Quest Kodiak Goes Into Full Production

Jay Barrett/KMXT

The Quest Aircraft Company of Sandpoint, Idaho, has reached another milestone in its manufacture of the Kodiak, a powerful short take-off and landing bush plane. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration presented Quest with its unrestricted production certificate for the aircraft, meaning the company can issue standard air-worthiness certificates to their buyers.

The Kodiak is a 10-place single engine turboprop utility airplane, designed for use on unimproved runways and with floats. It’s in the same class of aircraft as the Cessna Caravan, and is designed as a replacement for the discontinued de Havilland Beaver.

Paul Schaller (shall-er) is Quest Aircraft’s president and CEO:

— (Quest 1 36 sec "It was named for the place … the Kodiak to be able to do.")

Schaller says that with its 750-horsepower Pratt and Whitney P-T-6 turbine engine and a unique wing design, the Kodiak couples short takeoff and landing capabilities with a true airspeed of 190 knots.

Quest has delivered 22 Kodiaks to date, and is hoping to improve on its current production rate of three aircraft a month:

— (Quest 2 22 sec "We were pleasantly surprised … two aircraft per week.")

Schaller said the unrestricted production certificate will allow Quest to streamline the manufacture and delivery process, as the company has taken responsibility for inspections and can coordinate changes with the FAA’s Seattle Manufacturing Inspection District Office.

The Kodiak was originally designed to serve the humanitarian missions of religious organizations in the Third World. The company reports that purchasers have also included private pilots, air taxies and governments, as well.