Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Epic Model: E1000 Nickname: none
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Turboprop
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: single P&W PT6A-67A (1200 SHP)

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/2/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 16
> Number of Times Flown: 10
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: E1000, E1000GX

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 181
> Date First Flown: 9/27/2019
> Location First Flown: Bend Airport, OR (KBDN)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Epic Aircraft, Peter Stiles

Recollections: The Epic E1000 is produced by the Epic Aircraft Company of Bend, Oregon.  The design started out as an experimental, amatuer built (aka “Homebuilt” or “Kit Built”) and–in a rare and impressive turn of events–was then moved into the Certified world, receiving FAA Type Certification in 2019.  At a distance the kit built and certified airplanes appear the same but there were a number of changes required to achieve FAA certification. 

I was not the primary FAA pilot for the certification program (which is a bummer!) but I was able to fly the airplane several times for a modified version (5 bladed propeller and incorporation of the Garmin autopilot), including autopilot hard over tests and takeoff and landing performance.

The Epic is an amazing performer.  It’s fast and easy to fly.  From a procedural perspective, the airplane is very easy to operate because the cockpit is simply and extremely well laid out.  Now that I’ve left the FAA I can publicly state that the E1000 is REALLY a remarkably easy airplane to operate and fly. If I was rich, I’d buy one!

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Daher (previously Quest Aircraft) Model: 200. Nickname: Kodiak
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Turboprop
> FAA Category and Class: Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: Single PT-6A-140

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/2/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 33
> Number of Times Flown: 15
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Quest Kodiak 100

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 186
> Date First Flown: 2/1/2022
> Location First Flown: Renton Airport, WA (KRNT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With:
Daher/Kodiak, Marcel “Frenchy” LeBlanc, Rob Wells, Dave Webber

Recollections: Refer also to my write-up on the Kodiak 100.

The Kodiak 200 (which is the designation on the Type Certificate but it’s marketing name is Kodiak 900, I think because it sounds cooler) is a “bigger, heavier, more powerful” brother of the 100.  It has 150 more horsepower (750–>900) and the gross weight is approximately 1200 lb more.  While they appear similar, there are differences.  One could argue that the 100 and 200 should be counted (for the “how many aircraft have you flown?” contest) as ONE airplane.  But, I’ve chosen to break them apart because my involvement with them (separated by over a decade) were different.

One of the interesting aspects of the 200 (900) program was the secrecy that surrounded it.  The FAA was asked, in no uncertain terms, to keep a lid on the program, even during the final Function and Reliability (F&R) stage.  The airplane was photographed by somebody (not associated with the company or the FAA) during its stay at the Renton, WA airport and posted on Facebook.  It was fun reading the comments and the amateur analysis of what this airplane was (the most obvious differences included the wheel pants and 5 bladed propeller).  Still, we were mum.

Like the 100, the 200 (900) was a pleasure to fly and, in a “small world” moment, it was a pleasure to fly again with Frenchy LeBlanc (the Kodiak Chief Test Pilot), who had been a student of mine at USNTPS in 1999.