Daher’s Aircraft Division announced the startup of increased
production capacity for its Kodiak 100 and Kodiak 900 multi-role utility
aircraft at the company’s manufacturing and final assembly facility in
Sandpoint, Idaho.
This Kodiak production evolution was detailed by Nicolas
Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division, during the
company’s show-opening press conference at the SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo in
Lakeland, Florida. He also provided the stepped-up production targets for
Kodiak aircraft in 2024: an increase to 25, compared to the total of 18 during
2023.
“Kodiak’s well-earned reputation as the legendary ‘go
anywhere’ utility aircraft has been further enhanced since Daher’s 2019
acquisition of the product line, and its popularity continues to grow – with a
current two-year order backlog,” Chabbert told reporters at the press
conference. “The production enhancement announced today responds to the strong
demand across the customer base – from private owners/operators to government
agencies and special mission operators for applications such as wildfire suppression,
environmental monitoring, law enforcement and medical evacuation.”
Sandpoint’s increased production capacity results from the
addition of a second final assembly line that “mirrors” the build-up of Kodiaks
once the basic airframe has been assembled. As a result, there now are
separate, parallel integration steps for the Kodiak 100 and Kodiak 900 from
Stages 3 to 6, involving wing and horizontal stabilizer mating; flight controls
integration and rigging; engine and avionics installation; first flight;
interior outfitting, and customer delivery.
“These parallel assembly lines were developed using our
internal resources, fully benefiting from support across the Sandpoint team,”
explained Kerry Olson, Daher’s Director of Kodiak Operations and Site Leader at
Sandpoint. “The parallel production came on-line ahead of schedule, which is
another point of pride for everyone at the facility.”
The increased production capacity follows other improvements
at Sandpoint implemented by Daher, notably the investment of $2.7 million in a
9,000-sq-ft. aircraft painting facility that streamlined the overall production
process and further improved the build quality for Kodiak 100s and Kodiak 900s.
To date, a combined total of 330 Kodiak 100s and Kodiak 900s
have been delivered to owners and operators worldwide. The most recent Kodiak
900 – the seventh to date – was received by a private owner in March.
Enhancements in the Kodiak product line under Daher’s
ownership include the Kodiak 900 version, which was unveiled in 2022.
Inheriting the cornerstone Kodiak 100’s remarkable qualities as a backcountry
STOL (short takeoff and landing) multi-role airplane, the Kodiak 900 has a
fuselage length extension of 3.9 feet to provide more passenger room and cargo
space, a cruise speed increase to 210 KTAS, and a greater useful load while
offering a maximum range of 1,129 nautical miles.
The Kodiak 100 has been improved as well, beginning with
Daher’s 2021 introduction of the Series III version that provides greater cabin
comfort, augmented operational capabilities from both unimproved strips and on
water with floats, as well as upgraded quality and more comprehensive
maintenance coverage. Additionally, Daher is now delivering new-production
Kodiak 100s equipped with a five-blade Hartzell composite propeller – which
also is offered for retrofit on in-service Kodiak 100s.
Other retrofits and upgrades for earlier-production Kodiak
100s – such as the G1000® NXi integrated flight deck retrofit with
next-generation avionics technology – are offered by Daher to enhance
operability and maintain aircraft resale value.
Parallel production lines for the final assembly of Kodiak
aircraft from Stage 3 to Stage 6 are now operational at Daher’s Sandpoint,
Idaho production facility. On the left is the Kodiak 900’s final assembly line,
while the build-up of Kodiak 100s are completed in a “mirrored” process on the
building’s opposite side.
