Is TP engine maintenance a relevant cost?
A PT6 costs about $300k and does 3600hrs. That is $83/hr which is about 1/10 of the DOC of say a TBM on a 200hrs/year basis, very roughly speaking. Saving 10% off that is utterly insignificant. The Eurocontrol route charges will be several times more than the saving…
Last I heard, Epic was subject to litigation by kit buyers some of who were waiting for engines and other stuff. Maybe that’s been sorted now. Epic certainly had some amazingly specced models. The Dynasty looked great and they had a smaller version with 1200HP on the front of it 
The TPE’s are about $250K for 5400hr TBO’s, so it’s a considerable saving. They have same HSI’s a PT6, 1800hrs. P&W have taken full advantage of the fact that they’re the only guys in town on new models. They could use a little competition again.
One Aviation, the company Alan Klapmeier forged from a merger of his turboprop development venture Kestrel Aviation and jet producer Eclipse Aerospace, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
They call it restructuring but I wonder if this is the end for the Kestrel TP and, much more importantly, for all the Eclipse owners out there who are pretty well tied to the company in maintenance/airworthiness terms?
Could be an opportunity for the risky type. Even though the aircraft isn’t supported by factory, the OEM’s can still support most of the systems directly. The bankruptcy will scare away most regular buyers, so prices will probably drop even more. These things burn 65gal/hr and do 370kts up high, which is pretty economical.
