Bob Stoney – Page 4

Daher Kodiak 200 (900)

July 22, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Kodiak 200 at Renton Airport for Function and Reliability (F&R) Testing
(c) Bob Stoney

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Daher (previously Quest Aircraft) Model: 200. Nickname: Kodiak
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Turboprop
> FAA Category and Class: Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: Single PT-6A-140

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/2/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 33
> Number of Times Flown: 15
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Quest Kodiak 100

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 186
> Date First Flown: 2/1/2022
> Location First Flown: Renton Airport, WA (KRNT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With:
Daher/Kodiak, Marcel “Frenchy” LeBlanc, Rob Wells, Dave Webber

Recollections: Refer also to my write-up on the Kodiak 100.

The Kodiak 200 (which is the designation on the Type Certificate but it’s marketing name is Kodiak 900, I think because it sounds cooler) is a “bigger, heavier, more powerful” brother of the 100. It has 150 more horsepower (750–>900) and the gross weight is approximately 1200 lb more. While they appear similar, there are differences. One could argue that the 100 and 200 should be counted (for the “how many aircraft have you flown?” contest) as ONE airplane. But, I’ve chosen to break them apart because my involvement with them (separated by over a decade) were different.

One of the interesting aspects of the 200 (900) program was the secrecy that surrounded it. The FAA was asked, in no uncertain terms, to keep a lid on the program, even during the final Function and Reliability (F&R) stage. The airplane was photographed by somebody (not associated with the company or the FAA) during its stay at the Renton, WA airport and posted on Facebook. It was fun reading the comments and the amateur analysis of what this airplane was (the most obvious differences included the wheel pants and 5 bladed propeller). Still, we were mum.

Like the 100, the 200 (900) was a pleasure to fly and, in a “small world” moment, it was a pleasure to fly again with Frenchy LeBlanc (the Kodiak Chief Test Pilot), who had been a student of mine at USNTPS in 1999.

Kodiak 200 over the Rockies during F&R
(c) Bob Stoney

Beechcraft T-34C Turbomentor

July 22, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Beechcraft. Model: T-34C. Nickname: Turbomentor
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Turboprop
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single P&W PT-6A (550 HP)

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/2/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 2
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: T-34B

T-34C BuNo 160499 at Force Warfare (stock photo)
(c) airliners.net

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 52
> Date First Flown: 1/3/1989
> Location First Flown: NAS Patuxent River, MD (KNHK)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Pete Baumann, Force Warfare Aircraft Test Squadron

Recollections: I have flown the “Turbomentor” just once, on a good-deal flight with my TPS classmate Pete “Bullethead” Bauman. At the time, Pete was a helicopter test pilot assigned to the Rotary Wing test squadron but was able to stay fixed wing current flying the T-34C at Force Warfare.

If I remember correctly, I think Pete let me sit up front and fly much of the flight. My logbook shows 8 landings. As an SNA (Student Naval Aviator) in 1980/1981 flying the might T-28 Trojan, I had looked down my nose (literally…the T-28 sits WAY up high compared to the T-34C) at the turbomentor, but I’m glad I got to fly with Pete. He and I only flew one other time together and that was during TPS, in a T-2C jet. Never flew a helo with him. Gotta fix that!

Vultee BT-13 Valiant

July 22, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Vultee Aircraft. Model: BT-13 Nickname: Valiant (or “Vibrator”)
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single engine (P&W R985 @450 HP)

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/6/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1.3
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: BT-15 (powered by Wright engine)

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 193
> Date First Flown: 4/5/2024
> Location First Flown: Blue Sky Airpark (Amarillo, TX)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Kurt Landis

Recollections: Kurt Landis, who I’d met at Oshkosh as part of the JLFC portion of the Airventure Warbirds airshow, is my hero. And it’s not just because he owns a bunch of airplanes from the T-6 to the Stearman to the Bonanza. And it’s not just because he’s married to one of the nicest ladies you’ll ever meet, Pam. It’s because, despite all of this and more, he’s as down to earth a person as you can find.

Kurt and Bob in front of the BT-13
(c) Anne Woodley

Anne and I were on a trip to see the total Eclipse of the sun in southern Texas in 2024 and Kurt invited us to stop by his place and maybe go flying. One thing led to another and I actually got to fly his BT-13. What a cool airplane. Not fast, not smooth (the informal name “Vibrator” tells you the story), but–for sure–cool. It was easy to fly, a good step between the WWII PT-17/19 and the retractable gear and more complex T-6. It was wonderful to get to witness this intermediate trainer’s characteristics in person and I’ll always be thankful to Kurt for the opportunity.

BT-13 N59840 in the Break Blue Sky Airpark
(c) Kurt Landis

Vans RV-8A

July 22, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Vans Aircraft Model: RV-8A Nickname: don’t think it has one!
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/6/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: All the other Vans Models

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 185
> Date First Flown: 6/2/2021
> Location First Flown: Auburn Airport, WA (S50)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Pete Eidal

Recollections: I needed to get back up to Port Townsend airport to rescue my broken-down Birddog (see entry for the Navion) and my nearby hangar mate Pete Eidal (retired Alaska Airlines Captain) volunteered to take me. Up we went, we sorted out the problem on the Birddog and returned together to our home airport in Auburn, WA (flying formation coming back). My first flight in an RV of any designation and I could see why this is such a popular and successful airplane. It flies very smoothly and economically.

Van’s Aircraft RV-8A (stock photo)
(c) sky4buy.com

Stinson L-5 Sentinel

July 22, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Stinson. Model: L-5. Nickname: Sentinel
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single engine

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/7/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 2.2
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: none

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 188
> Date First Flown: 7/6/2022
> Location First Flown: Oshkosh, WI (KOSH)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Charles Rook, Joint Liaison Formation Committee (JLFC)

Recollections: The L-5 Sentinel, an older brother to my L-19 Birddog, served with distinction in WWII. I have flown in one twice, as a JLFC instructor teaching formation. The airplane is informally called “the Flying Jeep” and it handles well and feels quite stout. There are artisans who keep these pieces of history flying, ensuring their plywood box spars and wood ribs & skin are in good shape.

Some Sentinels are equipped with a large door that opens along the right side of the aircraft behind the pilot which allows for a stretcher (and patient) to be carried. The designers did a great job with this, including having a sufficiently expansive center of gravity envelope (not an easy design task).