Epic LT & E1000
The Epic LT is an advanced home-built aircraft with a turboprop engine in the nose. About fifty were built before Epic Aircraft stopped producing kits in favour of the E1000, the certified version of the Epic LT. The E1000 is delivered as a complete aircraft.
The Epic falls in the class of the TBM series and Piper Malibu Meridian, and have a similar basic configuration of low mounted straight wings, a retractable all single wheel gear and a regular tail. The key characteristics of the Epic are the two curved cockpit windows and four (nearly) round cabin windows. The cabin door is at the third cabin window. The nose gear has two doors that are open when the gear is down.
Different versions
The different variants of the Epic single engine turboprop can be distinguished by looking at
- the number of propeller blades
- the shape of the air intake
- the shape of the engine cowling
Epic LT
This is the original, home-built version. It has a four blade propeller as standard. Typically, the air intake under the prop spinner is canted. See photo above.
Epic E1000
E1000 is the designation of the certified version of the LT. Externally, it is nearly the same as the LT, except for the front. The air intake is not canted like on the LT. Moreover, the E1000 has additional holes in the cowling.
The arrows mark the additional ventilation holes in the cowling of the Epic E1000 compared to the Epic LT.
Epic E1000 GX
The improved version of the E1000 is called E1000 GX. Apart from new avionics the most obvious external difference is the five blade prop. However, the ventilation holes in the cowling are also larger and differently shaped.
Apart from the five blade propeller as standard, the E1000 GX has larger and differently shaped vent holes in the cowling.
Confusion possible with
Farnborough F1/One Aviation K-350
You will immediately notice the many similarities in appearance between the Farnborough F1 a.k.a. One Aviation K-350 and the Epic LT and E1000. The former has no visible nose gear doors and a larger distance between the cockpit window and first cabin window. Finally, the entrance door is at the fourth cabin window.
AVIC Leadair AG300
When Epic went bankrupt the international rights for the LT were sold to China. Here the Leadair AG300 became a spring off of the aircraft. Naturally, the AG300 and Epic LT/E1000 are very similar. Luckily the AG300 has only three cabin windows, while the Epic has four, and slightly bent-up wingtips. So after all there is an obvious difference. (photo: Xu Zheng/WikiMedia)
Falcon 402
When you put a single turboprop in the nose of a Cessna 402 with oval cabin windows you immediately get a Epic LT look-a-like. However, the tip tanks, cockpit window and tail are still clearly original to the Cessna, and as such key feature for recognition. (photo Kevin Cleynhens)
SOCATA TBM series
The TBM-700 series have four cockpit windows and rectangular cabin windows, so are easily distinguished from the Epic aircraft. Other differences are more subtle.
Myasishchev M-101T Gzhel
This Russian single engine turboprop is more similar in appearance to the TBM series than the Epic aircraft. Even the cockpit side window looks much like that of the TBM. So it also has four cockpit window and rectangular cabin windows.
Piper PA-46 Malibu Meridian
The PA-46 Malibu Meridian (currently M Series) is Pipers entry in the single turboprop class. It can be distinguished from the Epic LT/E1000 mainly by the four cockpit windows, the larger, rectangular cabin windows (wider than high), but also by the air intake(s).
Comp-Air 12
This single engine turboprop has winglets, two large exhausts under the nose, four cockpit windows and a higher placed stabilo. That should be enough to avoid a mix-up with the Epic aircraft.