Questaircraft.com | Quest Aircraft Company

Tuesday, February 24, 2009...Video cameras on the production floor? That’s not something we see everyday. After all this is a manufacturing facility not a Hollywood back lot. But it does give us pause for some reflection.
     Our transformation from an idea to an aircraft production facility has brought about radical change for the crew here at Quest, for our neck of the woods here in Sandpoint, and for an increasing number of people around the world. We've found that keeping a watchful eye on day to day progress and working carefully and methodically has a few ironic limitations. It actually makes some things a lot harder to see. Thank goodness for the media…and their cameras.
     For us, tending to business has been a little like watching the kids grow up. You were there when they were born, you've been with them every day, and then one day you get a photo from college and it hits you. Suddenly you blink and realize all the joy and hard work that's passed and there they are…all grown up.
     Our journey has been like that. Aside from the memories, it's the images that tell the story. And now, thanks to a video tour by our local radio station and a marvelous piece by FLYING MAGAZINE...we've gotten a chance to see this facility from a whole new perspective.
     Please join us for a couple glimpses behind the curtain. We hope you enjoy the view as much as we have.

Take a Photo Tour of the Facility with FLYING MAGAZINE

Take a Video Tour of the Facility with KPND Radio (video below)

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PRODUCTION: A New Adventure Begins
Monday, June 16, 2008 … Sometimes when you head out on a new adventure it’s hard to imagine where it will lead.
     When we first started talking with the British Army about the purchase of KODIAK s/n 0005 by the Rhine Army Parachute Association (RAPA) we anticipated a straightforward sale. Looking at the numbers it’s not hard to see that KODIAK is a natural for parachute operations.
     Paul Schaller (Quest President and CEO) puts it this way, “The high power to weight ratio necessary to safely operate the KODIAK in the back country has really opened up a wide variety of other applications. The jump market is a good example. The power of the PT-6 engine that we have on the plane allows KODIAK to get off the ground, straight up to altitude, and back on the ground again quickly and easily. Being able to offer a large number of cycles has made this plane work for the jump market.”
     But, as we dove into the process of accommodating RAPA’s specific requirements and adhering to brand new changes in FAA 337 modification and jump plane certification rules, we discovered a whole series of new and exciting challenges. So, back in May, we pulled KODIAK #5 off the production line to allow us to focus on the special requirements of a certified jump aircraft … including a full array of handholds, footholds, special doors and interior, and testing.
     Major Paul Moore, of the British Army Parachute Team, visited Sandpoint earlier this year to tour the facility and test the jump configuration first hand.

     We also developed a new roll-up Lexan parachute door. Here it is installed in our workhorse test plane for the final stages of the FAA Certification process.

     Now that #5 is out of the paint shop sporting fresh union jack colors we’re increasingly excited to see it delivered and put into service overseas.
     Stay tuned for more news as we get closer to delivery.

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MEET THE BAND
Tuesday, April 29, 2008...Welcome to Quest's Lean Production Techniques assembly line.

    Each work cell along the production line works together like a group of instruments. We've got the guitars, the bass, the percussion and each one plays a different part in time with the others. Together, the music is complete. Behind the scenes we've been adjusting the dance that is our production flow. Admittedly, it's more of a tango than a two step,but it all falls under the core of our philosophy...continuous improvement. We've been analyzing each movement to find the critical paths and addressing any bottle necks by devising solutions together with the teams actually doing the work. Around here everyone is a part of the process because everyone is part of our progress.
    Meeting our near-term goal means that a brand new KODIAK will roll off the production line and into service every two weeks. That score has been written and it’s only a matter of time before it's played. Today there are nine aircraft on the floor -- all in various stages of production.

    Of that group, number eight is something a little bit special. It's the first assembly that will move to a new second fuselage fixture and help take us closer to a ten day TAKT time...that's ten days to generate one unit of output from any given work station along the line...including the finished product.
     Stay tuned...

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Audio: Strong Market for a Well Engineered Utility Aircraft

Wednesday, April 9,2008...The original design goal of the KODIAK was to produce an airplane with the ability to land and take off from the kind of short unimproved strips usually reserved for a 206. But we wanted to be able to do this with an aircraft that burns jet fuel and carries two to three times the load.
KODIAK's success in achieving these goals has produced some surprises--specifically in the breadth and depth of the market. Press PLAY(below) to hear Paul Schaller (President and CEO of Quest Aircraft)explain.

(Duration 1:19min)

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PRODUCTION: KODIAK s/n 001 Joins Our Prototype in the Air
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 … Today we got to see something we’ve been anticipating since day one. Can you see the family resemblance?

     We’ll be carrying this photo in our wallets long after it’s faded and torn.
     When you start comparing all the refined details that have come together in 001, from the finished cockpit to the fairings, KODIAK is only getting stronger.

     We couldn’t be more proud to see these two flying over Sandpoint.

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PRODUCTION: KODIAK s/n 001 Takes to the Skies (View S/N 001 First Flight Video.)
Friday, March 16, 2007...Today was another giant leap in the history books at Quest as KODIAK serial number 001 lifted off the ground.

We've had a flurry of activity over the last couple weeks as our crew has worked with the FAA to bring the last details together. By this afternoon, all the final preparations were done and we held the airworthiness certificate in hand. There was nothing left to do but push KODIAK 001 out onto the wet tarmac. That’s all it took. As soon as the big door started going up folks poured out of the building to watch. These moments are a graphic reminder of how much this place has grown. We used to all fit in Tom’s living room at Christmas and now there are over a hundred of us spread out across the front of the hangar. With the troops gathered we took a moment to celebrate and say a prayer for safety. Then Kelly climbed in, spooled up, and taxied out to the runway.
We’d done high speed runs earlier in the week, so today there was just one short hop then back down the taxiway to set up for departure. The turbine wound up, brakes released, a short roll, and the bird took to flight.

As he banked right and departed the pattern Kelly radioed back, “just another KODIAK.” KODIAK 001 flew for about 45 minutes altogether. A quick shakedown.

Then she was back for a picture perfect touchdown with handshakes and hugs all around. (That's Paul Schaller with Kelly in orange.)
Thank you to everyone who has invested tireless hours, a great deal of skill, and unwavering persistence. Your dedication and passion bore fruit today. Our first fully conforming production aircraft is in the air. Serial number 002 is moving steadily down the production line and 003 is following right along. The adventure is very much alive in Sandpoint, Idaho.
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PRODUCTION: KODIAK s/n 001 Successful Engine Test
Tuesday, February 27, 2007: Sandpoint ID … We witnessed tremendous team spirit and emotion in our crew today as the PT6 on N491KQ wound up for the first time! All went well, and first flight will be coming soon. This was a milestone event in the history of Quest Aircraft, as N491KQ is aircraft serial number 001, the first certifiable KODIAK to come off the production line. As the first conforming article it will participate in at least two months of testing as certification work continues.

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PRODUCTION: KODIAK s/n 001 Up On it's Own Legs
Thursday, December 14, 2006: Sandpoint ID ... In early December,KODIAK s/n 001 was placed on its landing gear for the first time, as it began its trek down the assembly line. The engine was also placed in the fuselage and the wing will be attached shortly. As you can imagine, this was a very big day for all of us at the factory.
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