Millennium Concepts

Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft Company has tapped Millennium Concepts, Inc. of Wichita to design, fabricate and certify a choice of interior packages for its new 10-seat single engine turboprop utility aircraft, the KODIAK.  Designed as a modern Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) workhorse, the KODIAK features rugged construction, turbine power and a high useful load ideal for back-country humanitarian and missionary operations.

“We are very pleased to be a part of the KODIAK program, “noted Millennium Concepts Director of Design Engineering Rodney Gorges. “It’s an impressive aircraft with outstanding   versatility and performance.  Our interior concepts will allow operators to take advantage of its wide range of capabilities and missions.  We’ve designed a range of choices including a hard-wearing, utilitarian interior that will accommodate both cargo and passengers and an executive-style cabin with a toilet, cabinetry, curtains and features similar to those found on corporate jets,” he added.

Quest will offer three basic interior packages to KODIAK customers, depending on their specific needs.  The airplane, which was displayed for the first time with a base interior at the recent Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Fly-In in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is on track to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification later this year.  It made its first flight on October 16, 2004 and has since logged approximately 500 hours of flight time.  Powered by a 750 shaft horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 turboprop engine, it provides an impressive maximum takeoff weight of 6,750 lbs., a cruise speed of 190 knots and a range of 1,075 nautical miles at 185 knots and 12,500 feet with a one-hour reserve.

“Millennium has extensive experience in creating aircraft interiors that are both comfortable and versatile, with seats that meet all of the FAA’s structural and crashworthiness requirements while remaining easy to remove rapidly to accommodate additional cargo.  We believe the flexibility and diversity of options offered by our designs will be strong selling points for the KODIAK.  Once it enters production, we anticipate a measurable increase in our fabrication business to meet the demand,” Gorges said.

Millennium Concepts is fast becoming a leader in the development and certification of aircraft interiors for the next generation of commercial aircraft.  Since its founding in 1999, the company has grown into a highly-regarded provider of engineering and related services, offering “turn-key” capabilities in interior design, fabrication and completions for aircraft ranging from the Cessna Grand Caravan to the Boeing Business Jet.  The company’s customer base encompasses a variety of industry leaders, including Associated Air Center, B/E Aerospace, Bombardier, EADS Aerospace, Eclipse Aviation, Embraer, L3 Communications, Marshal Aerospace, Nordam, Quest, Raytheon, and Yingling Aviation.