I found that after rebuilding the tail with a significantly larger tail, and adding flaps (belly board would work as well), the plane is much more stable and can be set up to fly a reasonably stable approach (and flies nicely hands off in cruise). Stability for an IFR approach is really the issue. An autopilot is great for straight and level and course adjustments during cruise, but an instrument approach is likely to require a lot of hand flying. That's where a stable platform is highly desirable. Even with the changes that made my bird significantly more stable, I think it would still be less than ideal trying to fly an instrument approach. Not saying one couldn't do it. But it would certainly be more challenging than flying an approach in a Mooney or Bonanza, which is going to have a similar approach speed. The difference is the ability to trim a Mooney or Bonanza to hold an exact speed and descent rate. Mine will trim up very nicely, but the speed and descent rates simply aren't as stable as one would see in a desirable IFR platform.
As for traveling in my KR, I fly under the same conditions as any other VFR pilot in any other plane. Have flown over, under, around, and sometimes through weather as needed. I do occasionally miss getting where I want to go due to weather, but no more often than would happen with any other aircraft with a VFR pilot. -Jeff Scott Los Alamos, NM > > Put a Dynon auto pilot on your existing Dynon D10A, D180, Skyview or other > such product for $1500 and you will see how stable it is. This took all > the work out of flying my KR in bumpy conditions. > > > On Thursday, January 22, 2015 1:45 PM, Mike Stirewalt via KRnet <krnet at > list.krnet.org> wrote: > > ============= > > The KR is not "stable enough" for IFR? Only useful enough for "fun > flying"? Unsuitable for long-distance travelling and can't carry a heavy > load? What a bunch of hooey. > > What Dan said is certainly true . . . if you aren't comfortable on > instruments you can't really count on getting where you're going - in any > airplane. > > Also, please note that vaccum systems are obsolete these days, certainly > for Experimentals. > > Mike > KSEE
