Page 9 - Twin and Turbine September 2017

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we circle above Lake Travis two times, locating power lines, wake signs and boats. Mark Brown, Quest Aircraft’s lead factory demo pilot, informs me the key to water landings is to plan the perfect landing zone then overfly it, allowing plenty of area
to face variable winds, currents, debris and traffic.
It’s a hot Texas afternoon, with 10 knots of southerly wind and scattered clouds. (Fortunately, the afternoon’s predicted thunderstorms never formulated). Perfect weather to hit the lake. The numerous boats and jet skis we observe below confirm this sentiment.
In addition to Mark and myself, we are carrying two passengers and 850 lbs of fuel, sitting around 6,530 lbs total. Just minutes before, the Kodiak showed off its bush plane skills, easily lifting off from Austin Executive in 900 feet at a rotation speed of 55 knots. Mark then displayed a climb of 1,200 feet/min to reach our cruising altitude of 4,000 feet.
As I take the controls from the right seat, I can see why the Kodiak is often referred to as a beefed-up Cessna 172. I am immediately comfortable performing turns and adjusting power settings. Even with the size difference, the handling is similarly responsive. The main difference I am struck with is the stability and power. With 750 horses in front, it’s muscle I’ve never experienced before (and I wouldn’t mind experiencing again).
Turns out, simplicity is exactly what the founders and engineers at Quest sought when designing this SUV of the sky.
TWIN & TURBINE • 7
PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL BOWEN PHOTOGRAPHY