Aircraft
Daher Opens Idaho Paint Facility for Kodiak Production
The new facility shortens the Kodiak production cycle by around a week
Daher Kodiak paint shop Sandpoint, Idaho
Photo: Daher

Daher has opened a new paint facility at the Kodiak Aircraft Company’s production site in Sandpoint, Idaho. The 9,000-sq-ft paint shop cost $2.7 million and includes separate preparation and paint bays. The facility mirrors the one at Daher’s TBM factory in Tarbes, France.

New-production Kodiak 100s and 900s had previously been flown to other locations for painting following their completion. The new onsite facility allows major components—such as fuselage, wings, control surfaces, cowlings, and doors—to be painted after manufacture before being flowed directly into the final assembly process. Electrostatic painting is employed; this technique makes the operation more environmentally friendly and also creates a better paint finish.