Kodiak Owners & Pilots Society Launched

For good reasons, Kodiak turboprop owners and pilots are enthusiastic about their airplanes, and the official launch of the Kodiak Owners & Pilots Society will make the ownership experience even better. The organization was founded by three Kodiak advocates, including Mark Brown—a staple and respected figure in the Kodiak community. Brown, who now owns 11 Aviation, a concierge acquisition, sales, training, and management company specializing in single-engine turboprops, is the highest-time Kodiak pilot in the world (over 8,000 hours in type) and will lead the organization’s training and operational initiatives. Brown comes from the Kodiak OEM as the marketing director and chief demo pilot for 10 years. KOPS co-founder John Hunt is the former vice president of sales for the Kodiak OEM and will offer his manufacturing expertise, while Kodiak owner and pilot Brett Ekblom will offer practical ownership expertise to the organization’s members.

The growing global fleet of Kodiak turboprop singles is at roughly 360 aircraft, with Daher producing the current-gen Model 100 and 900 varieties after taking over the line from Quest Kodiak. The Kodiak 100 model came to life during the late 1990s to fill the need for a modern-day bush airplane. Initially sketched on the back of a napkin by its two company founders, the Kodiak’s first flight was in 2004 and it earned FAA Part 23 type certification in 2007, 32 months after its first flight. It’s a workhorse and a strong, honest performer. With a 750-HP (700 continuous) PT6A-34 up front, a wheeled Kodiak has a max cruise of 174 knots at 12,000 feet while burning 48 GPH, giving it a VFR range of just over 1,000 miles. Pulled back to max range power at the same altitude, cruise speed drops to 135 knots but fuel burn comes down significantly, to 33 GPH, and range jumps up over 100 miles, to 1130 NM. The useful load is just under 1400 pounds with full tanks (320 gallons). And, a Kodiak 100 works as well on floats as it does on wheels.

The Kodiak 900 model—designed for more speed—sits between the Kodiak 100 Series III and the TBM 910 in the Daher line. At ISA conditions with no wind at its 8,000-pound MTOW (max takeoff weight), the rugged 900 gets off in 1,015 feet while clearing a 50-foot obstacle. Max cruise speed of the 900 is 210 knots true at 12,000 feet at MTOW with no wind. That betters the Kodiak 100 Series III by at least 40 knots at the same altitude. It’s more refined, with wheel pants, an upgraded interior, and an integrated cargo pod.

Well-organized type organizations bring tremendous value to any aircraft ownership experience, and any buyer contemplating the purchase of a used or new Kodiak will be well-served by KOPS, given the expert leadership. KOPS was accepted to the NBAA (National Business Aircraft Association) Owner-Pilot Association Coalition, and the organization’s NBAA-BACE annual trade show and convention kicks off next week in Las Vegas. AvBrief will be on site covering the show with daily news and video reports.