Epic LT

{{short description|Turboprop homebuilt aircraft type}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Use American English|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Epic LT & Dynasty | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Epic LT (N53VW) - 1.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Single engine turboprop light aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Epic Aircraft | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production resumed in 2010<ref name="AvWeb31Jul10">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/NewEpicOwnersAtOshkosh_203041-1.html|title = New Epic Owners At Oshkosh|access-date = 1 August 2010|last = Grady|first = Mary|authorlink = |date = July 2010|archive-date = 28 November 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141128225945/http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/NewEpicOwnersAtOshkosh_203041-1.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 54<ref name=Flight30nov2018/> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 2004–2009; 2010<ref name="AvWeb31Jul10"/>–2018<ref name=Flight30nov2018/> | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 2004<ref name="N370JP" /> | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = CAIGA Primus 150<br>Epic E1000 | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Epic LT''' is an American kit-built single-engined turboprop aircraft intended for use by private pilots. The '''Epic Dynasty''' was the proposed certified version of the LT that was intended be sold as a completed aircraft, prior to Epic Aircraft's bankruptcy in August 2009 and later acquisition by new owners in April 2010.<ref name="Dynasty">{{cite web|url = http://www.epicaircraft.com/Dynasty.html |title = Dynasty|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Aircraft Investor Resources|authorlink = |year = 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080209232500/http://www.epicaircraft.com/Dynasty.html |archive-date = 2008-02-09}}</ref><ref name="LT">{{cite web|url = http://www.epicaircraft.com/LT.html |title = LT|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Aircraft Investor Resources|authorlink = |year = 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080313171318/http://www.epicaircraft.com/LT.html |archive-date = 2008-03-13}}</ref><ref name="AvWeb11Apr10">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/AnEpicDealBetweenBuildersGroupChineseCompany_202325-1.html|title = An Epic Deal Between Builders Group, Chinese Company|access-date = 12 April 2010|last = Grady|first = Mary|authorlink = |date = April 2010|archive-date = 28 November 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141128225832/http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/AnEpicDealBetweenBuildersGroupChineseCompany_202325-1.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> Under ownership of the reorganized company, the certified version is called the Epic E1000.<ref name="FlightGlobal17June2014">{{cite web|url =http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/epic-e1000-on-track-for-october-first-flight-400485|title = Epic E1000 on track for October first flight|access-date = 2014-06-23|last = Sarsfield|first = Kate|authorlink = |date = June 2014}}</ref><ref name="FlightGlobal1807">{{cite web|url =https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/epic-completes-e1000-structural-testing-as-type-cert-450699/|title = Epic completes E1000 structural testing as type certification nears|access-date = 1 April 2019|last = Sarsfield|first = Kate|authorlink = |date = 27 July 2018}}</ref> After FAA certification in 2019, deliveries began in 2020.

==Development== thumb|Interior accommodation

The LT was designed by Epic Air LLC of Bend, Oregon, to meet demand for a kit-built high-performance single turboprop-engined six-seat private owner aircraft. It has a low-wing layout with the tailplanes mid-set on a single fin. The tricycle undercarriage is fully retractable. Its construction uses composites incorporating carbon fibres. The engine is a Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A turboprop flat rated to 1200 hp.<ref name="Dynasty" />

The prototype LT first flew in 2004.<ref name="N370JP">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N370JP|title = FAA Registry - N-Number Inquiry Result N370JP|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=June 2009}}</ref>

The prototype Dynasty, Epic LT number 14, had logged over 1000 hours of certification flight testing by 23 October 2006, but certification was not complete in June 2009, with the company reporting over 2000 test hours flown.

Flight testing of the prototype, registered C-FJRQ, was initially commenced in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but the aircraft was removed from the Canadian register on 2 March 2007. It was moved back to Bend, Oregon, and re-registered as N6XK.<ref name="Dynasty" /><ref name="EpicPressRelease23Oct06">{{cite web|url = http://www.epicaircraft.com/news.html |title = Epic AIR Unveils Dynasty at NBAA|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Aircraft Investor Resources|authorlink = |date=October 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080313171407/http://www.epicaircraft.com/news.html |archive-date = 2008-03-13}}</ref><ref name="TCRegSearch">{{cite web|url = http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/historysearch.asp|title = Historical Information|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Transport Canada|date = June 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100411011552/http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/historysearch.asp|archive-date = 2010-04-11}}</ref><ref name="N6XK">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N6XK|title = FAA Registry - N-Number Inquiry Results N6XK|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=June 2009}}</ref>

Sales stopped in 2012, to be replaced by the certificated Epic E1000, and the 54th and final kit had secured its certificate of airworthiness in December 2018, before its early 2019 delivery to its owner.<ref name=Flight30nov2018>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/epic-readies-e1000-for-type-inspection-authorisation-453986/ |title= Epic readies E1000 for type inspection authorisation |date= 30 Nov 2018 |author= Kate Sarsfield |work= Flightglobal}}</ref>

It is the basis of the China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Primus 150.

==Operational history== thumb|Rear view

Deliveries of LT kits commenced in 2006 with the first one completed that year<ref name="N89CL">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N89CL|title = FAA Registry - N-Number Inquiry Results N89CL|access-date = 2009-06-19|last = Federal Aviation Administration |authorlink = |date=June 2009}}</ref> and the aircraft was demonstrated at the EAA show at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July 2007.

Initially, the LT aircraft kits were completed by amateur builders under factory supervision in the factory at Bend but some later examples have been assembled at field locations, with assistance from Epic Aircraft.

On 7 July 2016, six Epic LT kit-built aircraft departed on a global circumnavigation flight, flown by owner-pilots. They departed from the AirVenture 2016 airshow, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/07-14-2016-epic-aircrafts-epic-world-adventure|title=Epic Aircraft's Epic World Odyssey|author=Experimental Aircraft Association|work=eaa.org|access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref>

==Variants==

;Epic LT :Experimental homebuilt version ;Epic E1000 :Certified version planned for production in 2019 at a unit cost of $3.25 million<ref name=FlightGlobal1807 /> ;CAIGA Primus 150 :CAIGA International version

==Accidents and incidents== A total of two Epic LT accidents have been reported by the US National Transportation Safety Board.<ref>{{cite web |title=NTSB Identification: WPR09LA219 |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20090429X35008&key=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NTSB Identification: ERA17FA074 |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20161227X85755&key=1}}</ref>

On 31 March 2019, an Epic LT, registration RA-2151G, crashed in a field on approach to Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport in southwestern Germany at about 3:30 p.m. Russian S7 Airlines co-owner Natalia Fileva, one of Russia's richest women, her father and the pilot died in the crash.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wealthy Russian dies in plane crash in Germany |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/the-latest-wealthy-russian-dies-in-plane-crash-in-germany/2019/03/31/caee075e-53ed-11e9-aa83-504f086bf5d6_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331221108/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/the-latest-wealthy-russian-dies-in-plane-crash-in-germany/2019/03/31/caee075e-53ed-11e9-aa83-504f086bf5d6_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2019 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="Niles01Apr19">{{cite web|url = http://flash.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Wife-Of-Epic-Owner-Confirmed-As-Crash-Victim-232530-1.html|title = Wife Of Epic Owner Confirmed As Crash Victim|access-date = 2 April 2019|last = Niles|first = Russ|work = AVweb|date = 1 April 2019|archive-date = 2 April 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190402124016/http://flash.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Wife-Of-Epic-Owner-Confirmed-As-Crash-Victim-232530-1.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Specifications (LT/Dynasty)== thumb|Flight deck

{{Aircraft specs |ref=Epic Website<ref name="Dynasty" /> |prime units?=kts  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity=five passengers |length m= |length ft=35 |length in=10 |length note= |span m= |span ft=43 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=12 |height in=6 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=203.6 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=4000 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=7300 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=288 US gallons (1090 L) standard, 350 US gallons (1324 L) optional |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A |eng1 type=turboprop |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp= |eng1 shp=1200 |eng1 kn= |eng1 lbf= |eng1 note= |power original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts=340 |cruise speed note= max cruise |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=1874 |range note=with optional long range tanks |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=31000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude=9 minutes to 25,000 ft (7620 m) |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Epic LT}} * {{official website|https://epicaircraft.com/|Epic Aircraft}} * {{cite news |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/flight-test-epic-lt-experimental-rocket-359382/ |title= Epic LT - Experimental Rocket|work= Flight International |date= 13 July 2011 |author= Mike Gerzanics}} * {{cite news |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/epic-e1000-on-track-for-october-first-flight-400485 |title= Epic E1000 on track for October first flight |last= Kate Sarsfield |work= flightglobal |date= 17 June 2014}} * {{cite news |url= https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/turboprops/we-fly-epic-lt |title= We fly: Epic LT |work= Flying |author= Pia Bergqvist |date= October 29, 2014}}

Dynasty Category:2000s United States civil utility aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 2004