Business & GA

Quest Aircraft has flown its second production Kodiak single-engined turboprop for the first time as work on the assembly line accelerates ahead of production certification planned for later this year.

The 10-seat, Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-powered aircraft - serial number 002 - will be handed over to Quest's launch customer early in December.

The Sandpoint, Idaho-based company clinched US certification for the utility turboprop in July, but is aggressively pursuing production approval that will allow Quest to ramp up manufacture and clear its three-year order backlog.

© Quest Aircraft

The $1.3 million Garmin G1000-equipped Kodiak is designed for short take-off and landing "from unpaved runways and will work off floats without structural upgrades", says Quest. T

he aircraft is available in three configurations - the Tundra 10-seat high-density version the Timberline mid-range model for business and leisure users and the Summit, eight-seat VIP model

Design, development, construction and certification of the Kodiak have been funded through donations to not-for-profit missionary and humanitarian organisations. In return they receive at cost price one in every 10 Kodiaks that Quest produces.