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.
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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.