ICON Aircraft, a leading general aviation innovator and manufacturer, today announced enhancements to the 2024 ICON A5 Light Sport Aircraft, which continues to set new standards for performance, safety, and versatility in the LSA market.

After nearly two years of rigorous R&D, testing, and production preparation, ICON Aircraft is excited to announce that it has increased the gross weight of the ICON A5 by 60 pounds, resulting in new useful load of 490 pounds. With the A5 burning less than 5 gallons of fuel per hour, this equates to an additional two hours of endurance or the ability to carry more baggage or heavier passengers. All 2024 ICON A5 Light Sport Aircraft will include this weight increase and the solution can also be retrofitted on previous models as part of an option package that includes a 4-Blade Lightweight Propeller from E-PROPS that delivers increased performance and additional weight savings.

"In response to feedback from our owners and prospective customers, we elected to undertake further research and development to test the airframe and fully understand what we needed to do to increase the useful load," said Jerry Meyer, ICON CEO. "The solution is a reinforcement of our commitment to innovation, and a 60-pound increase is significant, especially in the LSA category."

In conjunction with the gross weight increase, the 4-blade propeller that ICON announced in 2023 is now standard on all new A5 LSAs. Already gaining traction in the market from current owners looking to upgrade, the new propeller provides a 21 percent reduction in ground takeoff roll at sea level.

"The 4-blade propeller is a huge upgrade to my ICON A5," said Santiago Masdeau, an ICON A5 Owner based in South Florida. "I've flown more than 100 hours with the original 3-blade and now I have around 20 hours on the new carbon fiber 4-blade one. Immediately, I noticed less vibration and noise, better acceleration, and improved takeoff distances. I've also experienced an increase on my cruise speed at 5,000 rpm and lower fuel burn. The entire experience is better, and it looks amazing too!"