Aircraft
Epic E1000 Prototype Enters Flight-test Program
The first prototype of the Epic E1000 single-engine turboprop is one of two that will fly the flight test campaign.
Engineers and the flight test team in front of FT1, the first Epic E1000 prototype.
Engineers and the flight test team in front of FT1, the first Epic E1000 prototype.

The first prototype Epic E1000—FT1—made its first flight on December 19 at Oregon’s Bend Municipal Airport. The maiden flight was flown by chief pilot David Robinson and lasted 20 minutes. FT1 is the first of two flight-test articles that will be flown for the E1000 FAA certification program, which is expected to be completed by year-end 2016. FT1 flight testing will include general handling qualities, operational performance, systems operations in normal mode, failure scenarios, extreme conditions and flight-into-known-icing testing, according to Epic Aircraft. FT2 is under construction and “will focus on assessing interior and cabin functionality, including fuel, hydraulic, avionics, navigational and environmental systems.”