Page 12 - August18T

10 • TWIN & TURBINE August 2018
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLINT GOFF
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as the descent rates are not survivable at ground impact. The 1,000 fpm descent rate in the Kodiak is more likely survivable, being even less than the descent rate of a Cirrus SR22 with a deployed parachute. While I’d not recommend anyone conduct this manner of flight technique, it is en- couraging to see that the Quest Kodiak has such capacity.
Another cool feature is the automatic trimming of the pitch trim when flaps are deployed. In airplanes with super- effective flaps, a large amount of pitch trim is required when the flaps are extended or retracted, and the Kodiak automatically inputs the trim. Simplicity in design equates to additional safety.
Backcountry Fun
Once we wrapped up our maneuvers, we leveled off at cruise speed and pointed the nose toward Flying M Ranch. At 5,500 MSL, we were burning 330 pph and cruis- ing at 180 KTAS. While that might not be impressive as compared to other tur- bine aircraft at flight levels, 180 KTAS still covers the ground quickly, and the fuel burn is commensurate with the altitude at which the Kodiak is intended to operate. This airplane is not meant to compete with singles like the Meridian or TBM for
cross-country performance, but is still a very capable cross-country airplane.
While the G1000 NXi is fully IFR ca- pable and has the ability to navigate all of the various instrument approach types, it also has “visual approaches” available in the database for many of the other public paved runways in the United States. This is especially handy when the desired air- port offers no instrument approach, or if a second runway is deemed better for use, possibly better aligned with a strong wind.
In this case, the Flying M is a private turf airport and no instrument approach or visual approach is available in the G1000 NXi for its runways. However, the Kodiak still offered several tools to assist with the approach and landing. I used OBS Mode coupled with Synthetic Vision to create a nice approach course to the turf runway, along with a Flight Path Marker to create a steady approach angle to the runway. The AOA (angle of attack indica- tor) showed just where to pitch the nose for best performance. Although I was ap- proaching a grass strip without an instru- ment approach, I still had a plethora of digital data to guide me to a safe approach and landing. And I must have shown a de- cent level of aptitude on this first approach
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The 3,500-foot grass strip at the Flying M Ranch allowed us to explore the Kodiak in its element: an unimproved airstrip in the backcountry. (L-R) Ashley Atkinson; Mark Brown; Jimmy Stewart; Rhett Smith; Joe Casey; Dave Mason.