Epic Aircraft is making its debut at NBAA where it is also displaying its E1000 single-engined turboprop for the first time.
The $3 million E1000 is a certificated, factory-built version of the $1.95 million Epic LT kit plane, which the company stopped selling last year.
“We have sold 54 LT’s and plan to build and deliver the final 6 aircraft over the next few months,” says Epic director of sales and marketing Mike Schrader.
The first E1000 is currently being assembled and will make its maiden flight later this year. Certification is planned for the end of 2015.
Epic has secured 60 orders to-date for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A-powered, Garmin G1000-equipped aircraft.
“Given the strong competition in the turboprop single sector, we are overwhelmed by the market reaction to the E1000 so far, ” Schrader says.
Epic believes the aircraft is well placed to secure a significant chunk of this crowded but niche sector.
“Cessna sells around 100 Caravans a year, Pilatus around 60 PC-12s, Daher-Socata about 40 TBM 900s, and Piper about 30 Meridians. We expect to secure around 50 E1000 sales a year,” says Schrader.
The E1000 development programme is being funded by Russian parent company Engineering LLC and Epic hopes to eventually build a family of propeller-driven aircraft.
E1000 has a projected maximum cruise speed of 325kt (600km/h), a range of 1,650nm (3,050km) and a ceiling of 34,000ft.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
