Those D round investors should be able to figure out the details during due diligence before putting in 60 Millions. To me, ICON team sounds like pretty professional on all of these things.
...and the fact that the FAA made the process such a nail-biting PITA will discourage other manufacturers from going the same route.
The opinions and statements of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
The difference with Tesla is that you can already buy a better airplane that weighs less: a SeaRey LSA (even if we concede that second seller of SeaMax is just as bad as the first), while you cannot buy a better Tesla for 2/3 price.
I think Light Sport Aviation was stabbed through the heart today. It may not die right away but it can't survive. Everybody else played by the rules, now the rules don't mean anything. As I recall Cessna 150/152s are only about 100 pounds over the LSA limits, why not exempt all of them? Icon is way too top heavy to survive, they can't possibly absorb the overhead cost they have already incurred let alone the cost of capital. They don't set the market price, the market does and the market leader is SeaRey who is lean and viable, been around for a long time and will be around long after Icon is gone.
I'm not sure I understand the revolutionary aspect of the ICON. It's a two seat amphib that cruises at 100 knots and has an average at best power to weight ratio. It's also going to cost 200K. Aside from its looks I'm trying to figure out where the leap forward in aviation exists with this plane.
Ryan Winslow
EAA 525529
Stinson 108-1 "Big Red", RV-7 under construction
1500# with a Rotax....that thing is going to be a dog.
It's just one dam job after another
Brian C.
Sport Air Racing League http://www.sportairrace.org/
Race 155