Dynasty Makes Public Debut At AOPA Expo

With some 1,100 hours of flight testing logged, the Epic Dynasty — the $1.9 million certified version of the owner-assisted-built Epic LT — made its first public display last week at AOPA Expo in Palm Springs, Calif. With a high-speed cruise of up to 340 knots and an 1,874-nm NBAA IFR range, Epic said the single-turboprop pressurized Dynasty is very competitive with very light jets. AVweb had the opportunity to conduct a short demo flight of the Dynasty on Saturday at the show, and the airplane appears to be a solid performer.

With some 1,100 hours of flight testing logged, the Epic Dynasty -- the $1.9 million certified version of the owner-assisted-built Epic LT -- made its first public display last week at AOPA Expo in Palm Springs, Calif. With a high-speed cruise of up to 340 knots and an 1,874-nm NBAA IFR range, Epic said the single-turboprop pressurized Dynasty is very competitive with very light jets. AVweb had the opportunity to conduct a short demo flight of the Dynasty on Saturday at the show, and the airplane appears to be a solid performer. As would be expected with a speedy, six-seat cabin-class turboprop, the controls were a little on the heavy side, though no more so than the Beech King Air series. The airplane exhibited good handling characteristics in our view, and appears on track to meet its projected maximum speed. Transport Canada certification is scheduled for mid-2008, with FAA approval expected soon afterward. Epic is already delivering $1.2 million experimental versions of the airplane.