Kodiak ready for production

July 20, 2007

Kodiak planes will benefit people and ministries worldwide.

Thirty-two months after the first flight of the Kodiak prototype, the Federal Aviation Administration has granted certification to the plane.

"We are very grateful for the dedicated team of Quest employees and suppliers who worked together to accomplish this remarkable milestone," said Paul Schaller, Quest Aircraft's president and CEO. "They have worked tirelessly to make the vision for the Kodiak a reality. We appreciate as well the hard work on the part of the FAA in helping us bring this project to fruition."

"As we moved through the certification process, the Kodiak met or exceeded every program milestone," continued Schaller. "The Kodiak was designed with and for mission and humanitarian aviation organizations to perform under extremely rigorous conditions in the most remote regions of the world so the bar was set high. During both Quest's and the FAA's testing, we pushed the envelope and are pleased that the airplane successfully achieved the desired performance."

The first aircraft to be delivered to a customer is currently on the production line and will be rolling off later this quarter. Customer orders have exceeded expectations and the company has a three-year backlog, which it is working to bring down as production ramps up.

"This is incredibly exciting news and a wonderful testimony to the faithfulness of God and the unswerving focus of Quest Aircraft's team," said Paul Wyton, New Tribes Mission's director of stewardship development. "Watching this dream become a reality has been truly inspiring. We can't wait to take delivery and begin to experience the impact the Kodiak will have on tribal church planting around the world."

New Tribes Mission expects to receive the first of 14 Kodiaks on order in late 2008. Deposits have been made for 13 of the planes. Just under $100,000 remains before NTM can make the deposit for the final plane.

The effort to update NTM Aviation's fleet has been made possible through the partnership of our many supporters -- from children such as the "Kodiak Kids" in Indianapolis, Indiana, to foundations and friends.

"NTM's church planting efforts will benefit from the Kodiak because of our many faithful friends and ministry partners who have invested financially in the project," said Wyton. "We are privileged to work together with such a great team."

When the final deposit is completed, New Tribes Mission will begin offering partners the opportunity to help outfit, deliver and put into service each Kodiak.