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Kodiak Series II
Initial Thoughts
My interest in the Kodiak stems from a longtime appreciation of missionary aviation and the pilots who commit their careers to a worthy cause. Humanitarian efforts are exactly what the Kodiak was originally designed for in the early 2000’s. But, as I learned during my time with the airplane, the “decade of improvements” Quest has since made to the Kodiak renders the Kodiak Series II a totally different animal than the original. Though it is just as rugged and backwoods-savvy as its predecessor, the Series II has a laundry list of digital/technical improvements making this airplane not only safer, but just as capable of transporting people and their cargo around the concrete jungle as it is in the real jungle.
I met with Quest Chief Demonstration Pilot and Marketing Director Mark Brown when he flew N247QK into my home airport (KJSO). It was a hot afternoon, with the tem- perature rising over 93 degrees F. Typically, when the sun is high on a summer day in Texas, you will not find anyone standing
around on an asphalt ramp. Yet when the Kodiak Series II arrived at KJSO that afternoon, people came out of the woodwork to take a look. We probably appeared similar to a herd of cows hover- ing under a lone oak in a sunny field – the Kodiak wing acting as our tree, providing abundant shade. It’s impressive just how many people can stand completely upright under the tall wing.
One of those standing under the wing was Jimmy Stewart. No, not the actor, but an A&P mechanic and commercial pilot/ instructor based at my home airport (KJSO). Jimmy aspires to one day fly missionary work and there is a high probability the Kodiak will be his future steed in a faraway country. So, he eagerly joined me to try out the Kodiak Series II.
As we all stood underneath the Kodiak, I quickly realized that it was not only one wing, but two above us. Not a cuff or a leading edge device, but quite literally two wings mated together mid-span that simply share a spar and nothing else. This unique design offers particular flight characteristics I would later experience (and appreciate) during the flight.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLINT GOFF
August 2018
TWIN & TURBINE • 7