Safe Flight Instrument Corp. is supplying the Stall Warning System for current production models and has been selected to supply the Speed Control System for all Quest Kodiak Ice Protection System (IPS) equipped aircraft.
Safe Flight’s Speed Control System will be part of the Quest IPS package and will provide Stall Warning and a Fast/Slow indication through a heated wing mounted Lift Transducer and lightweight computer. This next generation Stall Warning System will optimize the aircraft’s performance throughout the flight profile and supply information to the flight crew not previously available in this market segment, according to Safe Flight officials.
The output from the Speed Control System will be integrated into the Primary Flight Display of the aircraft. Quest will offer Speed Control and IPS as both a production and retrofit option and will meet the Flight Into Know Icing or FIKI requirements.
In recent flight tests the aircraft performance was significantly increased by flying the Speed Control System. “Flying Speed Control enabled me to land the aircraft, come to a complete stop and take off again in an astonishing 750 feet,” said Quest chief test pilot Kenny Stidham. “We designed an aircraft with modern STOL characteristics for high performance backcountry applications, an airplane that could thrive in the most inhospitable places on earth. Every knot over speed means more runway for rollout. The Speed Control System is so essential for this mission.”
For more information: QuestAircraft.com, SafeFlight.com
I’m not sure how this new speed control system relates to the in-flight icing problem.