Made in Central Oregon: Inside Epic Aircraft’s growth in Bend

(Made in Central Oregon airs tonight at Six on KTVZ)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - Epic Aircraft was founded in 2004 as a general aviation manufacturer focused on producing high-performance airplanes. In its early years, the company sold aircraft kits for the Epic LT, allowing customers to build their own planes.

One of those customers was future CEO Doug King.

“I was flying back then. They were making kit airplanes, and I was building a kit airplane here,” King said.

During the recession, Epic Aircraft faced financial challenges. King stepped in to help keep the company going.

“I ended up buying the company out of bankruptcy and then turning it around and selling it. But I stayed on as CEO since then,” King said.

During the 2010s, Epic shifted its focus to developing the E1000, a fully certified aircraft designed and built in Bend. The aircraft received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2019, marking a major milestone for the company.

Epic later expanded on that success with certification of the next-generation E1000 GX in 2021 and the third-generation E1000 AX last year.

The company was also recognized statewide after winning the 2024 “Coolest Thing Made in Oregon” contest.

Today, Epic Aircraft planes operate across the United States, with some aircraft sold internationally as demand continues to grow.

“We’re expanding. We’re selling more airplanes. People are getting very excited about our product in the marketplace,” King said.

King said Central Oregon was a logical place for the company to grow because the region already had a skilled workforce with experience building carbon fiber aircraft.

“It was kind of logical for it to start here,” King said.

Today, Epic Aircraft employs more than 500 people in Central Oregon. The company expects to hire about 100 additional workers within the next year as demand continues to grow.

“We have engineering jobs, technical jobs and different administrative roles,” King said.

Not all positions require a college degree, with opportunities available for entry-level workers interested in careers in aviation.

After more than two decades in Central Oregon, Epic Aircraft continues to expand while supporting local jobs and manufacturing growth in the region.