Only six and a half months after design work began on a clean sheet of paper, the Epic Victory Jet made its maiden flight July 6 at Redmond, Oregon. The first flight keeps the Victory on track for its debut at EAA AirVenture this month, said Rick Schrameck, Epic’s CEO.
From clean sheet to first flight took “just 202 days, or just 28 weeks,” Schrameck emphasized. “In our research, we did not find any other company out there that can demonstrate this kind of focus and commitment to bring an aircraft from the proverbial drawing boards to reality in this length of time. I’ve always said that Epic has the best engineers and manufacturing talent in the world, and I think this clearly proves it.”
Schrameck was quick to praise FAA cooperation, as well. “Quick response from the Seattle MIDO and Portland FSDO allowed us to get this jet flying on our schedule,” he said, “and we are grateful for their efforts.”
The all-carbon-composite Victory Jet is the first entry in the single-engine business jet field actually to fly. It utilizes a Williams International FJ-33-4A to climb to FL280 in just 10 minutes. Even with full fuel, the Victory offers more than 900 pounds of payload, easily accommodating four to five passengers and their luggage, Schrameck pointed out. The jet’s maximum cruise speed exceeds 320 KTAS, he said. The jet also features an all-Garmin glass cockpit.
Schrameck promises to deliver at least six of the new jets to customers before the end of 2007, each with a price tag of less than $1 million. “This is not a promotional price or a price in 2002 dollars like we’ve seen with other jets,” Schrameck told a crowd at Sun ‘n Fun, earlier this year. “This is the Victory price today.”
As with other airplanes in Epic’s line, the new Victory VLJ will first be available as an owner-built aircraft via the company’s Customer Build Center in Bend, Oregon.
Schrameck said that Epic’s single-engine Victory and twin-engine Elite jets will fly to Oshkosh’s Wittman Field “to give the international press a first look at the two newest members of the growing Epic family of aircraft,” on Monday, July 23. The airplanes will be parked at AeroShell Square.
For more information: 888-FLY-EPIC