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Quest offers three interior options: Tundra, Timberline and top-of-the-line, Summit (shown here).
8 • TWIN & TURBINE August 2018
David Clark Company
1/2 Page Island www.davidclark.com
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Our plan was to fly to the Flying M Ranch in Reklaw, Texas. The Flying M is home to one of the best and largest fly-ins in the state, and we were honored that owners Dave and Marcia Mason allowed us special access. Lined with beautiful tall pine trees, the 3,500-foot grass strip at the Flying M Ranch provided a perfect backdrop for pictures, and also allowed us to explore the Kodiak in its element: an unimproved airstrip in the backcountry.
Mark offered me the left seat (for which I felt quite honored) and I climbed aboard. My next observation cannot be overstated: I am 6 feet 4 inches tall and I was comfort- able. There seems to be an unwritten rule that every cockpit must be designed for pilots 5 feet 7 inches or shorter – bad news for us tall guys. But for the first time in my 30-plus year career, I actually had to move the seat forward. And I didn’t have to contort my body in some odd manner upon entering the aircraft either. The pilot door swings super wide allowing for easy access as you pull yourself in using one of the many handholds. It’s a bit like stepping up into a four-wheel drive truck in that you use the step, but it’s easy and natural.
You will probably notice several truck metaphors throughout this review, and that’s not on accident. Texans love trucks, and I could not help but note the similarities to my own truck. But this is no bare-bones, basic “ranch truck.” No, the Kodiak Series II is akin to the top-of-the-line, decked out, leather, incredibly comfortable, ready- for-anything truck that the ranch owner himself would drive. Maybe the Ford King Ranch, Chevy Silverado High Country or the Dodge Laramie Longhorn of the avia- tion world. Quest wanted to make a state- ment with the Series II, and they made it loud and clear: this is one well-refined, super-safe “flying truck.”
Test Flight
Once settled in the left seat, I noticed the ground clearance in the Kodiak is ex- cellent. The pilot sits “tall,” meaning that the perspective is that you are quite high off the ground. I instantly liked the feel of the airplane.
Starting the engine was intuitive as I minded the normal hot start cautions I am used to with any PT6. Soon we had the G1000 NXi up and running, and I felt right at home. When you think of a Kodiak, set aside any notions you may have that this