On opening day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, Daher introduced the Kodiak 900, a larger, faster version of the Kodiak 100.
Inheriting the Kodiak 100’s qualities as a backcountry short takeoff and landing (STOL) airplane, the Kodiak 900’s fuselage is 3.9 feet longer 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 nm, according to company officials.
Additionally, the Kodiak 900’s operating economics have been improved, with a 9% reduction in fuel consumption, Daher officials noted.
Several refinements have been introduced “in a major effort to reduce drag,” according to company officials, including replacing the external pilot entry step with a foldable ladder, as well as adding flaptrack covers on the wing and wheel fairings to the landing gear. An internal airflow “clean up” was performed as well, with the ducts, inlets, and air intakes redesigned, modeled and engineered for low drag, officials noted.
The use of wheel fairings is another of the Kodiak 900’s noticeable visual differences. Certified as “secondary structures,” the wheel fairings can withstand off-pavement landings, and the main gear wheel fairing can be used as a step for pre-flight operations or single-point refueling. Access doors make the tires’ valve stem accessible, avoiding the need to remove the wheel fairings for general inspection or minor maintenance of the brakes and tires.
Removal and reinstallation of the wheel fairings is a pilot-maintenance function, ensuring that owners can handle them without a maintenance logbook entry, company officials said.
The Kodiak 900 is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s 900-shaft horsepower PT6A-140A turboprop engine, with a new constant speed, full-feathering and hydraulically-actuated five-blade composite propeller from Hartzell. Its design and low 1,900 rpm setting contribute to the low noise level of 79.5 dB, allowing the aircraft to operate in the most strictly regulated noise sensitive areas, Daher officials said.
The $3.5 million Kodiak 900 was certified by the FAA on July 20, 2022. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2023. Production of the Kodiak 900, along with the Kodiak 100, is at the company’s Sandpoint, Idaho, facility.