Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

While Quest Aircraft’s brawny high-wing all-metal utility turboprop didn’t achieve FAA certification by the end of last year as the company had hoped, the program continues on the path to approval in the first quarter of this year. By mid-December, the prototype had logged nearly 600 hours of flight testing. Most structural testing is done and flight testing of avionics, electrical, interior and environmental systems was under way during December. Orders to date extend the backlog into 2010, according to Quest CEO Paul Schaller, and 30 Kodiaks are already targeted for humanitarian and mission-related work. Quest expects to achieve known-icing certification shortly after receiving the Kodiak’s type certificate, Schaller told AIN.

In The Works: Quest Aircraft Kodiak

While Quest Aircraft’s brawny high-wing all-metal utility turboprop didn’t achieve FAA certification by the end of last year as the company had hoped, the 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN