Quest Aircraft has unveiled new interiors for its Kodiak turboprop single as part of the company's strategy to continually refine the all-metal aircraft, which entered service in late 2007.
The new Tundra and Timberline cabins will be available on 2013 models, and will feature composites panels - reducing the aircraft's weight and improving the useful load - enhanced soundproofing, sidewall storage pockets and restyled cockpit seats, says Quest.
"We are always listening to customer feedback and any changes we make are designed to ease the manufacturing, maintenance and reduce the weight of the aircraft," says Quest's director of sales and marketing, Steve Zinda. The new interiors are also available for retrofit "with only minor modification", says the airframer, which is based in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Quest is gearing up to deliver up to 26 of the $1.75 million high-wing aircraft this year - up from 16 in 2011 - with about 60% of production heading to customers outside North America.
In an attempt to boost its international market share, Quest has appointed local dealerships in the lucrative markets of Indonesia and China. "We already have certification in Indonesia and we hope to get Chinese approval later this year," Zinda says, adding that the company had secured "a number of sales agreements" for the Kodiak from China-based customers.
Source: Flight International
