Be a pilot in 20 hours
Coming in 2010: A sleek plane for sport pilots.
(Fortune Small Business) -- Spurred by the FAA's easing of licensing requirements for pilots of low-altitude "light sport" aircraft, former Air Force pilot Kirk Hawkins set about developing a premium light sport plane - the Ferrari of the skies.
Icon Aircraft's first model, the A5, was recently unveiled and opened for advance orders. Since licensing for the planes requires only a driver's license and 20 hours of instruction, Hawkins expects brisk demand and sales of at least 500 planes a year. At presstime he was taking order No. 218; deliveries begin in late 2010.
"Think of low-altitude flying as off-road airspace," says Hawkins, 41. "With the new regulations, the FAA acknowledged a market for consumers who don't want to fly at 30,000 feet at Mach 0.8."
So how fast can these things fly? Fortune Small Business got the skinny on the A5, and a look at its prototype. 
Finally here: Your own personal jetpack
Go surf a kite: A seasoned kiteboard entrepreneur teaches newbies to surf flat water.
Save money, buy a plane
-
The Cheesecake Factory created smaller portions to survive the downturn. Play -
A breeder of award-winning marijuana seeds is following the money and heading to the U.S. More -
Most small businesses die within five years, but Amish businesses have a survival rate north of 90%. More -
The 10 most popular franchise brands over the past decade -- and their failure rates. More -
These firms are the last left in America making iconic products now in their twilight. More
My dream is to launch my own business someday. Now that it's time to choose a major, I'm debating if I should major in entrepreneurial studies or major in engineering to acquire a set of skills first. Is majoring in entrepreneurship a good choice? More
When it comes to in-flight pampering, the amenity kits offered by these 10 airlines are the ultimate in luxury More
From a text therapy platform to apps that push you reminders to breathe, these self-care startups offer help on a daily basis or in times of need. More
From Uber's flying cars to the Hyperloop, these are some of the neatest transportation concepts in the works today. More
More Small Business
