Epic Aircraft is assembling the first two conforming E1000 single-turboprop prototypes and hopes to begin flight trials in the next month. The first aircraft, FT 1, is about two-thirds complete and should fly in the upcoming weeks, said Mike Schrader, director of sales and marketing. Work is under way on FT 2, and plans call for that aircraft to fly in late fall or early winter with certification following in the first half of 2016.
FT 1 will test general handling qualities, operational performance, systems and icing. The second will be fitted with an interior and be used for testing of all components and systems. “We’ve been quietly working toward certification of an airplane,” Schrader said July 19 in Oshkosh, Wis., noting the company has kept a low profile as is focuses on development.
Epic has secured all the key vendors, he said, although he conceded the company did encounter some delays with obtaining certain components from vendors. “We are fully committed to achieving TC as quickly as possible, but there are certain elements of this process that are not in our control,” Epic CEO Doug King said of the development progress. “Structural testing is going extremely well, validating the proven strength of the original design, and we anticipate our flight-test program will proceed just as smoothly and efficiently.”
The program is fully funded through production under its Russian-based owners, Engineering LLC, who bought the financially struggling company in 2012. King noted the manufacturing program is mature. The aircraft is based on the kit Epic LT, which has been in the market for 10 years. The company has added tooling, systems and factory infrastructure to accommodate the move toward conforming parts.
Epic has 60 orders, secured by refundable deposits, for the E1000, which is powered by a 1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A turboprop and can reach 325 knots and 1,650 nm. Garmin is supplying a G1000 three-screen avionics suite. Schrader says plans call for the production of one a month and gradually building up to the capacity of 50 of the $2.95 million aircraft a year.
As Epic moves into production of a certified airplane, plans call for it to stop shipping kitplanes.