AUGUST 2019 FLYINGMAG.COM | 39PROGRESSIVE
AERODYNE
SEAREY ELITEPRICE AS EQUIPPED $169,000
ENGINE ROTAX 914 UL (115 HP)
PROPELLER WARP DRIVE, 3 BLADE
SEATS 2
LENGTH 22 FT. 5 IN.
HEIGHT 7 FT. 2 IN.
INTERIOR WIDTH 46 IN.
WINGSPAN 30 FT. 8 IN.
WING AREA 158 SQ. FT.
MAX GROSS WEIGHT 1,430 LBS.
EMPTY WEIGHT 1,000 LBS.
PAYLOAD 365 LBS.
USEFUL LOAD 430 LBS.
MAX USEABLE FUEL 22 GAL.
MAX RATE OF CLIMB 950 FPM
MAX SPEED 98 KTAS
MAX RANGE 317 NM
STALL SPEED, FLAPS UP 40 KCAS
STALL SPEED, FULL FLAPS 35 KCAS
LANDING OVER 50 FEET 860 FT.
lines of, say, a new foreign car and
is willing to write the appropriate
check, while the Searey looks
more rudimentary, even though its
performance is anything but.
I f lew each airplane about an hour
and saw things in both that I really
liked. They are highly maneuver-
able and an absolute joy to f ly down
low. Parts of the canopy of both air-
craft are removable to make f lying
on a warm day more comfortable. If
I were dropping in to a fishing spot,
that would be easier to handle in
the A5 because the canopy, hinged
at the front, can be fully opened
when the aircraft is anchored. But
portions of the canopy can also be
opened in f light.
The A5 offers sure handling on the
water, although there is nothing to
quibble about when it comes to the
Searey. The A5 can turn on a dime in
the air and is extremely easy to f ly,
which was an early design goal. In
truth, the A5 is the superior airplane,
and it isn’t even close. It looks better,
it f lies better, and it’s built better. Italso costs more, and therein lies the
dilemma for buyers. If money was no
object, the A5 is the toy you’d want
to own. Otherwise, the Searey is the
one you’ll happily settle for.
While I liked the cockpit visibility
of the Searey, the Icon’s cockpit sits
much farther forward of the wing,
meaning you’d best be wearing a
hat if you’re out in the sun for long,
but the view is spectacular. And, of
course, the A5 has nothing hang-
ing beneath the wing to obstruct the
view either. The Searey cockpit is a
bit more restricted and sits beneath
that big wing. The price difference
between the two airplanes, how-
ever, is considerable, with the Icon
costing more than twice the price of
the Searey, which would make it the
choice for someone on a tighter bud-
get who stills wants an impressive
new seaplane. The choice, of course,
is yours to make.
Why not join us on Flying
magazine’s YouTube channel and
experience a bit of our Searey and
Icon adventures?