>Original Message from Mike: > "Touchdown should be at about 70 mph" >For a KR that's just plain ridiculous. >If one is very familiar with their conventional gear KR, doing a wheel >landing at 70 MPH and using brakes against the aerodynamic forces you are >keeping balanced with the stick can be done with time and practice but is >more an exercise than it is a practical procedure. There's no real-world >reason other than very strong crosswinds that anyone would ever land this >way. Builders are not going to be doing their first flights with strong >crosswinds. Suggesting to builders that 70 MPH is an appropriate >touchdown speed is really irresponsible. Sorry.
>Mike >KSEE I have to disagree with the above statements. I made my first flight March 20, 2005. Back then everyone had drilled into my head that the KR had to be landed just above stall speed especially on your first landings in order to make a safe first landing. Taking everyone's advice, I made some practice approaches at altitude and then headed in for my first landing. The first landing will be your second most intensive pucker factor after the first takeoff. Your adrenaline will be pumping and you will be tense. Since I was told by many to make a high approach just above stall speed that is exactly what I did. That first landing was absolutely the worst landing I have ever made (except when I hit a deer) and by being so slow it almost caused me to crash my KR on touchdown. Everything was going well until I got too slow. Have you ever seen a duck making an approach to land and it's wings start rocking back and forth as it prepares for touchdown? That is the way I felt as my KR quickly lost lift and slammed down on the runway. Fortunately I did not do any damage but that was as close as I have ever come to making a crash landing. I am not saying that you must do 70 mph at touchdown but you better make sure you have sufficient speed to maintain a safe flight throughout the landing process. For me, I find that touchdown at 70 mph is ideal and I consistantly make baby butt smooth landings at that speed. The following is a post I recently made on December 26, 2014 on a "Belly Board" thread. ----- YeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I just returned from a 1.2 hour flight around Steven Point, WI. This was my first flight since 10/25 due to our shi&&y weather we have up here. So what does this have to do with belly boards? Here is how I use mine in the landing sequence. I called left downwind 21 Stevens Point and reduced my speed to 125 MPH. Next I called turning left base 21 Stevens point and am now at 120 MPH. I maintain that speed through base and call turning final 21 Stevens Point. I pull back the power to slow her to 115 and drop the belly board to full down position. At this point I would estimate I am now at 1/4 mile final and slowing fast. I cross the numbers looking at 80 MPH and when the wheels touch the pavement I am doing 70 MPH and she sets down smooth a silk. The following are two links. The first is the web link to the construction of my solid belly board. The second is a landing video on runway 21 Stevens Point and note you can see the speed brake being lowered. Also note the minor deflection of the gear with touchdown and that is loaded up with two people on board. Belly Board web link: http://www.flykr2s.com/bellyboard.html Landing video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXagjar5IE ----- Mark Jones (N886MJ) Stevens Point, WI E-mail: flykr2s at charter.net Web: www.flykr2s.com
