Flying Magazine, Dec. 1, 2021: When Daher took on the assets of Kodiak in 2019, it sought to incorporate its expertise in single-engine turboprop aircraft into the production and further development of the Idaho-based company’s utility aircraft. The result was the Kodiak 100, and an improved production process that veterans of past parent company Quest Ventures clearly appreciate.

“This milestone delivery comes as the Kodiak program is on the rise following its acquisition by Daher in 2019,” said Mark Brown, Kodiak’s director of sales and marketing, and chief demo pilot. “Having been with Kodiak for eight years, the improvements made since 2019 in terms of manufacturing enhancements, production efficiencies and the product support integration is remarkable.  These are exciting times, and I’m really proud to be part of the team at Daher’s Aircraft Division.”

FLYING had a tour of the Kodiak 100’s upgrades from Brown while we attended the static display at the National Business Aviation Association’s BACE in Las Vegas in October.

FLYING first flew the Kodiak in 2009, not long after its debut in 2007 as a 10-seat competitor to other utility aircraft in the category, such as the Pilatus PC-12 and Cessna 208B Caravan. Its design roots reach back even further, to Todd Hamilton, founder of Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft, which developed the multidimensional Glasair lines of experimental aircraft.

Now, Daher reports on the successful marriage of the Kodiak into its product portfolio, joining the TBM 910 and 940 in current production.

“Every day around the world, Kodiak aircraft meet the mission: from delivering crucial aid in conflict zones to providing comfortable airlift for business and personal travel,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher’s Aircraft Division and CEO of Kodiak Aircraft.

Performance Specs

The Kodiak 100 was developed for the backcountry, and mission-based flying, and it shows in the aircraft’s performance numbers.

Ability to take off from unimproved airstrips less than 1,000 ft long

• Loiter time of up to 10 hours
• Up to 1,000 nm range
• Landing weight of up to 7,255 pounds
• Large tire size in Series III, at 29-inch diameter

The flight deck in the Series III models includes the Garmin G1000 NXi with GFC 700 digital autopilot and the GWX 75 weather radar system.

The Kodiak is powered by its original Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 producing 750 hp. The fleet has logged a combined total of more than 278,700 flight hours worldwide.

By Julie Boatman for Flying Magazine