UPDATE ON THE KODIAK

THIS REMARKABLE PLANE WAS DEVELOPED TO SPREAD CHRISTIANITY AND
HUMANITARIANISM THROUGHOUT THE REMOTE REGIONS IN THE WORLD.

Prototype:
The baby lives for another 100 hour inspection
Bruce, Kenny, Kevin and Ron worked tirelessly to complete the company tests for the pod
In total, 307 more spins, a replaced horizontal, a replaced flap drive, lots of jet fuel and only one upset neighbor – we apologized and moved
Now the FAA needs to spin it a few times (hopefully) and then call it good. 
Lining up procurement from Aerocet to match delivery needs
Deicing program is next, ice shapes first, then installation followed by real ice

SN0002:
Steve is working on the sender system for the fuel tank
We could use some design improvements in the next year
This aircraft is proving valuable to have still around – it was the chase plane for the prototype and made the process much faster

Fatigue Tests:
Empennage coming together for fatigue tests
Parts conformed and should be ready to go on 3/14
This is a push / pull whiffle tree so a new style test for us

0003:
Sharky is getting ready for first run

SN0006, 0005, 0004, 0003:
0003, 4, 5 will all go through our old system of inspection including extra work on deviations and NMRs
0006 should be our first a/c to go through the final assembly stages with the new Procedure Task Sheets
The paperwork and the effort needed for each one will decrease – much to look forward to!

Good help from Engineering on the floor:
Joa Harrison and Brad Stevens literally “on the floor” making improvements for our next floor – 0008 (JAARS)

Brenton tirelessly works on ECNs and NMRs: - that’s a smile

Parts Management:
Rev 2.0 storage

Rev 3.0 Storage

First use of Skinning Fixture
Note empty floor framing fixture – getting final tweaks and checks for start of 0008 (JAARS)

Scott Spray and Bill Hunter

MIDO representative Manny Lopez (waving (and smiling??)) and eddy current trainer John Edwards
We won’t get our PC scheduled as a result of this visit, we’re just not far enough along yet but he’ll be back in a month.
A little disappointing, but not unexpected.

Bring on the challenges!!
But, keep them manageable, please?

We continue to press through our challenges – thanks to some provision for changes in the NMR and ECN processes and some very hard work by all, we are starting to work through this major backlog of needed documentation.  The next big bear in front of us is getting all our documentation in line for a standard airworthiness certificate on 0003 though 0005 that were done using older processes of tracking deviations and build steps.  This will be a big hurdle and finally we should be able to shift from 4 wheel drive (LOW) into at least 4wd HIGH.  Second gear comes with a balanced 10 day take time – August in the current plan.