Aircraft Archives - Aerial Archives

Clear Lake Splash-In | Lakeport, CA | 2023

September 13, 2023 June 25, 2024 / By Herb Lingl / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography, Aircraft, Seaplanes

The volunteer Sea Scouts help Chris Brown reposition his turbo Cessna 206, TU206G, N247CB
at the Clear Lake Seaplane Splash-In, Lakeport, Lake County, California
Image ID: AHLC3935
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

The 2023 Clear Lake Splash-In takes place Friday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Sept. 24 in Lakeport, California.

The event features a display of seaplanes, educational seminars and an opportunity to learn about careers in aviation. It draws pilots and people interested in aviation to the Lakeport for the weekend and this year, it has been combined with the Taste in Lakeport food and wine festival to showcase all that Lakeport has to offer.

Clear Lake Splash-In | Lakeport , CA | 2023 features a variety of free seminars, an evening reception with an aviation exhibition, a dinner for pilots and a display of seaplanes coming to Clear Lake for the event.

The Splash-In begins with a Friday evening with a dinner for seaplane pilots at the Lakeport residence of Tom and Ruth Lincoln. Tom Lincoln is the president of the Lake County Airmens Association. Registration for the dinner is available at Seaplane Pilots Dinner.

One of the highlights of the event will occur on Saturday, Sept 23, when a display of participating seaplanes will be held at Lakeport’s Library Park. Seaplanes arriving for the Splash-In include two Cessna 185s on floats, a Cessna 206 on floats, two Grumman Widgeon aircraft, a Lake Buccaneer, a Quicksilver on floats, a SeaMax and a SeaRey.

Saturday also features a full day of seminars about flying seaplanes, obtaining scholarships and career opportunities for young people in aviation.

The seminars take place within walking distance of the displayed seaplanes in the Council Chambers in Lakeport’s City Hall. The seminars are free, but registration is required due to limited seating available in the Council Chambers.

The seminar program is available at: Clear Lake Splash-In Seminar Program.

Registration for the free seminars is available at Clear Lake Splash-In Seminar Registration.

Seaplane pilots interested in participating in this year’s Splash-In can still register to participate at Clear Lake Splash-In Aircraft Registration.

The first 20 pilots who register to participate in the Clear Lake Splash-In will receive a free ticket to the Taste In Lakeport food and wine festival. The festival begins at 5:30pm on Saturday, Sept 23 and is within walking distance of seaplane display. Details about the Taste In Lakeport are available at: Taste In Lakeport.

The Splash-In also features an exhibition at the Historic Courthouse in Lakeport entitled Over Water: An Aviation History of Lake County. The museum is hosting a reception for exhibition from 5-7:00pm on Saturday, September 23. Attending the reception is free but requires registration. Registration for the reception is at Museum Reception Registration.

Pilots who are interested in getting back in the cockpit after a lapse in flying will be interested in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) Rusty Pilots Seminar entitled Getting Back to Flying is Easier Than You Think. This seminar takes place on Sunday, Sept 24 from 9:00 am-12:30 pm at the offices of Esther Formula, USA in the Work Right Building near Lampson Field airport (1O2). This seminar will be lead by Captain Brian Schiff, a 25 year pilot for American Airlines who currently flies the MD-80.

To register for the AOPA seminar with Captain Schiff, please visit:

Getting Back to Flying is Easier Than You Think with Brian Schiff.

More information about the Clear Lake Splash-In | 2023 is available at Clear Lake Splash-In.

The Lakeport Street Main Street Association (LMSA) is producing the Clear Lake Splash-In. The LMSA supports businesses in Lakeport, California by organizing events and seminars that help businesses in Lakeport thrive. To learn more please visit Lakeport Street Main Street Association.

AOPA is the world’s largest community of pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts with representatives based in Frederick, MD., Washington, D.C., and seven regions across the United States. To learn more please visit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

The Clear Lake Flying Club is producing the Clear Lake Splash-In Seminars. The flying club produces seminars, workshops and aviation events to promote aviation in Lake County, California and provides resources to assist young people in Lake County to pursue career opportunities in aviation. To learn more, please visit the Clear Lake Flying Club.

For additional details about the event, please visit the following web pages:

Clear Lake Splash-In

Clear Lake Splash-In Facebook Page

Clear Lake Flying Club Splash-In Media Release

Photographs of previous Clear Lake Splash-In events are available at:

Clear Lake Splash-In Photographs.

Clear Lake Aviation Gathering | 2023

May 4, 2023 June 22, 2023 / By Herb Lingl / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography, Aircraft, Events, Historical Aerial Photography, Seaplanes

Lake Buccaneer, LA4-200, N6176V, amphibious aircraft approaches a beach at Lake Berryessa during very calm conditions during the Clear Lake Aviation Gathering Fly Out on April 23, 2023 — Lake Buccaneer, LA4-200, N6176V, amphibious aircraft approaches a beach at Lake Berryessa during very calm conditions during the *Clear Lake Aviation Gathering* Fly Out
Image ID: AHLC4670
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

A diverse group of seaplane pilots, aerial photographers and other aviation professionals attended the Clear Lake Aviation Gathering that took place at Lampson Field Airport (1O2) in Lakeport, California on April 22 and 23, 2023.

The Clear Lake Flying Club (CLFC) hosted the conference and produced it with the Professional Aerial Photographers Association (PAPA).

Herb Lingl, education director of the CLFC noted that “One of the conference objectives is to develop opportunities for young people in Lake County, California to pursue careers in aviation.” Details about the youth program are at Clear Lake Flying Club Youth Program.

Conference Sessions

Attendees at the Clear Lake Aviation Gathering listen to the presentation by Dr. Stephen Bateman of AOPA. Among the pilots in the photograph from left to right are Amy Hartsfield, Rick Long, Mike Hayes, Tom Beattie, Tom Lincoln, Bryan Sydnor, Jason Johanson, Gordon Mills, Missy Lee, Tim Neuharth, Kent Carlomagno and Tom Wasson — Attendees at the *Clear Lake Aviation Gathering* listen to the presentation by Dr. Stephen Bateman of AOPA. Among the pilots in the photograph from left to right are Amy Hartsfield, Rick Long, Mike Hayes, Tom Beattie, Tom Lincoln, Bryan Sydnor, Jason Johanson, Gordon Mills, Missy Lee, Tim Neuharth, Kent Carlomagno and Tom Wasson.
Image ID: AHLC4669
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) sent Dr. Stephen Bateman to the conference from Frederick, MD to make presentations about flying clubs and the AOPA Foundation High School STEM Aviation Curriculum which AOPA makes available to high schools at no cost. Details about the curriculum are at AOPA Foundation High School STEM Aviation Curriculum.

Paul Koscheka, the Federal Aviation Administration’s FAASTeam Program Manager at the Sacramento FSDO, provided a briefing on the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program. Three of the seminars at the conference qualified for WINGS credit.

Additional presenters at the conference included Tom Beattie, instructor and test pilot for ICON Aircraft, Kent Carlomagno, Terry Hayes from Foothill Aviation and the Backcountry Flying Experience, Gordon Mills from Alpine Aviation, Missy Lee, the owner of Alaska Floats and Skis, Herb Lingl, Rick Long, Jason Johanson who provides multi-engine seaplane training in a Twin Seabee and Tom Wasson from Tom’s Aircraft Enterprises.

During the session entitled Which Seaplane Is Right for You?, Tom discussed the ICON A5, Kent the SeaMax, Gordon the Lake Buccaneer, Rick the Quicksilver on floats and Jason the Twin Seabee.

Terry, Gordon, Missy and Jason were the panelists for the Emergency Procedures in Seaplanes session. They discussed emergency procedures as they applied to the specific flying environments in which they operate.

The conference included a session about the History of Aviation in Lake County. Lake County Museums curator J. Clark McAbee prepared a presentation about Navy and Pan Am seaplane operations at Clear Lake entitled Wings Over Water: Flying Boats on Clear Lake circa 1939-1958. Retired high school teachers Miles Turner and John Wiegand described the high school aviation programs they taught at the Lower Lake and Kelseyville High Schools in the 1970s. Paul Loewen, who built a globally recognized Mooney modification firm based at Lampson Field, described the airport’s history from the 1960s, his experience teaching aviation at Mendocino Community College and his experience flying a Fleetwings Sea Bird, a high school aviation project that Paul and his wife Shery flew to Clear Lake with Paul’s high school aviation teacher.

The conference session about the Future of Aviation in Lake County examined plans for the future of aviation in Lake County, including the possible construction of seaplane docks and a seaplane ramp in Lakeport, CA, and a presentation by Dave Dietz of Armstrong Consultants, which specializes in airport engineering, about developing vacant land at Lampson Field for the construction of new hangars.

Seaplane Flight Training on Clear Lake

Gordon Mills from Alpine Aviation provided flight training in the Lake Buccaneer, LA4-200, N6176V, shown at the top of this page to conference attendees who booked flight training before the conference.

Aerial Photography Exhibition

The conference included an aerial photography exhibit and competition. Aerial photographer Amy Hartsfield, PAPA Vice President of Programs, made a presentation about the Professional Aerial Photographers Association and presented information about the aerial photographers whose work was selected to be exhibited at the conference.

Wine Tasting and Catered Hangar Dinner

After the conference sessions, attendees sampled some of the finest wines made in Lake County. These included wines from the Shannon Family of Wines and Lincoln Wines produced by Tom and Ruth Lincoln.

The conference dinner was catered by Lake Event Design, Lake County’s premier event company.

After the dinner, conference attendees voted Jean Luc Kaiser’s aerial photograph of the private Islet of Loreto in northern Italy as their favorite photograph on display. The islet is close to Aero Club Como, one of the oldest seaplane flying clubs in the world. Jean Luc, who owns L’Europe vue du Ciel, a French aerial photography company, received a cash prize for his winning entry.

Raffle Prizes

Raffle winners also received their prizes after the dinner. Donors of raffle prizes benefiting the Clear Lake Flying Club Youth Aviation Program included:

Kent Carlomagno
Mike and Terry Hayes
Tom and Ruth Lincoln and
Herb Lingl

and

Aerial Archives
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Airport Muse
Clear Lake Flying Club
Clear Lake Pilot Supplies
Meadowlark Publishing
Nalas Cleaning Expertise
Professional Aerial Photographers Association and
Tailwheel Ferry Pilot

Fly Out to Lake Berryessa

Seaplanes beached at the shoreline of Lake Berryessa during the *Clear Lake Aviation Gathering*, as a Lake Buccaneer approaches (background left).
© Byron Hernandez
Image ID: AHLC4668

Sunday featured a seaplane fly out to Lake Berryessa.

The fly out included an ICON A5 flown by Tom Beattie, two Lake Buccaneers, one flown by Gordon Mills the other by Henry Roberson from Air Carriage Inc. and a Cessna 206 on floats flown by Byron Hernandez.

More Information

The full conference program is at Clear Lake Aviation Gathering 2023 Program.

An article that appeared in the magazine Water Flying about the conference is at Water Flying article.

An article that appeared in the magazine In Flight USA about the conference is at In Flight USA article.

An article that appeared in the Lake County Record Bee about the conference is at Record Bee Article-Print and Record Bee Article-Online.

More information about Lampson Field airport is at Lampson Field.

For over forty years, Lake County has hosted the Clear Lake Splash In. This year’s Splash In is scheduled to take place on September 23-24, 2023 in Lakeport. Photographs of previous Clear Lake Splash In events are at photographs of the Clear Lake Splash In.

A selection of aerial photographs of Lake County are at aerial photographs of Lake County.

More information about Lake County, California is at Lake County Visitor Information.

Aerial Photographs of the Response to Hurricane Ian Staged at the Sebring International Raceway

October 27, 2022 October 27, 2022 / By Herb Lingl / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography, Aircraft, Seaplanes

aerial photograph of Sebring International Raceway during the staging of the Hurricane Ian response, September 30, 2022, Sebring, Florida
Image ID: AHLE1665

Entirely by accident I had the opportunity to create aerial photographs of the response to Hurricane Ian Staged at the Sebring International Raceway.

On September 26, 2022 I started training for the multi engine seaplane rating with certified flight instructor Ben Lively of Lockwood Aviation in the Air Cam at the Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF). The Air Cam was originally developed by Phil Lockwood to fly photo missions in the Ndoki Rain Forest in the northern Congo Basin.

Lockwood Aircraft Air Cam N51SC parked at Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF) at dawn
Image ID: AHLE1599

The FAA check ride was scheduled for September 29 Jon Brown at the Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in Winter Haven, Florida. Hurricane Ian was approaching, however, with landfall forecast for on the evening before the check ride. The hurricane, the fifth most powerful to hit the United States, ultimately made landfall south of Sebring, but did damage Sebring. Among the casualties was a Piper Warrior that was tied down at KSEF. A tornado caused by the hurricane pulled the tie downs and aircraft from the tarmac and tossed it on its back.

Once the weather passed, visibility was outstanding. Ben and I began training again on Friday and by Saturday I noticed the massive response by utility services vehicles being staged at the Sebring International Raceway. I began taking aerial photographs of the response to Hurricane Ian staged at the raceway from the Air Cam on the afternoon of September 30.

Equipment being staged from the Raceway included Duke Energy utility trucks to help restore power and equipment provided by the US Army Corp of Engineers.

Jon Brown rescheduled the check ride for Sunday, October 2 despite the fact that it was a weekend and power was still out at Winter Haven. Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base is a world renowned seaplane training base that has certified more than 22,000 seaplane pilots in the 57 years since Jon’s father, Jack founded the base.

Flying the Air Cam back from Winter Haven after the check ride I documented some of the aftermath of the hurricane from the air, including extensive flooding even in Florida’s inland areas.

aerial photograph of flooding at Avon Park Executive Airport (KAVO), Avon Park, Florida after Hurricane Ian; runway 10-28 is being used as a staging area to the response to Ian’s destruction Image ID: AHLE1689

When I returned to KSEF in the middle of the afternoon on October 2, most of the equipment being staged out of Sebring International Raceway was still in the field. Most of it returned to the Raceway every evening in a massive procession.

aerial photograph of the Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF) with the Sebring International Raceway in the background, Sebring, Florida
Image ID: AHLE1690

Please use these links to view additional related photography:

Aerial Photographs of the Sebring International Raceway

Aerial Photographs of Airports

Aerial Photographs of Florida

Photographs of the Lockwood Air Cam

Aerial Photography Shooting Schedule Portland, Seattle and the Pacific Coastline: August 10-August 24, 2022

August 5, 2022 August 5, 2022 / By admin / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography, Aerial Video, Aircraft, Seaplanes

This aerial photograph of Kenmore Air Harbor, Kenmore, Washington shows Kenmore's corporate headquarters, terminal and seaplane maintenance facility — This aerial photograph of Kenmore Air Harbor, Kenmore, Washington shows Kenmore’s corporate headquarters, terminal and seaplane maintenance facility
Image ID: AHLV4753

Aerial Archives photographer Herb Lingl will be shooting aerial photography and video assignments and creating new aerial photography and video above Portland, Seattle and a portion of the Oregon and Washington Pacific coastlines from August 10 through August 24, 2022.

Dates of actual photography are weather and visibility dependent.

To schedule a consultation regarding an aerial photography or aerial video project you may want to consider at these locations during this time frame, please text 415.771.2555 or use the contact button.

Kenmore Air Harbor shown above is of particular interest to Lingl who is a commercial seaplane pilot. Kenmore Air is an American airline that operates scheduled and charter seaplane and landplane services.

Kenmore was established is March 21, 1946 with a single Aeronca Scout on floats and a hangar on north Lake Washington at a location once occupied by a lumber mill. The company is still at the same location.

Kenmore has developed a worldwide reputation for seaplane maintenance and restoration.

The firm became a dealer of the Republic Seabee in the 1940s. Kenmore became an expert in the Seabee’s maintenance and developed several performance improving modifications.

In the 1960s it expanded its seaplane maintenance services to include the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver. When de Havilland ceased Beaver production in 1967, Kenmore became a leading refurbisher of Beavers and has rebuilt over 100 Beavers since then.

Information about aerial photographer Herb Lingl

Aerial Photography of the Pacific Ocean

Aerial Photography of Washington State

Aerial Photography of Oregon

Photographs of Seaplanes

License the photograph shown above or purchase a print

Free Airplane Rides For Kids Ages 8-17 at Lampson Field, Lakeport, CA

November 8, 2019 November 21, 2019 / By Herb Lingl / Aircraft, Events

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Chapter 124 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) based at the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport are teaming up to raise awareness of outstanding career opportunities for young people in aviation. The centerpiece of the effort will be free flights for young people at Lampson Field airport in Lakeport, CA on Saturday, November 23 provided by EAA Chapter 124 as part of the EAA’s Young Eagles Program. Any interested individuals between the ages of 8-17 are invited to participate in this EAA Young Eagles rally.

Registration for the event by young people aged 8-17 has been strong.

There are currently 12 pilots providing free flights scheduled for 54 young people, with another 58 young people on the waiting list. Volunteer pilots are a diverse group that includes a senior aviation executive and flight instructor, a practicing attorney, a retired airline pilot, aircraft builders and an aerial photographer.

Volunteer pilots provide the free rides in their own aircraft as part of an EAA program that has provided free rides to over 2 million young people. Among the aircraft that volunteer pilot owners are making available for the event are a Cessna 340, a Cessna 195, a Mooney, a Piper Arrow, an Aeronca Champ, a Taylorcraft, an RV6 and an RV12.

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce and EAA Chapter 124 organized the event as part of an effort to make members of the Lake County community aware of the outstanding career opportunities for young people in aviation. In addition, participants will learn about opportunities for Lake County high schools to obtain a high quality aviation curriculum developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) at no cost.

Unlike many fields where jobs are disappearing, career prospects in aviation are bright. Boeing’s CEO, Dennis Muilinberg noted at the Paris Air Show in July, 2019 that there will be a need for 800,000 new pilots in the next 20 years, and that there will be a severe pilot shortage. Each of the major US airlines has already begun investing capital to deal with this shortage.

As Lake County Chamber of Commerce CEO Melissa Fulton notes that “It’s important that students and parents in Lake County become aware of the career opportunities in aviation, including jobs as aviation mechanics, avionics technicians, corporate, airline and military pilots and aerial photographers.”

The Young Eagles rally begins at 9 am in the hangar of LASAR (Lake Aero Styling and Repair). LASAR is one of the world’s largest Mooney Service Centers.

LASAR is located at:

900 F Sky Park Dr.
Lakeport, CA 95453

During the rally, pilot John Swanstrom, a member of EAA Chapter 124, will present his visually dynamic seminar about the basic principles of flight and aviation. The ground school also includes a presentation entitled Career Opportunities in Aviation, an overview for students and parents produced by Clear Lake Flying Club director of education Herb Lingl.

A number of aviation professionals will be available to answer questions about careers in aviation that the young people and their parents may have. These include, in addition to the aviation professionals providing rides in their aircraft, employees of REACH Air Medical Services, which provides helicopter transportation services from Lampson Field and mechanics and pilots based at Lampson Field, Sonoma County airport and elsewhere, including a retired United Airlines mechanic that spent 35 years working for the airline.

The Clearlake Modelers will also have on display a number of model aircraft. Members of the model aviation flying club will be available to answer questions about their aircraft and how to become involved in flying model aircraft. Building and flying model aircraft is a great way for young people to learn more about aviation.

After receiving their ground briefing, participants will be assigned to an aircraft and take their FREE aircraft flight! Afterwards, participants will receive a certificate and a starter logbook to record their flight time.

“Ín addition to getting young people excited about flying and about the career opportunities in aviation, we hope the event will help us identify individuals who might be interested in teaching the AOPA curriculum”, says Lingl. The members of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce are working with Lake County schools to encourage them to submit applications to AOPA to teach the curriculum in the coming 2020/2021 school year.

To register for a November 23 Young Eagles Flight (wait list only available at this time, but even if you don’t get a flight this time you’ll get an invite to our future events) please visit:

To learn more about Lampson Field airport, please visit:

Lampson Field.

To learn more about the AOPA High School Curriculum please visit:

AOPA High School Curriculum.

To learn more about the EAA Young Eagles program, please visit:

Young Eagles Flights.

A pdf file to help promote the event is available for download at:

Young Eagles Rally Poster.

A pdf file in Spanish to help promote the event is available for download at:

Águilas Jóvenes.

If you are interested in teaching the AOPA High School Curriculum or donating aviation related items for use by the Clear Lake Flying Club for its youth initiative, please visit:

Clear Lake Flying Club Youth Initiative.

The participation of businesses, trade organizations and local government has been essential to producing this event.

Participating organizations providing resources for the event include:

Aerial Archives,
the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association,
the Clear Lake Flying Club,
the Clearlake Modelers,
the Experimental Aircraft Association,
EAA Chapter 124,
the Lake County Airmans Association,
the Lake County Chamber of Commerce,
the Lake County Office of Education,
the Lake County Department of Public Works,
Lake County Aero Styling and Repair (LASAR),
REACH Air Medical Services,
the Sonoma Jet Center
and Tom’s Aircraft Enterprises.

Clear Lake Splash In | 2019

August 25, 2019 August 25, 2019 / By Herb Lingl / Aircraft, Seaplanes

A Grumman twin engine seaplane, docked at the Skylark Resort in Lakeport, California at dawn during the Clear Lake Splash In. Mount Konocti is visible in the background.
Image ID: AHLC3202

This year’s Clear Lake Splash In, which takes place from Friday, September 6 through Saturday, September 7, marks the 40th consecutive year the event has been held in Lakeport, California.

The City of Lakeport is again opening a special ramp for amphibious seaplanes to be able to taxi onto a large open lawn area in the heart of Lakeport, within walking distance of restaurants and numerous shopping opportunities.

The Skylark Resort is also making its docks right at the hotel available to seaplanes.

Among this year’s Splash In highlights are a pilots’ dinner at Lampson Field airport on Friday night.

Saturday features a display of seaplanes, opportunities to go for a ride or receive training in a seaplane, seminars about flying and a display of remote controlled aircraft by the Clearlake Modelers club.

Steve Bateman, the Director of the Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association’s Flying Club Initiative is leading three seminars during the Splash In.

The seminar Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost: How to Start and Run a Flying Club takes place at 10am at the Natural High School in Lakeport. The Clear Lake Flying Club, which is hosting this seminar, will present several candidate seaplanes which could be made available to members for rental or training. ICON Aircraft will be at the seminar to answer questions about its amphibious A5 light sport aircraft, and is bringing an A5 to the Splash In.

The seminar You Can Be a Pilot takes place at 11am in the same location. You Can Be a Pilot is a fast paced, inspirational session designed to increase awareness that obtaining a pilot certificate is a realistic and achievable objective.

The Career Opportunities in Aviation seminar takes place at 2pm. It examines the exciting prospects for young people in aviation. In addition to outlining the specific careers available in aviation, the Career Opportunities seminar presents details about the high school curriculum for aviation education that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) makes available at no cost to high schools. Professional pilots, mechanics, avionics technicians and flight instructors will be on hand to answer questions that students and parents may have.

At the end of the Career Opportunities seminar, Splash In organizers will be raffling off to students who have attended the seminar aviation related prizes donated by sponsors of the Splash In including a ride in a seaplane, an aerial photograph of Lampson Field, a poster of an aerial photograph of a Giants game in San Francisco, aviation related apparel and a model of a German seaplane used in World War II.

Saturday evening’s program includes a wine tasting featuring some of Lake County’s highly acclaimed vintages, a barbecue dinner and a screening of a rare film about the history of seaplanes.

In addition to accommodating seaplanes by providing a ramp for access to the Lakeport waterfront, the Splash In provides a free shuttle service for land aircraft that fly into Lampson Field airport (1O2) for the event and a chance for the public to see seaplanes first hand and interact with seaplane pilots.

For additional details about the event, please contact the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at 707.263.5092 or visit the following web pages:

Clear Lake Splash In

Lake County Chamber of Commerce Splash In Media Release

Clear Lake Splash In Facebook Page

Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost: How to Start & Run a Flying Club Seminar

You can see photographs of previous Clear Lake Splash In events:

Clear Lake Splash In photography.

ICON A5 Amphibious Light Sport Aircraft

July 7, 2019 July 9, 2019 / By Herb Lingl / Aircraft, Seaplanes

An ICON A5 amphibious aircraft with folded wings folded is being towed into the hangar at ICON Aircraft headquarters at the Nut Tree airport in Vacaville, Solano County.
Image ID: AHLC3881
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

When I visited the ICON manufacturing facility at the Nut Tree Airport (VCB) in mid-June, this ICON A5 amphibious aircraft had just completed a training flight and had its wings folded in order to be towed back into the ICON hangar.

Two successful entrepreneurs and a prospective CFI joined me on the tour. The tour of the ICON facility was led by Bret Davenport, ICON’s Flight Sciences Manager and Engineering Test Pilot and Leah Sullivan, an executive assistant at ICON working with ICON’s VP of Engineering, VP of Manufacturing and Director of Quality.

Bret’s background includes serving as a flight test engineer for numerous aircraft at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Patuxent River between June 2004 and September 2015 before joining ICON. ICON has assembled a unique group of talented aviation and industry professionals, many of whom spent time developing their skills in the military.

Among the highlights of the tour were having the opportunity to examine individual carbon fiber components, to see how solid the folding wing mechanics of the aircraft are and how quickly the wings can be folded, to receive a briefing regarding ICON’s angle of attack sensors and to learn more about ICON’s approach to manufacturing. ICON is integrating technology into every aspect of production from tracking the location of each tool to optimizing the production capability of its aircraft assembly line.

ICON A5 assembly production line at the Nut Tree Airport, Vacaville, CA

I first learned about ICON Aircraft when the company was scouting possible locations for its manufacturing facility and its director of strategy and business development contacted me regarding the possibility of shooting aerial photography to evaluate Nut Tree Airport as a possible location for its manufacturing facility. Although ICON eventually used in house talent to shoot those scouting shots, I stayed in touch with ICON and watched the company’s progress in developing the A5 and bringing it into production.

While doing seaplane training in San Diego Bay this past April I had a chance to take a demo flight in an ICON A5 with Noah Collins, ICON’s Regional Sales Director for California. Like other ICON employees, Noah has an impressive background which includes 9 years as a naval aviator and 2 and half years as a business development executive with Siemens. The A5 was remarkably stable on the water and in the air.

ICON A5 at Lake Powell.

Despite the challenges that any technology company is likely to experience during its development, ICON is continuing to execute on its mission to create a state of the art aircraft that’s fun to fly, and since it’s certified as a light sport aircraft by the FAA, it’s accessible as a flying option to many people.

Founder Kirk Hawkins, a Stanford Business School graduate who flew F-16s for the US Air Force and Boeing 767s for American Airlines, has assembled an impressive management team. The Board of Directors includes Phil Condit, former chairman and CEO of Boeing and Linden Blue, Vice Chairman of General Atomics. Thomas Wiener, ICON’s president and chief operating officer, previously served management roles at Bombardier Recreational Products, Audi and Daimler Benz.

Interested in owning an ICON A5?