AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2011 - 59

A touch-screen environmental control system lets the crew set the desired cabin temperature, and heat and air conditioning (AC is an option) come on and off automatically to maintain that temperature. “Plop it and stop it” The start sequence is standard PT6 and a checklist on the G1000 MFD screen guides the crew through the process. Fuel pump On; starter motor to High; ignition On; at 14 percent rpm, push the fuel condition lever to low idle and monitor ITT (which typically peaks at about 600 degrees). Taxiing is standard with Cleveland hydraulic double-puck toe brakes. The nosewheel is steerable through 17 degrees of travel (left and right) but free casters during sharper turns to provide an exceptionally small turning radius. Critical items on the pretakeoff checklist are familiar: flaps (20 degrees); rudder trim deflected halfway right; high idle; 1,600 pounds of torque for a target (maximum 1,795 pounds). Acceleration is rapid, and holding the centerline requires significant right rudder pressure, even with the rudder trim deflected. Rotate at 55 KIAS and the airplane just seems to levitate off the ground and accelerates smoothly while climbing in a 15-degree pitch attitude.

There’s very little settling as the Fowler flaps are retracted (at 85 KIAS minimum) and the airplane quickly accelerates to a 120-knot cruise climb. Reducing the prop speed to 2,000 rpm is a simple matter of pulling the prop lever back to the first detent. Typical cruise for the Kodiak at 12,000 feet is 175 KTAS with a fuel burn of 300 pounds (45 gallons) an hour. The Kodiak is certified to 25,000 feet, but most owners prefer nonoxygen altitudes and seldom fly in the flight levels. At economy cruise, the Kodiak has a remarkable range and endurance that can easily exceed 10 hours and 1,100 nm in no-wind conditions. At more customary cruise speeds and altitudes, the airplane can fly about six hours with IFR reserves. Control forces are moderate to heavy, especially the ailerons at speeds above 150 KIAS, but not unpleasant or unmanageable. Unaccelerated stalls in a clean configuration are preceded by mild airframe buffeting and gentle break at 74 KIAS, accompanied by a slight left-wing drop. Stalls at full flaps (35 degrees) require idle power because any help from the fan up front will keep the wing flying. At a scant 300 pounds of torque, for example, the Kodiak seemed perfectly content in slow flight at just 50 KIAS. Pulling the power and yoke all the way aft resulted in a docile wings-level break at 58 KIAS. Steep turns at 60 degrees of bank are extremely stable, and the airplane shows no overbanking tendency. Slowing down and going down in the descent was a simple matter as we approached AOPA’s home base at Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland for a series of takeoffs and landings. At pattern altitude a power setting of 500 pounds of torque brought the Kodiak below its 138-KIAS flap speed. Pitch trim compensates automatically for each flap setting, and the manual trim wheel spins on its own as the Kodiak adjusts for each new configuration. With full flaps and 74 KIAS on final approach, the Kodiak gave plenty of time to round out and flare. The counterweighted elevator has tremendous authority, and keeping the nosewheel off

The Kodiak’s 750-horsepower PT6A-34 (facing page, top) includes an oversized oil cooler that allows the airplane to operate in extreme heat, as well as cold temperatures.

SPECSHEET
Base price: $1,670,000 Price as tested: $1,670,000

Quest Kodiak

Specifications
Powerplant ........ Pratt & Whitney PT6A–34 Propeller....Hartzell 4-blade feathering, rev. Length........................................ 34 ft 2 in Height .........................................15 ft 3 in Wingspan ................................... 45 ft 0 in Wing area ....................................240 sq ft Wing loading ......................... 30.1 lb/sq ft Power loading ........................... 9.67 lb/hp Seats ....................................................10 Cabin length ....................................190 in Cabin width .......................................54 in Cabin height ...................................... 57 in Empty weight ............................... 3,770 lb Max ramp weight .......................... 7,305 lb Useful load ...................................3,535 lb Payload w/full fuel ........................1,359 lb Max takeoff weight....................... 7,255 lb Fuel capacity, std .......... 320 gal (2,176 lb)

Performance
Takeoff distance, ground roll ......... 1,001 ft Max demonstrated crosswind component .. ........................................................ 20 kt Rate of climb, sea level .............. 1,371 fpm Cruise speed/endurance w/45-min rsv, std fuel, 12,000 ft @ 75% power, best economy ................... .......................................... 172 kt/45 gph @ 55% power, best economy ................... ..........................................137 kt/34 gph Service ceiling ............................ 25,000 ft Landing distance, ground roll ........... 705 ft VMO (max operating) .................... 182 KIAS VR (rotation) ................................. 55 KIAS VS1 (stall, clean)........................... 77 KCAS VSO (stall, in landing configuration) 60 KCAS For more information, contact Quest Aircraft Co., 1200 Turbine Drive, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864; 866-262-1112; www.questaircraft. com All specifications are based on manufacturer’s calculations. All performance figures are based on standard day, standard atmosphere, sea level, gross weight conditions unless otherwise noted.

Limiting and Recommended Airspeeds
VX (best angle of climb) ................ 72 KIAS V Y (best rate of climb)................. 100 KIAS VFE (max flap extended) .............. 138 KIAS

AOPA PILOT • 59 • MARCH 2011

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2011

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