"I am shocked, shocked to find gambling going on in here!"
Captain Renault.

This entire situation is, and was, utterly predictable AND predicted. The only surprise is that Epic et al has spent such tremendous resources on a program that requires a critical, single source component without first establishing its availability. Aren't these guys pilots? Don't they know you need an alternate? Did they  really think that they could march up to the FAA and demand anything? What is the plan "B"? Threaten to hit them in the knee with their groin? You have to have stones the size of watermelons or a brain the size of a pea to think you can go toe to toe with the feds in a adversarial situation. Maybe if you have a couple of thermonuclear devices handy but short of that the default answer is invariably "NO". They are bureaucrats and, like the scorpion and the dog, it is in their nature. Of course, if anyone has found a way I would like to hear about it as I would love to be able to stop paying my "voluntary" income taxes.

Admittedly the "Builder Assistance" programs run dangerously close the the 51% task rule line and perhaps the L-IVT is a case of the lobster in a pot of slowly heating water but the Epic folks brought the pot to a full boil and then demanded the lobster jump in. All the screaming an fuss has pushed the sleeping giant over the attention threshold and now Epic is running back to the village with the dire prediction that ALL our bones will be ground for bread, or in this case, doughnuts.

Part of me is pissed at the folks that had to push that extra mile. Part of me admires the shear audacity it took to get to this point. All of me knows that this day was inevitable. None of me is buying the altruistic claims of the interested parties.  Epic made a mess, now Epic needs to clean it up!   A full read of the materials makes it clear that the only "us" the FAA is trying to stop are the "us" at Epic, and those that would emulate them. There aren't many people on this list that will go along with the "we are all innocent victims" cry. Rick is no fool, he should assume the same of others. If Epic wants help, they should ask for it directly. A little honesty may yield the desired effect.

Experimental aircraft, as a class, represent  remarkably cogent reasoning on the part of the FAA. The major problem with non-certified aircraft is quality control of the building process.  People pay better attention when the thing they are building will be a thing they will be using. Experimental aircraft achieve quality through a "my life will be at risk" builder mindset. Whenever I hire contractors I go around to the workers passing out Jeffersons while requesting that they  do their work as if they were doing it for themselves  and advising that quality will be rewarded. This method works remarkably well.  If you are having something built for you by people who's paycheck is signed by someone else you better be on hand to supervise the effort AND have the ability and authority to ensure quality. Certified aircraft achieve a measure of quality through strict practices. How is quality achieved in a factory builder "nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more" program where the builder is keeping Schrodinger's cat company?

The main problem with having an airplane that anyone can build is that anyone will.

Regards
Brent Regan