DOUG KING

Doug King’s passion for aviation began early, sitting on his father’s lap in a Cessna 172 — a moment that ignited a lifelong devotion to flight and, ultimately, a career that would help reshape the modern single-engine turboprop industry. From washing airplanes and managing an aircraft paint shop to building a successful software career that funded his flying, King kept aviation at the center of his life. His two worlds converged in 2001 when he joined Syncro Aircraft, often commuting in his Cessna 182.

In 2007, a new experimental aircraft from a startup in Bend, Oregon, captured his imagination instantly. “It was my dream airplane,” he recalls. “Building it myself only made it better.” He spent months constructing his Epic LT, N850DV — until the company’s 2009 bankruptcy abruptly brought the project, and his dream, to a halt.

Determined not to let the vision disappear, King led a group of Epic LT owners to acquire the company’s assets. Many considered it an impossible undertaking, given the economic climate and the challenges of reviving a bankrupt aircraft manufacturer. But King remained steadfast. From assembling parts on the shop floor to piloting test flights himself, he guided a small, dedicated team in preserving the aircraft’s potential and reimagining what a high-performance turboprop could be. Their mission was clear: to create an aircraft that elevated the pilot experience through enhanced safety, innovative functionality, and category-defining performance made possible by an all-carbon fiber design.

In 2012, Epic Aircraft was acquired by a private investor who committed to funding type certification of its all-composite turboprop. King remained CEO, leading the certification and launch of the E1000, E1000 GX, and E1000 AX. Under his leadership, Epic advanced composite construction techniques, set new speed and performance benchmarks, and established manufacturing and certification standards that helped push the single-engine turboprop category forward.

Today, King’s story has come full circle. The aircraft he once dreamed of building became the foundation of a company he helped resurrect — one now recognized as a leader in modern turboprop innovation. His journey reflects the power of passion, persistence, and vision, and stands as a testament to the transformative impact one pilot can have on an entire segment of aviation.