Aircraft Review : Daher Kodiak 100 DGS Series by Thranda Design

[Stephen]

 

Aircraft Review : Daher Kodiak 100 DGS Series by Thranda Design

 

The Daher Kodiak 100 is the same aircraft as the earlier Quest Aircraft Company, Kodiak. As for the French aircraft manufacturer Daher bought out the designs and also the production of the Kodiak in 2019 from the Japanese firm Setouchi Holdings. During October of that year, the acquisition of Quest Aircraft was finalised, in so expanding Daher's North American footprint and to merger its sales efforts with the former SOCATA's own TBM turbo aircraft series.

 

If the Kodiak looks familiar, then go thinking about a Cessna Caravan 200B, then you certainly would have been on the right track. From a distance and even when you get quite close to the Kodiak it does look like a slightly taller chunkier 200B Caravan, and it is powered by the similar engine in the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 750 hp were as the Caravan uses the PT6A-140 868 hp (647 kW). It's a utility aircraft, a bit noted as a bit more frumpy than the C208, but also well regarded as an all round capable aircraft. Design of the Kodiak began in 1999, it made its maiden flight on October 16, 2004, and was certified on 31 May 2007 before the first delivery in January 2008. By 2021, 300 Kodiaks have been delivered and production is still ongoing.

 

The Kodiak is special to Thranda Design as well. It was their first aircraft released as a solo developer since moving on from Carenado in 2016. Created by Dan Klaue, the Canadian is very proficient in developing aircraft for X-Plane (Carenado had a fleet of 55 aircraft at the end) and was known mostly for his Embraer ERJ 140 Regional Jet now a decade ago. You don't have to acclaim the work of Daniel Klaue, as his talent is spread all over the X-Plane Simulator for ideas and forward looking features. Thranda Design pushes that aspect to the limit as with on the early Kodiak, it came first with the "Dynamic Generation Series" DGS, which takes full advantage of X-Plane's flexibility for in-sim, real-time modifications to a currently loaded plane. That DGS and other outstanding features will be seen below.

 

This is an all new aircraft for X-Plane 12. Notable the Quest moniker will stay on the earlier X-Plane 11 aircraft, and this new aircraft will be branded the "Daher" Kodiak, and the Daher aircraft will only be available for X-Plane 12 as the with the latest features, 8K textures are also not transferable.

 

As noted, The Kodiak comes with 8K textures, a huge pixel area 7680 x 4320. Just because it is 8K doesn't mean that you need a 8Gb Graphic Card to run them. 4 Gb VRAM is still recommended as Minimum. And 8 Gb+ VRAM is however recommended as normal. But like with the earlier Thranda releases, they had more than one 4K texture size, sometimes two 4K textures to fill in the same 8K area. So in reality you are only using the 8K to fill the same gap of the two 4K set of textures before. So Graphic Card size is not the issue, if you can run your current Thranda aircraft with your current graphic card size, then the Kodiak will be exactly the same, in fact even a bit more efficient in that it only has to load in the one texture sheet, rather than the old 2(K)or 4(K) texture sheets.

 

 

As for all this release year's aircraft. X-Plane 12 creates a very different feel and look in the Simulator, a 3d look, or another level of realism. The Quest Kodiak was already very good in detail, but here it just jumps out at you in it's superb quality. Obviously more detailed and now better processed with those massive 8k textures, you feel just this aircraft, and it is very much alive on your screen.

 

Don't call me "frumpy", it does look a bit that way with the cargo pod attached, more Caravan without it...  just with a more fuller heavier tail section.

 

 

There are also two other variants as part of the package....  a Cargo version, and an Amphibian seaplane (the Amphibian can also be set in both passenger and cargo configurations), but there is no "Float" variant, only the landwheels.

 

 

Although it looks the same outwardly, the X-Plane 12 version is actually quite different in it's design, there is a new 3D mesh throughout, based on actual CAD model of the real plane for modeling perfection, with high quality textures with over over 1000 pix/m detail. And it shows...

 

Not only do you get the panels and rivets, but the indentations of the rivets as well in the metal, even skin ripples in the aluminium, everything shows off the absolute realism presented here. Door (external) hinges, vents and fairings are all as on the real aircraft, and their are the vortex generators all over the aircraft, main wings and even on the horizontal stabiliser.

 

 

Obviously it's all hard to fault anything as it is all so good, certainly a large step up from the X-Plane 11 modeling and quality. The original aircraft was quite glossy, but here we are X-Plane 12 glossy, glossy, as that has become the normal.

 

As previously noted, there the discontinuous leading edge (also known as a leading edge cuff) on the outboard parts of the wing, it is there to improve the stall and spin characteristics of the aircraft. It is that at high angles of attack the cuff discontinuity generates a vortex that acts as a fence, preventing the separated flow from progressing outboard. The lift slope has a flatter top and the stall angle is delayed to a higher angle. To reach high angles of attack, the outboard airfoil has to be drooped, some experiments investigating "exaggerated" drooped leading edges. The physical reason for the cuff effect is not actually clearly explained. Here that effect is extremely well done...

 

 

Wingtip light fittings (Landing) and navigation/strobe are perfectly done in detail. Flap tracks are well modeled with internal springs highly visible, Flaps are 0º-10º-20º-35º, notable that the Kodiak is a STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, for rough runways.

 

 

Window reflections come with realistic scratches and imperfections, but it's not over done, or could be noted as "just a few, here and there", There is however a very nice green tint on all the windows (there is the option to hide, or lighten the window reflections), but the tinting gives the aircraft a nice quality look.

 

Standout detail is the fully modeled Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34, under the front engine bay cowlings, click to open and admire the overwhelming detail of the powerplant and it's ancillary components.

 

 

Overall the detail and detailing is of course totally superb...  It's a Thranda of course. Notable is what you pay for. If you pay more you get in that extra detail, the minute intricate detailing, but the Thranda Kodiak is priced only around sub-$35, so the payoff here is that you get all this extreme detailing and modeling, and at a value price.

 

Internally you have a load of options. First there are two different cabin layouts with "Timberline" and "Executive" decors. Executive is a bright white/cream environment with grey chairs in a Club + 2 seating layout, in the club arena there are also two folding out (animated) work tables.

 

 

Timberline is a darker more browny sort of interior fit-out. Here you have eight seats two per row. Seats are now a brown/tan matching a beige wall lining, both interiors feel very, very different in style and taste. But the seating detail is excellent and has great quality materials.

 

 

Cargo is an empty rear space, unless to add up a cargo load by the weight, then it get quite full in here... Cargo uses the Timberline decor interior and is 49 inches (1.2 meters) in height and width.

 

 

Instrument Panel

At first it feels and looks like the same instrument panel as in the Quest XP11. But it's not, in the closer detail it is different, the layout is almost exactly the same however...  as it is a Garmin G1000 Avionics suite in a three screen PFD-MFD-PFD display layout.

 

 

Twin Yokes are sublime... they were nice and chunky on the Quest, but here you can almost small the leather and admire the stitching. Electric Trim and PTT are on the left pilot's yoke (PTT on the right yoke), and either or both Yokes can be hidden. "Kodiak" also replaces the earlier "Quest" logo on the front plate is a nice attention to detail.

 

 

The panel itself has a very nice mottled effect, that gives it a realism in the metal, ditto the really lovely huge glareshield, also authentic and very feelable.

 

 

Under the panel and it is highly detailed, not only with the "Kodiak" branded rudder pedals, but also the rear detail. Note the toe-brake effect.

 

 

Central tall tower throttle quadrant, is also very Caravan in design and even look, only difference is the (working/active) Circuit breakers (fuses) in the front.

 

 

Coloured Throttle, Propeller and (Fuel) Conditioner levers, are a tight formation, with left an "Emergency Power" lever to get more boost and out also of trouble. Far left is the nice Trim Wheel, far right is the Flap selector. Aileron Trim buttons are set above, and the rudder trim is top left console.

 

The Kodiak unlike the other Thranda instrument panel layouts, only uses the three display G100 setup, ... so there is no build your own DGS panel option here, there is only this one, so the analog dials are out...  Power off and it is still a black hole of and Instrument Panel, just like in the earlier Quest XP11, so switch on the power and only the both PFD (Primary Flight Displays) turn on, turn on the Avionics power and the central MFD (Multi-Functional Display )also then switches on.

 

 

All three PFD/MFD pop-out on windows, panels are also moveable and scalable for home builders.

 

 

Turning on the third power switch "AUX BUS",(arrowed) will turn on the AC (Airconditioning) Systems panel, that has a pop-up window.

 

 

There are also two other selectable features on the G1000 system that are in the Menu. First is the switch between having the S-TEC Fifty Five X Autopilot on the facia, or to use the G1000 Bezel autopilot controls. The S-Tec also pops-out for ease of use.

 

 

The second feature is the selectable standard blue/brown Artificial Horizon, or the "Synthetic Vision" mode. Honestly I'm not overly impressed by the current Synthetic vision screen, so will keep to the standard Horizon format,

 

Lower panel left is the power (rocker) and starter switches, lighting switches and Ice protection. Two Hobbs meters covers flight and engine running times. Oxygen capacity indicator is clever and to the right panel there is a small AC display that covers Cabin Temp, and fan controls that all work and if you increase the fan speed you should be able to hear the fan noise in the background...

 

 

Left vertical are the three analog backup instruments, Airspeed, Artificial Horizon and Altitude. The great original feature of moving eye air vents on the panel and on the roof, are still the same in here, as you can not only can you move the direction of the vent, but the internal airflow cover as well. There are four vents on the panel and the two vents overhead.

 

Garmin G1000

Avionics is the standard Laminar Research G1000 PFD (Primary Flight Display), and MFD (Multi-Functional Display) with the radio controls set between the displays, nothing to learn here if you have used the default avionics before. The installation though is very nice and feels high quality. Original Quest Kodiak had a Carenado adaption G1000 back in 2016, but it's now all or only the updated Laminar version.

 

PFD (Primary Flight Display) is very good with the large Artificial Horizon dominating the screen with the Speed and Altitude (with built in Vertical Speed) tapes either side, Rate of turn and FD (Flight Director) are all present. Lower is the Heading rose with built in Heading, Wind (3 options), CRS (Course) DME, NAV 1, NAV 2 and OBS. There is the option to put a small map on the PFD but I never do (it makes the display too crowded). All Radio, Autopilot (AP) settings and data are across the top banner of the panel. Note the inbuilt warnings panel centre right.

 

 

The secondary display is MFD or MAP/Navigation panel which covers also all the (EIS) engine outputs which are in two versions with one visual and one in data.

 

The colourful engine readouts covered are on page one; Top three segments cover both pages, with; TRQ (Torque), ITT, NP RPM, NG Readouts... Fuel Flow (Gallons Per Hour),  RPM, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, Amps, Volts, Fuel quantity for both tanks (320 gal). Lower are the  Flaps and both Trims (positions).

 

 

"System" switch (data) covers the same TRQ, ITT and NP, NG top, "Fuel" page (data) covers Fuel Calculations in FFLOW GPH (Gallons Per Hour), Fuel Pressure PSI, Fuel quantity (L/R)...   Fuel Totalizer LB REM (Remain), LB USED...  (Electrical) Volts and Amps, Gen A, Alt A, Bus 1v and Bus 2v. Lower screen (menu) are DEC Fuel, INC Fuel and RST Fuel options.

 

 

Overhead on the roof are the two master Fuel valves, one for each wing tank, and an overhead lighting panel, and nice animated moveable shades.

 

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Lighting

The lighting system on the Kodiak is really in two areas...  one for the panel and two for the spot overhead lighting.

 

 

The panel has two knobs with three adjustments. Outer right knob is the Switches panel (highlights) itself, but there is a mostly hidden inner knob that lights the LED lights under the glareshield and this is the one you use the most. The second left knob is the Instrument lights (inner) and glareshield LED lights (outer). The downcasting LED's feel far more dim than I remember, they were quite a lot brighter on the Quest XP11 version?

 

There are two spots overhead and they are fully adjustable to put the spots right where you want them. There are eight spot lights in the rear for each seat that are again fully adjustable, and two overhead lights from a double way switch on the lighting panel... all interior lighting can be turned on or off via one switch in the General menu, you can switch off/on the external lighting the same way.

 

 

Externally each outer wing has a taxi and landing light, a beacon strobe on the roof, navigation lights and strobes on the wingtips. However the beacon and the rear white navigation light also feels a bit weak.

 

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Menu

Thranda's Menus are very feature rich and highly detailed. There is a popout TAB under the arrow, that can be (mouse) scrolled to hide it, that is if you don't like these sort of items crowding your screen (I don't). The Menu system includes the "Dynamic Generation Series" or DGS, a Thranda speciality feature that takes full advantage of X-Plane's flexibility for in-sim, real-time modifications.

 

 

As noted the "Menu" Tab (arrow) is far left middle of your screen, this will activate the Pop-Out Menu... The Menu has seven menu tabs in; GENERAL, LIVERY, WEIGHT/BAL, CAMERA, AUDIO/SLEW and MISC (Miscellaneous). Basically it is the Thranda default menu, but here without the "Panel" Tab.

 

Menu - General

The menu "General" sections covers quite a lot of options, the layout is highly detailed and very comprehensive.

 

 

General menu selections cover; MODE: Realistic or Simplified, Electric Tug, Window and Instrument Panel Reflections on/off, Startup Running on/off (sets aircraft to full running mode), GPU on/off, Chocks and Brakes on/off. Cargo Pod, when selected then shows the bin door option.

 

Toggles between "Realistic" and "Simplified", and mainly pertains to the engine. In "Realistic" mode, you're much more likely to over-torque or otherwise damage the engine, if you're not flying the plane in such a way as to keep within limits outlined in the POH. If you DO over- torque the engine, the shaft will snap with a horrific sound, and the remaining turbine components will audibly grind against the housing. The engine will catch fire, and the various annunciator lights will go on, and the cabin will fill with smoke?

 

Three selections placed right cover group items, but any one item can be also accessed via "Click Spots" and can be individually selected or hidden via the aircraft graphic. "ALL COVERS" will select engine inlet/outlet covers and pitot covers, "ALL TIE-DOWNS" for rear fuselage and wing tie-downs and "ALL DOORS" for both the cockpit door and rear cabin split doors. All EXT - External Lights can be switched on and off as can the ALL INT - Internal lights.

 

 

The GPU cart (Ground Power Unit) is massive for an aircraft this size, but it is well done. The "Electric Tug" that can be used to move the aircraft around on the ground via your joystick (left,right-forward,backwards). Static Items include Engine Inlet covers, Pitot covers, Tail stand and various Tie-Downs.

 

 

There is built in "Checklist" (lower right menu, arrowed), and very good it is. But also again changed back to a simple black on red graphic, with white cross-off line. The Checklist can the moved and scaled anywhere on the screen, but the list can't be reset back again to just the red restart list? and there are 18 separate pages of the list to uncheck?

 

 

 

Menu - Liveries

Second Menu option is "Liveries", there are two options here with the first being "PAINTED LIVERIES". There are altogether 10 liveries or two blank and eight designs, and all are of extremely high quality and creative flare with the package. Note... Only two liveries are delivered in the download package in DYNAMIC LIVERIES and the House Thranda. To access the rest you have to run the supplied "Skunkcrafts" updater, then all the liveries below are loaded into your aircraft liveries folder.

 

 

Any livery can be used with both the passenger and cargo variants, but some suit more than others...

 

 

Two of the liveries are noted as "DynamicLiveryResources" and "ZZTEMPLATELIVERY", these are the current selected "Dynamic Liveries".

 

Dynamic Liveries

Not happy with any of those designs, then why not create your own livery! 

 

 

With their earlier releases of their Kodiak and with the PC-6, PZL-104 and Caravan. Then Thranda introduced a clever feature of a way to design your own livery. This is done by switching from PAINTED LIVERIES to DYNAMIC LIVERIES top.

 

Two liveries are "Dynamic" in resources (White)...  another New feature is the (Quick) selection of Dirt (Ext) Externally, Scratches and Dirt (Int) Internally. Via three percentage selections you can adjust the amount of Dirt, Scratches and Dirt Int on the aircraft (0%-255%) and apply it instantly.So you can have either a pristine or a very grubby aircraft with just a twirl of the numbers. This can be applied to any of the liveries.

 

 

You have a menu to select on the right that can colour a certain part of the aircraft, like the Roof, Wing, Tail or Wing tips. Select which one you want and then adjust the three RGB colours for that certain area, and the selected colour (here white) is shown in the square.

 

 

When done you can "SAVE" or ADD the livery and then "APPLY" it to the aircraft. The conversion takes a few minutes with some weird screen changes, but the results are excellent and now in your own design... 

 

 

There are already 30 preselected selections in their various designs, all are very good, and like noted you can add in your own version to the list. New to the Dynamic Livery application is ERA options in "Modern' or "Classic"....  of course personal taste is optional...

 

 

Menu - Weight/Bal

The Kodiak also has a great Weight and Balance menu.

 

 

Lbs and Kgs which can be selected and changed via the toggle...  Lbs In Green, and Kgs in Blue.

 

 

There is the weight selection of all the seats,in both Timberline and Executive Selections. Missing is the usual Thranda seat removable X option, here you can only select the layout of the cabin and the seat weight.

 

Fuel can be added and the amounts are then shown and are adjustable as well in the menu (above)... Pilot, passengers and cargo can all be set for individual weights and all are selected via a scrollwheel...  and then all of the CofG (Centre of Gravity) parameters are all shown on a graph, go too far or too heavy and the CofG goes red. When done you can Save the Configuration and then later re-load it, or press Load to add in the set weights.

 

 

Selecting the Cargo Pod option gives you an extra set of weight zones, add in the weight and you get bags in the pod, same with the rear cargo area, increase the weight and you get bags and boxes.

 

 

But obviously there is a compromise? If you want a full passenger and baggage load, then you can't have full fuel tanks, as the excess weight takes you over the weight and the CofG limits as shown on the graph. For eight passengers (with maybe a bag thrown in) then can you have your full tanks and the longer range and not go into the red. You can really pile a lot into the rear cargo/baggage section and all the cargo is of very high quality.

 

 

Set the weight in the front seats (pilot and co-pilot), then you get fully animated pilots in the aircraft, they will also disappear if the electrical power is switched off and chocks added.

 

 

Menu - Camera

 

There is a camera feature under the menu "Camera" selection. The left side of the panel is the "Walkaround" views, just pick the dot viewpoint you want to see to rotate around the aircraft. To the right is the default views can be selected via a menu, or press the keypad to select the view. The FoV or "Field of View" is adjustable via a slider.

 

 

Menu - Audio/Slew

Sound can be adjusted via the sound menu. There are seven slider selections with: Master, Aircraft External, Aircraft Internal, CoPilot, Radios, Environmental and User Interface. One other sound setting is on the Flap panel...  As noted, on the right and left of the panel you get the audio simulation of an active noise canceling headset, which is seen as wearing a headset. Sound quality is beyond excellent as it is a built in audio mixer, so you can individually control the audio channels in real-time and you can adjust the volumes while hearing them play.

 

 

Slew mode allows you to manually move the aircraft around in a disconnected X-Plane space. It functions by temporarily overriding the various aerodynamic and physical forces on the X-Plane settings, it is to allow the user to reposition the plane as desired. This feature is however highly touchy and it is used mostly only really with the Amphibian/Floats option in docking the aircraft to say a pier or marina.

 

Menu - MISC

The Misc (Miscellaneous) page has four panels that cover (Exterior) Fairings, Ski's,Tyres/Tundra, Mud Flaps and Cargo Pod, (Interior) Timberline or Executive layouts, Pilots (swap)...  the noted Synthetic Vision and Autopilot S-Tec/G1000 Bezel and Anti-Ice Equipped. The usual DynaFeel feature usually on this tab has been removed.

 

 

Shown here are; Fairings and Ski's... Mud Flaps centre, then lower Regular and Tundra tires.

 

 

You can also swap around the pilots, in Male/Female, or Female/Male in the drivers seat.

 

 

Last option here on the MISC tab is that you can make the Anti-Ice Panel active.

 

 

The only menu option change on the Amphibian, is that you can choose the option of having the rear horizonal stabliser winglets visible or not via it's menu selection.

 

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Flying the Daher Kodiak 100

You sit up high and forward in the Kodiak, almost on a pedestal. The 208B feels almost sportscar like compared to this machine, but the Kodiak is what it is, in being a workhorse, getting people or cargo in and out of remote airstrips. It's a medium sized aircraft, not say big and truck like, or even a small GA or bush plane like, it's sort of in the middle of say a big Utility (say a RAM or Ford F160) purposeful, move stuff!

 

Roof Fuel valves on... then set the Conditioner lever (far right blue one), to LOW IDLE. Flaps 10º. Trim is done via the large Trim wheel and the TO (take Off) setting is on the lower left of the MFD in the Trims.

 

 

Ignition switch ON, then hit the STARTER Switch up... and then the familiar turbine Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 start whine comes from the front of the aircraft. Love this big and powerful monster of an engine...  So open the small window for the full effects of the engine sounds which are simply excellent. And if you are of keen hearing then you should note also the friction sounds on the yoke and throttle lever as you move them, as well as independent sounds for brakes, oxygen hissing and electrical inverter buzzing sounds.

 

 

The P&W soon settles down to a slight roar, and your ready to go...  I found in the earlier Quest that I couldn't get a lower thrust for taxiing, a leftover issue from Carenado's as they always had a high thrust RPM on the ground that drove me nuts...  here if you keep the COND LOW IDLE setting, in then that earlier over thrust issue goes away, yes being in low idle does mean far more throttle to move the Kodiak off the line, but more importantly you now have a much larger and lower thrust range to find the right taxi speed, so yes I really like it.

 

 

I adjust the eye air vents to blow fresh air into my face, A small fan on top of the computer screen can give you the same effect! In X-Plane 12 I found that I have far more rudder pedal movement steering while taxiing, its very good here in keeping the Kodiak centred on the line, I only have to revert to the YAW/Tiller movements to the tight 90º turns.

 

 

Ready enter KRSW Runway 06...

 

 

My weight is set quite heavy at 3028Kgs... so the Kodiak is going to be a little ponderous not only in the takeoff, but the handling in the air.

 

Entering 06, I put the COND to the HIGH setting, and then you get Upmph as the engine revs upwards...  tons more power!.

 

 

I go almost to the end of the (flap) white line or 105knts before pulling back on the Yoke and then set a positive climb of around 800 fpm, Rate of climb is around 1,371 ft/min (6.96 m/s), quite high, but everything always depends on your weight.

 

 

Bank to the left and the Kodiak feels really, really good, and far better than I remembered earlier? Okay, time for a confession...  I wasn't really dazzled by the earlier Quest Kodiak, maybe because I was so in love with the Caravan. It was nice aircraft but didn't really leave a flying impression on my personality, I flew it I remember only once or twice. But this X-Plane 12 version is a very different sort of aircraft than I remember...  far more responsive, flows in the turn (banks) better, and even climbs smoother... "My God!" I'm really liking this aircraft a lot this time around.

 

The better sounds really help... Now there are high-fidelity, multi-track FMOD2 sounds, simulating multiple layers of engine and prop sounds, depending on camera angle, distance, atmospheric conditions, but it is the superb "woo, wooo...  roar" as the aircraft climbs hard under the weight. Upping the Flaps to zero, it does give you a little descent bump, but then the speed quickly rises as you power faster forward.

 

 

You can still use the Emergency (EMER PWR) lever for more power if you need even more of it, but use it sparingly as it can blow your motor to kingdom come...

.... as a precaution there is a "Overspeed" governor on the left of the panel to regulate the power. The Laminar G1000 Avionics feel far better than the original Carenado fitout. Back then it was the other way around with the very basic Laminar system. So that just shows how much change of the Avionics in X-Plane over the last four years, both screens are now excellent as LAL (116.00) comes on line, as I reach my 5,000 ft cruise height.

 

 

I noted in the earlier (Quest) review "The Kodiak is quite sensitive to higher speeds. This is not an aircraft to set the Autopilot and the throttle and then just have a nap, because you will find if it goes a little too fast it will start to pitch and even if the autopilot trim is trying (hard) to compensate for this unseen barrier. So it is the awareness of this speed sensitive area in that it is you that has to find that sweet spot between the best cruise speed and the start of the boundary of the aircraft's aerodynamics."

 

Humm...  not finding that aspect here, I'm cruising nicely at 155 kts and she's all calm and collected, basically in X-Plane 12 it just keeps on smoothly cruising along...  with the those very comforting, turn up the sound at the "woo, wooo...  roar" in that it gets very memorizing as you sync in with the sound, but lets not get the wrong impression that these sounds are repetitive, because they are absolutely not.

 

 

Kodiak's cruise speed is 211 mph (339 km/h, 183 kn) at a light weight of course, and a range of 1,303 mi (2,096 km, 1,132 nmi). The service ceiling is exactly the same as the Caravan at 25,000 ft (7,600 m).

 

You notice the haze off the exhausts at full power, it sits lower left in the screen, but comforting in the effects mean the engine is running smoothly.

 

 

Press the RED button between the PFD and the MFD and the G1000 system goes into safety mode, or "Get Home" mode as the two screens combine both flying instruments and engine performance.

 

 

I'm covering 258 nm, almost the length of Florida, USA from KRSW (South West Florida) to Jacksonville JAX, at GATORS I turn 035º to head finally to KJAX, now only 55nm ahead.

 

 

28nm out from JAX and I start my descent to 1,500 ft, adjust the power back a little as I go down to keep the speed high, and use a decent of 800 fpm to adjust my flight level, once at a lower height, then up the power a little to compensate and keep the speed current.

 

 

Now Jacksonville International is directly ahead, but I am going to circuit to the east, to land on Rwy 26. I now make my turn to the east and parallel fly to Runway 08/26 in the landing circuit. While cruising past JAX, my thoughts go to in what makes a very good simulation?

 

 

Importantly first is the totally realistic handing of the aircraft, the way it flies, and the way it feels in your control movements, secondary is that the simulation is clean...  meaning that from go (startup) to stop (shutdown) the simulation is perfectly non-distracting from the flying, no bugs and certainly no CTD (Crash to Desktop) freezes. Being a reviewer then the Replay is extremely important to me, the first two here are excellent from Thranda, but with the Kodiak I have had a few replay crashes, but thankfully any replays saved always worked, bugs a couple, but overall I found the Kodiak an extremely solid simulation.

 

 

Jacksonville flows past below, then a 90º turn to DALTN in the beams of IPEK (110.3) ILS, I'm not using the ILS to land, but using the beams to line up my approach to RWY 26.

 

 

Now in the approach phase and down to a 1,000 ft... 

 

 

...    Flap movements are very clunky, slight lift with every new degree of flap setting used, so you have to get the speed to flap change right, tricky is the aircraft weight pulls you down, creating the opposite in lift, it would be an interesting experiment at a lighter weight on the different effects of the aircraft in this critical approach and landing phase.

 

 

You sort of settle down at 81-82 knts, full flap with about a 250 fpm descent rate, the Kodiak feels solid, really nice handling, but you feel the weight under the controls...  75 knts over the threshold

 

 

Slight flare and the Kodiak floats? I'm trying to find the best descent window, and not hit the ground hard(ish), but I have found lately that X-Plane has closed this ground effect window to a very tight one, that is being felt in various aircraft, time for this X-Plane area to be refined?

 

 

You can set the "Toggle thrust reverse" to give you a "Beta", detent setting that switches on the reverse prop, and the "howl" of the PT6A engine makes as it turns the air in the opposite direction, then in slowing down the aircraft...

 

 

Back to the taxiing and into the LOW IDLE (COND) to control the thrust, really liking the change here in the better ground conditions...  First time into FS Designs KJAX since my review... honestly it looks far better than I remember, loving it, like really liking this far more better Daher (ex Quest) Kodiak as well, its that everything is better here, but still really brilliant value at only $1 more in price than it's X-Plane 11 release four years ago, but you still get tons more in quality and detail, and even better flying dynamics. Remember also the price covers updates and services for the full X-Plane 12 run....  so what is not to like.

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Summary

The Quest Kodiak was the first release from Thranda Design back in 2016. It was their first aircraft released as a solo developer since moving on from Carenado in 2016. Created by Dan Klaue, the Canadian is one of the most proficient developers of X-Plane aircraft, not only in design, but for their excellent features and unique ideas like their acclaimed "Dynamic Generation Series" DGS.

 

Since the release of the original Kodiak, the Quest Aircraft Company was bought by the the French aircraft manufacturer Daher, including the designs and also the production in 2019 from the Japanese firm Setouchi Holdings. So this is an all new aircraft for X-Plane 12. Notable the Quest moniker will stay on the earlier X-Plane 11 aircraft, and this new aircraft will be branded the "Daher" Kodiak, and the Daher aircraft will only be available for X-Plane 12 as the latest features, 8K textures are not transferable.

 

Three versions are included in the Kodiak package, Passenger, Cargo and separate Amphibian, with three interior designs of "Executive" and "Timberline" decors, plus the empty Cargo arrangement (all can be used on the Amphibian variant), animated pilots can also swap front seats.

 

Thranda Design are one of the best developers in X-Plane, their history and quality is legendary. So that quality build and detailing is always going to be significant right from the start, and so it is here again in being...   exceptional. In every area and detail, modeling, fine details, glass and the interior materials.

 

Menus are also excellent with menu tabs in; GENERAL, LIVERY, WEIGHT/BAL, CAMERA, AUDIO/SLEW and MISC (Miscellaneous), that covers all the options and including sound, weights and balances also including graphs, walk-around and camera options and general static elements including chocks, tundra tyres, pitot covers, ski's, Mud flaps tie-downs and excellent detailed Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 engine. Settings include pilot/passenger weights, baggage weight and visually placed bags, cargo in the rear of the aircraft and in the large rear baggage area. A large Cargo Pod with bags by weight is also offered. Notable is that the usual Thranda "Panel" analog DGS option is not used here, but the full Laminar Research Garmin G1000 three display Avionics suite, it's very good and now highly detailed.

 

Lighting is very good, but I would like a bit more under glaresheil brightness to match the earlier XP11 Quest lighting, otherwise excellent. Sounds are far, far better than the Quest version, really love those powerful PT6A sounds, when climbing and in cruise...  Doppler High fidelity, multi-track FMOD2 sounds, simulating multiple layers of engine and prop sounds, depending on camera angle, distance, atmospheric conditions, yes a really big advancement from the earlier acoustics.

 

Minuses are minimal...  lighting externally (taxi/landing) is not good in the daylight (Laminar issue?), aircraft can be dark in overcast conditions, and selecting the replay can cause a nasty CTD (but not in a saved Replay) Note... 8K textures are now used, but have no effect on framerate.

 

Obviously with a Thranda Aircraft I just can't list every feature, but they are some of of the very best utility aircraft in the X-Plane Simulator today. Being honest I didn't really gel with the earlier Quest XP11 Kodiak, it was very good, make no mistake, but there was something that I didn't quite tune into. But four years can make a difference, more so with the revision in X-Plane 12. In every area, flying dynamics, sound and always in the quality of the aircraft, it has been lifted far, far higher than I remember, so this is a brilliant change for the aircraft, you can say it has refined it up to the same high quality standard as the other X-Plane 12 releases from Thranda Design, that is a big ask from the original, but that overall upgraded feel is in there and well worthy of the upgrade price offered at only a $1 more than the original. 

 

Any Thranda Design aircraft is a worthy addition to your virtual hangar, and the Daher Kodiak 100, is certainly one of the best in value and features...  So all you can finally say is that the aircraft comes...

 

Highly Recommended!

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The Daher Kodiak 100 - DGS Series XP12 by Thranda Design is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:

 

Daher Kodiak 100 - DGS Series XP12

Price at time of writing US$34.95

 

Requirements:

X-Plane 12  (not for XP11)

Windows, Mac or Linux

8 GB+ VRAM Recommended

Current version 1.0 (July 20th 2023)

 

This aircraft is a full upgrade to X-Plane 12 only, so there are no upgrade deals for the aircraft from the developer.

 

Installation and documents:  download for the Daher Kodiak is 1.57Gb (not including liveries) and the aircraft is deposited in the "General Aviation" X-Plane folder.

Full Installation is 3.86Gb (including downloaded liveries)

 

Documents supplied is:

• Changelog.txt
• Thranda Daher Kodiak for XP12 Manual.pdf
• Thranda Joystick Settings.pdf
• Thranda Kodiak Quick Reference Guide v2.pdf
• X-Plane G1000 Manual.pdf

 

There is a huge amount of Documentation provided here, not only for the Thranda Kodiak 100, including performance charts, reference guides, but also X-Plane/hardware settings and custom and default avionics.

 

All updates are via the built-in Skunkcrafts Updater

 

Designed by Thranda Design

Support forum for the Daher Kodiak 100 

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Review System Specifications

Windows  - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD

Software:   - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane 12.05r1 (This is a Release Candidate review).

Plugins: Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 : RK Apps XPRealistic v2 - US$34.99

Scenery or Aircraft

- KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$24.99

- KJAX - Jacksonville International Airport by FSDesigns (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$19.99 - Full X-PlaneReviews JAX review is here;

Scenery Review - KJAX -Jacksonville International Airport by FS Designs

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Aircraft Review by Stephen Dutton

25th July 2023

Copyright©2023: X-Plane Reviews

 

(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved

 

[keepitsimpleengineer]

Excellent review.
Early adopters may find the Garmin display oversaturated brightness and not dimmable.

This is obviously a Laminar issue, so it may take some time to be resolved.

In the A-Plane 11 version Garmin displays work perfectly.
In my opinion Thranda Design's Kodiak 100 is one of the best consumer simulations available and my personal favorite aircraft.

[snagar]

Agree with the Garmin display issue, although if Laminar G1000 integration in the C172 is good, I don't see the reason why it could not be on par with Thranda case.
I guess we will have to wait for future build from LR and the same from Thranda.