Previews New Designs, Promises First Deliveries By End Of Year

Bend, OR-based Epic Aircraft told Sun 'N Fun attendees Tuesday the company is continuing its "full court press" on other aircraft manufacturers, before unveiling scale mockups of two new aircraft designs -- one a single-engine very light jet, the other a speedy turboprop.

"VLJs, get out of the way!" Epic CEO Rick Schrameck told the gathering of reporters and passersby at the company's display along the eastern edge of the main exhibit grounds.

Schrameck states the new Escape turboprop (above) is expected to cruise at 365 knots. Somewhat oddly, that's 45 knots faster than company projections for the swoopy Victory jet (below), which company officials state will sport either a Williams FJ44 powerplant, or a PW615F.

Both aircraft sport design cues shared with the company's erstwhile Epic LT turboprop offering, a staple at air shows for the past few years. As Aero-News reported, Epic announced last year plans to certify a production version of the kit-form LT, dubbed the Dynasty (shown below), under Canadian rules.

Schrameck announced a fast-track development program for the Victory jet, saying he expects to fly a completed Victory jet to Oshkosh in July... which would be a mere seven months after the program began.

Furthermore, Schrameck promised "at least six" Victory jets will be delivered to customers before the end of 2007.

"Focused implementation of aircraft designs is Epic's history," Schrameck said. "If we say we're going to do something, we're going to do it. Period."

Epic officials tell ANN the Dynasty has logged over 2,000 flight test hours, and is scheduled to complete the certification process next year. The company's twin-engine Elite VLJ will enter testing this summer, targeting a summer 2009 market release.

FMI: www.epicaircraft.com