Aircraft overview

The Epic LT is a single engine, pressurized turboprop kit aircraft developed by Epic Aircraft of Bend, Oregon. It first flew in 2004 and was delivered to builders during the mid 2000s, before the original company entered bankruptcy in 2009. The LT is important in the used aircraft market because it brought a carbon fiber airframe, high altitude pressurization and turbine performance into the experimental amateur built category. It also formed the basis for the later certified Epic E1000, although the LT remains a distinct, non certified model with individual build histories.

Performance & specifications

Typical Epic LT performance is centered on fast personal and owner flown business travel. Most aircraft are powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A series turboprop, commonly the PT6A-67A rated at 1,200 shp. Published and commonly quoted figures include cruise speeds around 320 to 325 knots, a service ceiling of 34,000 feet and range in the region of 1,300 nautical miles, depending on fuel, altitude, reserves and payload. Useful load varies by individual aircraft, equipment and completion standard, so buyers should review the actual weight and balance data rather than rely on a generic figure.

Cabin & avionics

The Epic LT is typically configured with seating for up to six, including the pilot, in a pressurized cabin suited to short and medium length trips. Cabin completion varies because each aircraft was finished as an experimental amateur built aircraft, so interior condition, seating layout, environmental systems and noise treatment should be assessed aircraft by aircraft. Avionics are similarly variable. Many examples use Garmin integrated avionics such as the Garmin G900X, while others have been upgraded with Garmin GTN navigators, modern transponders, ADS-B equipment, engine monitoring and display retrofits. Garmin Perspective is not a standard LT suite and is more associated with other aircraft programs.

Buying & value

For buyers, the Epic LT sits in a specialized part of the used turboprop market: fast, capable and comparatively rare, but experimental rather than type certificated. Due diligence should focus on builder records, airworthiness documentation, maintenance history, engine time, hot section and overhaul status, propeller history, pressurization condition, avionics configuration and any factory or specialist support history. Differences between early completions and later, more comprehensively upgraded aircraft can be significant. Well documented examples with mature avionics, clean maintenance records and sensible operating histories generally command stronger interest than aircraft with incomplete logs or uncertain modifications.