Quest Aircraft Company, LLC, headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, is the manufacturer of the KODIAK, a new 10-seat single engine turboprop utility airplane. The aircraft is built around a commitment to modern STOL design, rugged construction, turbine power, and high useful load.
The origins of Quest began in 1998 with the start of Idaho Air Group — the product of co-visionaries Tom Hamilton and Dave Voetmann who recognized the need for a modern backcountry aircraft designed to meet the extraordinary demands of humanitarian aviation. Along with an early group of visionaries, they put the KODIAK on paper and went out in search of funding.
The company was officially launched in May 2001, and by that summer employed a staff of 14. On October 16, 2002, the 27,000 square foot new Quest facility was officially dedicated and the team moved the production work to its current home at the Sandpoint Municipal Airport. Work began on the prototype aircraft.
Two years later to the day, the first flight of the KODIAK (N490KQ) took place and then in March 2007 s/n 001, the first fully conforming production aircraft, made its initial flight and joined the KODIAK prototype in the flight test program. The KODIAK received FAA Type Certification on May 30 2007, and began customer deliveries in December. To-date, seven KODIAKs have been delivered.
Quest has seen strong market acceptance in key market segments, including personal use, Part 135 operations, government, and humanitarian organizations. Customer orders have exceeded expectations and the company has a 3-year backlog, which it is working to bring down as production ramps up.
The KODIAK’s rugged aluminum construction combines superior STOL performance and high useful load. It offers proven turbine reliability with the Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine engine, is capable of operating off floats without structural
upgrades, and has the ability to land on unimproved surfaces. The KODIAK can take off in under 700 feet at full gross takeoff weight of 6,750 lbs and climb at over 1,700 feet per minute The robust landing gear allows the KODIAK to easily handle unimproved airstrips, and it is designed for floats and amphibs. A 3-panel Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite is standard equipment on the KODIAK.
In October 2005, the company completed a 57,000 square foot expansion to its facility that houses the KODIAK production line, bringing the size of the Quest facility to 84,000 square feet. The company continues to grow in terms of personnel as well, with over 250 skilled employees now at the Sandpoint facility. Additional facility expansion is planned over the next several years as well.
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