Daher Kodiak
Most aircraft in this series have enjoyed a long production life and evolved from many earlier models. However, not all aircraft become classics this way and this issue we explore one that in just 15 years has become synonymous with Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) operations from small and rugged airstrips – the Daher Kodiak.
Built for purpose
Now, while it’s not unusual to see why aircraft are designed for a very specific purpose, sometimes that specific purpose might be a little surprising. In the late 1990s, Quest Aircraft was formed in the United States with the sole intention of designing and producing a better utility aircraft that could be used for humanitarian operations in fairly hostile environments. The end result was the Kodiak – a single-engine turboprop aircraft with fixed gear, high wings, an unpressurised cabin, with the ability to accommodate up to 10 people and also be very capable in STOL operations.
