CXC Unveils Motion Pro II Flight Sim Prototypes at Oshkosh

Oshkosh, Wisconsin –  Recently at the world famous AirVenture 2010 Air Show at Oshkosh, CXC Simulations partnered up with ICON Aircraft and displayed two purpose-built CXC Motion Pro II flight simulators at the show – awesomely allowing attendees to virtually sample and fly ICON’s revolutionary A5 aircraft.

Nearly 800 people got to try out the new flight simulators, making the ICON booth the buzz of the show – no easy task when there are 700 participating vendors! Needless to say, ICON Aircraft, who commissioned the two simulator prototypes, was pleased.

“We couldn’t be happier with the way the Motion Pro II Flight simulators performed at AirVenture,” said ICON CEO Kirk Hawkins, “Just as we’d hoped, CXC’s custom-made simulators gave literally hundreds of enthusiasts the opportunity to accurately “fly” the ICON A5 and to see just how easy and fun it is to operate. We believe the A5 is a truly innovative product and the Motion Pro II Flight simulators were a unique and really enjoyable way to demonstrate it.”

Steed Strand, COO and co-founder of ICON Aircraft agreed, “Motion simulator technology could greatly enhance our future flight training program for the A5. CXC Simulations is able to provide a fun, very realistic motion experience on a high quality, cool looking platform.” 

The A5 is ICON’s entry into the FAA’s new Light Sport Aircraft segment and is designed specifically for recreational flying. Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) can be operated by anyone with a Sport Pilot License. CXC’s renowned “low-mass” MP II motion system was reconfigured in concert with ICON test pilots and several X-Plane developers to ensure an accurate and realistic flight experience. CXC Simulations is known around the world as maker of the Motion Pro II Driving Simulator, widely considered the only professional-level racing simulator suitable for home and private use as well as for racing teams, but the development of these simulator prototypes will now lead to a production model, the Motion Pro II Flight.

“It’s something we’ve been asked about for a long time and given a lot of thought to,” says CXC Simulations founder Chris Considine, “but we didn’t want to do it until we could produce something as game-changing as our racing simulators. Then ICON Aircraft approached us to build two prototypes based on their cool A5 aircraft and to run special X-Plane software based on it. So many things lined up, to partner with ICON Aircraft, another company known for innovation, to debut at the great AirVenture show at Oshkosh, we just couldn’t resist.”

Ex-fighter pilot ICON executives linked simulators for formation flying demonstrations, but most important, feedback from show attendees who lined up to fly the two simulators at Oshkosh, pro pilots and non-pilots, was universally positive. Typical of the comments was that from American Airlines International Captain Wayne Ziskal, who said, “The CXC Simulator was a visual delight. I left feeling comfortable in all regimes of flight, landing and taxi in minutes.”

Captain Ziskal has pre-ordered an ICON A5 and at Oshkosh, flight demonstrations in the CXC simulators led to other ICON direct pre-sales orders, not to mention interest in the Motion Pro II Flight. A win-win for both CXC Simulations and ICON.

“Working with ICON Aircraft was a perfect match,” says CXC’s Considine. “We both are known for innovative quality designs in our field and where better to first put them on display than at AirVenture 2010 at Oshkosh. We were honored to take part in that great celebration of flight and gratified that so many friends, old and new, got to personally experience our latest ideas in action.”