The Kodiak, priced at $US1.2 million, is a dedicated bush plane produced under an arrangement between Mission Aviation Fellowship, an international, faith-based, not-for-profit organisation and the manufacturer, Quest Aircraft Co. of Sandpoint, Idaho.
Sales to commercial organisations will help fund aircraft for non-profit operators.
The new aircraft will revolutionise MAF operations serving remote communities in Papua, Indonesia.
MAF says it will replace 20 of its Cessna 206s with planes that operate on jet fuel, either Kodiaks or Cessna Caravans.
Because the Kodiak can carry nearly twice the cargo of the C206, MAF will transport medicine, food and disaster relief supplies much more efficiently, reducing operating costs.
Designed by Quest with input from MAF and other humanitarian organisations, the short take-off and landing (STOL) 10-seat Kodiak carries four more passengers and a larger payload than a Cessna 206 and runs on jet fuel, which is cheaper and more readily available than Avgas.
With a fleet of 122 bush aircraft, MAF serves in 55 countries, with an average of 242 flights daily across Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia and Latin America.