Thursday, November 17, 2011...In the wake of two of the worst years in the 18 he's spent in the construction business, Pat Feenstra (P. W. Feenstra Construction) took delivery of a KODIAK. Now, just 7 months later, we caught up with him to see how things were going. This is what he had to say...in no uncertain terms.

"We are in the process of wrapping up a large dairy project in Wisconsin. Two more weeks to go and I'll pull our concrete plant, wind it down, and start relocating to the next job. In this process, the KODIAK has been such a workhorse for us. When we ordered it, I had high expectations. In operation, it has done what we expected...and more! In this economy we still had the second biggest volume year of my career because the KODIAK enabled us to safely put the right employees, in the right place, at the right time. With the KODIAK, thunderstorms, ice, and low IFR conditions have become manageable.
      This airplane not only helped keep us in business, but without it, we would have missed 50% of the available work this year. As our reputation has grown, so has our geographical presence; we have now completed projects in a multitude of states, including Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Logistics could have been a problem, but during the last few months, I've been able to get staff and equipment on the ground around the country safely, efficiently, and relatively cheaply. With the KODIAK I can fly one load, one trip, take everything, on time, through almost anything, without as much concern, and without as much delay. That's how I've flown this year. Flying pistons in Midwest weather conditions, I would have been five for ten in mission success rate. So far, I'm flying ten for ten with the KODIAK. That compares favorably to other planes in my experience.
      If the KODIAK was meant to replace my previous turbo 206...I'd say it blew that goal away. No comparison! The KODIAK fits in and out of all the same runways, but that's where similarities end. The KODIAK is playing in another league. You can confidently make a plan and execute it reliably. My dispatch efficiency is up 100% because the plane gets everyone there, every time, safely. The ability to safely run a plane with that horsepower and gross weight has literally been an answer to prayer. I'd take one KODIAK over three 206's any day.
      I find myself comparing the KODIAK to our previous King Air 90 way more than comparing it to our recent 206. But, our King Air was a more complicated aircraft that required a lot more input. With the KODIAK, we can fly through the weather – and at night – and it flies as easy as a 152. It's as simple a plane as I've ever flown. And, in the KODIAK, the G1000 situational awareness is unreal. The ability to see and digest what's coming before it gets here makes this a much easier airplane to stay on top of.
      The combination of turbine, synthetic vision, and TKS – that efficiency – it's something I've never had before. I can grab six guys and all their gear and not think twice about launching into known weather. Take a good look at this photo. That's our KODIAK in real world operations. That ice is gone as fast as the system is initialized. I have to say TKS makes this one of the most beautiful photos I've ever taken. And, with my KODIAK, I can go to IMC minimums with confidence. No vertigo. No fear.
      Did the plane more than make my operating costs? Oh, you bet it did. And in 110 hours I haven't had a bump. I've only had one squawk. In my experience, complex twins have more frequent squawks, 3-4 times the maintenance cost, and 35-40% more fuel burn. The twin was great but complicated and costly to operate. And for a 206, again, there's no real comparison. We've run both of those aircraft. The pistons couldn't carry as much load or as many people. With the KODIAK we can pursue the same business we did before, but do it faster, with bigger loads, without the issues we've had.
      It's reassuring to be in a plane, at full gross, carrying employees and gear, without a fear factor. The ability to safely and efficiently get people where we want, when we want, has transformed our business.
      We have never been able to capitalize on opportunities as much as we can now, and it's all because of this KODIAK."

With the KODIAK on the job, Pat has put the two worst years of business behind him. This one aircraft put 50% more work in play and, because of KODIAK adaptability, Pat Feenstra hasn't missed any of it. In fact, he's thinking about setting up a second office in the Midwest.
      How did he sum it up? "No plane, no gain." We think that's a pretty catchy slogan and, with the KODIAK, it definitely applies.

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010…Last month, with the announcement that Wipline 7000 Floats are FAA certified for the KODIAK, we mentioned that initial customer deliveries were already underway. Wipaire recently shared with us just what this looks like. All we could say was…WOW!

     Of course, like proud parents, we couldn’t help but open the wallet and show you what the kids are wearing this summer. (Special thanks to Wipaire, Inc. for providing these gorgeous photos.)

     Wipaire’s strength has always been and continues to be in engineering innovations. Ben, Wip, and Chuck have led teams of engineers that have accumulated over 120 different supplemental type certificates. This year, at EAA AirVenture 2010, Wipaire, Inc. is proudly celebrating 50 years of Wipline float design and manufacturing with their most recent accomplishment…the Wipline 7000.

     If you are at AirVenture 2010 and would like to see one of these planes up close and personal, head over to the Federal Pavilion (MAP) where the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service has one of their KODIAKs on display.



     We hope you are enjoying the show as much as we are.
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010…It's Time to Get Wet!
     Go ahead, take your KODIAK, stuff it to 7,255 pounds gross weight, and drag it into the river. It'll be fine, we promise, just make sure you've added KODIAK’s latest accessory first. (Our deepest thanks to Wipaire, Inc. for providing these absolutely gorgeous photos to prove the point.)

     That's right! Wipaire has officially acquired an STC for their 7000 model KODIAK floats!

     In English, that means you now have the option of putting amphibious floats on your brand new KODIAK (or retrofitting the KODIAK you already own) and saying goodbye to the limitations of land-only takeoffs and landings. With some 70-percent of the earth covered with water, floats open up a whole new world and grant access to remote areas impossible to reach on wheels alone. This is a colossal turning point for Quest. It's a day we’ve been dreaming of ever since our aircraft was just ink on napkins. From the initial clean sheet, KODIAK was designed to go on floats and is structurally engineered to leave the factory floor “float ready”. In a way, this means that KODIAK is finally in its native element.

     And, these floats are a first for Wipaire. The 7000 model floats are the first to use the very latest digital technologies from their inception and are the first to meet the FAA's latest, more robust, certification criteria. Consider this STC a synergy of vision and engineering. As Wipaire explains it, “The KODIAK, a single engine turbine designed for remote area operations, coupled with Wipaire’s sleek, rugged floats will be an unbeatable match for serious flyers desiring the comforts of home in the wildest locations. The hulls are modeled after the successful Wipline model 13000 floats which have improved rough water handling qualities and also include the traditional Wipline flat top deck for easy loading and safety. The floats are designed to resist abrasion from rocky shorelines and careful attention was paid to the float construction should an off-site repair become necessary. Other structural enhancements for the comfort and safety of its users were also implemented on the 7000 float.”
     According to Rich Adler, Wipaire’s Manager of Engineering and Certification, "These features along with several other enhancements make the Wipline 7000 the most advanced float we have ever produced."

     But don’t just take our word for it. Give your 7,255 pounds of floating KODIAK 1520 feet of open water, put it in blow-dry mode, and see for yourself. As you climb out at more than 1100 feet per minute, with full cargo, we suspect you will have all the proof you need.

     As of June 2010, the KODIAK is sitting on FAA certified floats. Consider this your ALL access pass to a world full of adventure. It’s the time to go out and make a wake of your own.

For the last 50 years, Wipaire Inc. has developed a full line of aircraft floats for all sizes of aircraft, from the Piper Cub to the de Havilland Twin Otter, as well as over 100 Supplemental Type Certificates for a variety of useful aircraft modifications. The Wipline 7000 Float has been in full production since December 2009 when it received TSOA and initial deliveries to customers are already underway. Head over to www.wipaire.com and see what they can do for you.
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008...Even though it wasn’t our plan when we started the adventure, accommodating this purchase by the Rhine Army Parachute Association (RAPA)—and adhering to new changes in FAA 337 modification and jump plane certification rules—has made KODIAK #5 the first new aircraft with a jump package certified through the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Office. Right now, we believe that makes KODIAK the only such aircraft operating in the world. For us, this journey really was its own reward.
    The adventure took its first major step in May, when we pulled KODIAK#5 off the production line to work on the special requirements of a factory certified jump plane. That included installation of a roll-down rear jump door that’s closeable from the pilot’s seat, a wing-mounted camera, a 14-inch photographer step, jump lights, and other para-friendly modifications.
     Then came the tests … the recent alterations to FAA jump plane rules meant KODIAK had to be certified under requirements that are appreciably more stringent than earlier aircraft. This, along with having passed the new FAR regulations,translates to a much safer aircraft for jump operations.
    British Major Paul Moore, Commandant of the Joint Services Jump Center and assigned to RAPA, worked closely with Quest during the certification process. He returned in late June to accept delivery of a fully approved and certified aircraft and to make the initial test jumps. Here he is preparing for the very first jump.


     Followed closely by a smooth touchdown.

     The first of many.

    “Everything went very, very smoothly,” said Major Moore. “We are exceedingly pleased with the equipment and modifications that Quest made to the KODIAK. The aircraft will serve our needs very well.”
    The very next day KODIAK #5 was off to Lost Prairie, Montana where a volunteer parachute jump club helped Major Moore really put the aircraft through its paces. You can see immediately why this is our kind of place…

     …for days of jumping.

    Then, on June 30, KODIAK #5 flew from our home base in Sandpoint, Idaho, crossed the North Atlantic, and arrived safely at RAPA’s home base in Bad Lippspringe, Germany on July 5. From the photographs Major Moore sent back to us it seems there were plenty of kisses to go around.

    For Quest, the quick turnaround from design to approval is testament to our team and the good people we work with at the FAA. Thank you all for your long hard work! Hearing from RAPA about KODIAK’s trip to Europe was a special treat for us all. Major Moore said of the 6 day flight home, “The performance and endurance of the KODIAK was amazing. We knew this was a great airplane, but the flight home was a true testament to the outstanding performance of the KODIAK.” The flight was completed with KODIAK’s standard fuel capacity. If the FAA’s approval was the cake, RAPA brought the icing.
     Taking our backcountry plane and turning it into a compelling jump aircraft has really brought home the old phrase “the reward for hard work is more hard work.” But we’d belying if we said our job is thankless. It’s been more than that on so many levels. By quickly adapting to the demands of the marketplace, our team really showcased its ability to deliver and came together like never before.
     Now, for the first time, Quest offers a turn-key aircraft that rolls off the factory floor certified for jump operations. We believe KODIAK is a very strong option for this market. And we suspect this will lead to a very positive response not only from the large number of recreational jump clubs worldwide but also from forest service and other government agencies.
     Our deepest thanks to RAPA and the FAA for this amazing journey … you guys made all the challenges worthwhile.
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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 FAA337 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 firsthand.
    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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