.
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