While Airventure may draw more people than Sun N Fun, it is at Sun N Fun that most manufacturers unveil their new designs. The reason for this is simple, the flying season starts in April not in August! Thus it was no surprise that the the people from John Molek sales of Ohio unveiled their new Epic 3000 tail dragger at Sun N Fun. The Epic 3000 features an all metal 4130 chromoly tig welded steel fuselage mated to an wing using aluminum ribs and spars. The control system is standard stick and rudder with center mounted sticks, and dual throttles in a tandem seating arrangement with adjustable seats. The plane will come equipped with toe brakes front and back. Pilots fly solo from the front seat, which has excellent visibility for a tail dragger. The Epic 3000 fuselage finds it's roots in the Champ, with the wing design, tail and landing gear borrowed from a Super Cub. Fuel is located in two 14 gallon wing tanks, which should give 5 hours of flight time with reserve. Giving it a range of approximately 500 miles. Power can be supplied by engines from a Continental 0-200 through the Rotax 912 and Jabiru line of power plants. The craft will be offered as an Experimental Aircraft that fits into the light sport aircraft category. The plane has been purposely built to provide easy access to either seat. It comes equipped with float mount weldments and sea plane doors on both side. Currently one aircraft kit has been sold, with two new orders taken, expect factory delivery on kits is approximately 90 days. While the name of the craft at the show was the Epic 3000, look for a name change in the near future with "The Chub" for half Champ half Cub being the front runner. For more information contact: John Molek Sales 445 SR 305 Warren Ohio 44481 330-299-1056 440-218-5122 nick.smith@sympatico.ca |