Hi, I have a couple of questions on the Icon A5 flight model.1. When I reduce power, I typically see the Icon nose pitch up (initially), not down. I'm assuming this is because it's a "pusher prop" rather than a pulling prop?2. I've seen a couple of instances of very odd behavior with trim. I've always been taught (and always observer when flying C172 in real life) that trim is like cruise control - it sets a speed the airplane configuration is "happy" with. But for instance if I trim the Icon to 60 knots and then drop the gear, it dives for the ground and picks up TONS of speed - last time I pulled out of dive at 100+ knots. What's going on with this?Thanks!Scott

I am just taking a guess at this.Question 1. What I would think is that since the plane has a high tail, when you reduce power you are also reducing the amount of air flow under the tail, thus the nose rises. Could also have to do the the center of gravity on the plane, the engine is behind the pilot, not in front.Question 2. The only thing I can think for this is that since it is such a light plane, any amount of drag is really noticeable. I would think that the drag from the main gears is enough to pitch the nose down. I suppose the best thing to do is just anticipate it.Again, I am no aerodynamic expert these are just guesses.

Both questions all deal with drag. #1. The Icon has a fixed prop. When you power the RPM, the prop becomes an air brake. Since that air brake is located above the aircraft, it will pull the nose up untill the air flow and thrust equals out. If youapply throttle, the nose will push down. #2. The Icon's landing gear causes a lot of drag thats offset from the wings. So it will drag the nose down, enducing a dive if not corrected. Dive will gain speed. Icon worked closely with Microsoft on the Icon. I would say its at least close to the real thing.

#1 The prop is above the center of gravity in this plane, so adding power pulls the nose down and reducing power pulls the nose up.#2 In any plane, changing the configuration will change the speed that the trim maintains. For example, I have 15 hours in real life in a Piper Warrior and in that plane you can count on it that each notch of flaps you add will decrease the speed maintained with the same trim setting by about 10 knots. Lowering landing gear has the same effect since you are adding drag.

#1 The prop is above the center of gravity in this plane, so adding power pulls the nose down and reducing power pulls the nose up.#2 In any plane, changing the configuration will change the speed that the trim maintains. For example, I have 15 hours in real life in a Piper Warrior and in that plane you can count on it that each notch of flaps you add will decrease the speed maintained with the same trim setting by about 10 knots. Lowering landing gear has the same effect since you are adding drag.

#1 is indeed the correct answer, the stuff the previous posters mentioned about the prop being an airbrake and such is also true, but those are secondary effects. The main reason the prop on your Icon creates a pitch moment when you change the thrust is that the thrust line runs (quite a lot) above the centre of gravity.As an addition to answer #2, apart from just creating drag and slowing you down the landing gear are also sticking out below your centre of gravity, so the drag they produce will tend to pitch your nose down.