BEND, Ore. — Epic Aircraft has successfully launched its inaugural Epic Odyssey World Tour, an around-the-world journey traversing nine countries and 20 cities in 21 days, covering 15,000 nautical miles in 50 flight hours.
A 26-person team comprising Epic owners, Epic Aircraft staff, pilots, guests, and photographers arrived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 6 in six Epic aircraft to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.
On July 15, the fleet arrived at Prague’s Václav Havel Airport in the Czech Republic, the eighth stop on the 20-city itinerary.
Having already visited Montreal and Goose Bay, Canada; Narsarsuaq, Greenland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Wick, Scotland; Hampshire, England; and Genoa, Italy, the tour’s remaining stops include St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Yakutsk, Magadan and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia; Adak, Anchorage and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Epic Odyssey World Tour will conclude its circumnavigation during AirVenture.
The Epic Odyssey World Tour offers both challenge and accomplishment, as the journey spans three continents and two oceans. Along the way, participants will encounter ancient glaciers, medieval castles, volcanic islands, the Mediterranean Riviera and the vast Siberian tundra.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Epic owners to enhance their skills and expand their horizons, while experiencing some truly remarkable places,” said Doug King, CEO of Epic Aircraft.
“We have evolved this aircraft design over the last 10 years, with considerable input from our owner-builder customers,” said King. “Now that we are in the process of certifying the E1000 version, what better way to demonstrate our exceptional speed, range, payload, and versatility than to fly a fleet of Epics around the world?”
Epic’s all carbon fiber structure delivers speeds over 325 knots, a range of 1,650 nautical miles, a 1,100 pound full-fuel payload and a 4,000 feet-per-minute climb rate. Price is $2.95 million, fully equipped.
Sponsors of the 2016 Epic Odyssey World Tour include Pratt & Whitney Canada, Garmin, Hartzell, Jeppesen, Spidertracks, Globalstar and GoPro.