Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Following the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-04-02/epic-sold-russian-mro">purchase of kit-builder Epic Aircraft by Russian MRO provider Engineering llc</a>, Epic has launched an effort to achieve FAA certification of the six-seat, pressurized, composite Epic LT. Powered by a Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6-67, the LT is currently offered as a kit in the experimental aircraft category.


Under the leadership of former founder, chairman and CEO Rick Schramek, the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2009-09-30/epic-air-filing-bankruptcy">Epic companies (Aircraft Investors Resources, Epic Air and Aircraft Completion Services) went bankrupt in 2009</a>. That iteration of Epic had planned to certify various versions of Epic turboprop and jet models, but none ever received FAA certification. LT Builders Group purchased the assets of the company in April 2010 for $4.3 million.


The new Epic Aircraft, backed by funding from its Russian parent, plans to certify the Epic LT and is currently hiring people with the required skills. Some of the open positions at Epic include aircraft certification, manufacturing and quality managers as well as technicians and sales personnel.


Doug King, Epic CEO, said that the goal is to certify the single-engine LT turboprop in three years and that the target sale price is $2.5 to $3 million.

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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