Six Epic LT aircraft with owners and crew completed a 21-day around the world trip that ended at AirVenture 2016. The LT is the experimental version and predecessor of Epic Aircraft’s E1000. In certification testing at the present time, the E1000 certainly benefits from the knowledge gained from the LT fleet.
Daher’s TBM 930 debuted at SUN ‘n FUN 2016 as a fully-certified, ready-to-deliver single-engine turboprop aircraft. (Wouldn’t it be cool if all manufacturers could/would only announce a new aircraft when it is ready for delivery? Bravo Daher.) The TBM 930 is the pinnacle of the current TBM line.
When putting the numbers together, for whatever reason I expected these two aircraft to be a mismatch. Granted, the E1000 numbers are based on pre-certification data, so it’ll be interesting to see if the final data, including the $2.95 million price tag, hold up.
| Aircraft | TBM 930 | E1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 53.1 ft | 35 ft 10 in |
| Height | 14.3 ft | 12 ft 6 in |
| Wingspan | 42.1 ft | 43 ft |
| CABIN | ||
| Height | 4 ft | 4 ft 11 in |
| Width | 3 ft 11.64 in | 4 ft 7 in |
| Length | 13 ft 3.45 in | 15 ft |
| WEIGHT | ||
| Max Takeoff Weight | 7,394 ft | 7,500 ft |
| Empty Weight | 4,629 lbs | 4,400 lbs |
| Fuel Capacity | 291 gal | 288 gal |
| Max Payload w/ Full Fuel | 891 lbs | 1,120 lbs |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| Max Cruise Speed | 330 ktas | 325 ktas |
| Economy Cruise | 252 ktas | 265 ktas |
| Range – Max Cruise | 1,440 nm | 1,385 nm |
| Range – Economy Cruise | 1,730 nm | 1,650 nm |
| POWER | ||
| Engine | P&W PT-6-66D | P&W PT6A-67A |
| Horsepower | 850 shp | 1,200 shp |
| Propeller | Hartzell 5-blade | Hartzell 4-blade |
| PRICE (2016) | $4.099 million | $2.95 million |
Regardless of your preference, both the TBM 930 and the E1000 are true performers and easy on the eyes.
