Candidate tours Quest
<p>Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, tours the manufacturing facility at Quest Aircraft Company with employee Paul Branham on Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Mills McKnight)</p>
SANDPOINT — Before heading for his rally at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, presidential candidate Ron Paul got a taste of local manufacturing at Quest Aircraft.
As a Sandpoint business with customers all over the world, Quest Aircraft served as a good representative for the community. Paul, a presidential candidate who holds business deregulation and economic recovery as key platforms, praised Quest as a local economic engine and complimented its self-reliance.
“Quest is a great example of what people can do,” Paul said. “Under these difficult circumstances, they should be congratulated.”
Although Quest doesn’t endorse Paul or any other political candidate in any official capacity, company administrator Paul Branham said they were pleased to host him during his visit to Sandpoint.
After being greeted at the Quest front desk by Branham, the U.S. representative from Texas took a tour through the manufacturing facility. The touring group moved from station to station in the expansive area, viewing a different model of Quest’s signature Kodiak in almost every stage of production. Beginning with an empty metal shell comprising the airplane’s primary body, the group advanced through the different stages of production as the models gradually acquired additional parts, mechanics, interior elements and navigation equipment.
“Typically, we’ll have one at every stage of production,” Branham told Paul.
An aviator himself, Paul said he could appreciate the attention that went into the design. He told Branham he holds a pilot’s license, although he hasn’t been able to keep it current.
As a company founded on the goal to provide missionaries and humanitarian workers with aircraft able to handle to varied terrain and landing zones overseas, Quest maintains that tradition with a tithing mentality, Branham said. He told Paul that for every nine planes they sell, they donate a tenth.
Paul also applauded Quest for its approach to business. Using the resources they had, company founders started a local business and grew it into a success.
“They didn’t go to Wall Street to get their funding,” Paul said. “They found their funding, they produced jobs, they put out a unique product made in the U.S.A. and with stuff like that, you have to wish them well.”