Quest Aircraft’s first production Kodiak single-engine turboprop made its first flight on 16 March and is advancing towards US certification early in the second quarter.
The aircraft, which will be used for function and reliability testing, “performed as planned and met all specifications” during its 45 min flight, says Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest.
The developer is accelerating production of the 10-seat utility aircraft, with the first customer Kodiak, serial number 002, scheduled to roll-off the production line shortly after certification.
Quest says it has a 3-year order backlog for the $1.3 million Kodiak which is targeted at owner flyers, charter operators and government and humanitarian organisations. “Customer orders have exceeded expectations,” says Quest, which is largely funded by missionary aviation organisations, which have provided the company with financing in return for receiving aircraft at cost.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
