S/N002 Will Be First Customer Delivery
November 9, 2007, Sandpoint, ID…Quest Aircraft is pleased to announce the successful first flight of S/N002, the second production KODIAK aircraft to take to the skies. The aircraft, which will be delivered to the customer early next month, flew for about an hour on Tuesday, November 6. S/N002 joins S/N001 and the KODIAK prototype in the fleet, as work on the production line continues to accelerate.
“The successful flight of our second production airplane is another milestone for the KODIAK program,” said Paul Schaller, Quest Aircraft's President and CEO. “This has been a remarkable year for Quest and we couldn't have come this far without a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of everyone involved with the KODIAK program.”
Piloted by Quest's Chris Klynstra, the aircraft took off at 2:00 p.m. local time, flew to altitude and was put through its paces. The flight went exactly as planned, with no surprises. Follow up work on the aircraft is continuing, including installation of the interior. The aircraft will feature the 10-place Tundra interior.
The KODIAK received FAA Type Certification on May 30 of this year, and has been working with the FAA to achieve its production certificate. Quest has seen strong market acceptance in key market segments, including personal use, Part 135 operations, government, and humanitarian organizations. Customer orders have exceeded expectations and the company has a 3-year backlog, which it is working to bring down as production ramps up.
The KODIAK's rugged aluminum construction combines superior STOL performance and high useful load. It offers proven turbine reliability with the Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine engine, is capable of working off floats without structural upgrades and has the ability to land on unimproved surfaces. The KODIAK can take off in under 700 feet at full gross takeoff weight of 6,750 lbs with a useful load of 3,325 lbs and climb at over 1,700 feet per minute. The Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite is standard equipment on the KODIAK. This is the first installation in a turboprop aircraft of the popular G1000.
Quest Aircraft Company, LLC is the manufacturer of the KODIAK, a 10-place single engine turboprop utility airplane, designed for STOL use and float capability. Headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, Quest was established in 2001 and currently employs more than 150 skilled personnel.
Media Contact: Julie Stone
Office: (912) 898-8673 ▪ Mobile: (912) 398-0498
jstone@questaircraft.com