Hi Net
In reference to "the recommended 50 foot hop" My first flight in my KR
happened as a result of attempting to perform a 3rd tail up tail down
transition on the same run. I only had a total of 60 hours and that
included 43 to get my private in C150's, and no tail time. I had been
practicing high speeds for several days and never counted the hours,
probobly near 10. On this occasion I accelerated and lifted the tail, which
happens within seconds. In fact you push the throttle adjust your track
down the centerline, adjust rudder pressure for P factor and lift the tail.
By that time you will have rudder authority. On the third attempt I had
forgotten to cut the power and the KR popped of the ground. In a flash the
thought passed that if I were going to crash land this craft, that at least
I was going to fly it first. That was my first flight. Like Larry and all
before him and all before me, I was scared to say the least. The KR being
faater in the pattern then I was used to, went around and was ready to land
before I was. My CFI later told me that I should have left the pattern and
practiced some slow flight so that I could see what kind of desent rate the
craft had.. Any way as I attempted to land I found that my idle was too
high and although it would tach at 800 on the ground, in the air on desent
the idle would not go below 1200. My plan was for a wheel landing thus my
approach and flair was shallow. The KR just kept going and going and would
not settle to the runway, was flying in gournd effect at 1200 rpm. Near the
end of the 10,000 foot runway I cut the engine and the KR finally settled to
the ground. As far as the great debate as to Can you or can you not be a
low time pilot or no tail time pilot and master the KR, I'm sure it can be
done. Remember it only takes 10 hours to Solo in the first place. At lease
for me, others take from 10 to 50 or more. One other point that I would
make is that I have flown one other Tail dragger and that was a Cessna 205
Bird Dog dressed in Air Force war paint. Most other Tail draggers have a
longer arm (Tail) then the KR and handle entirely different, except that the
tail up tail down transition is the same. That I think is the most useful
information you would get from flying another TD and I feel is the key to a
safe landing. You keep the tail up until it won't fly any more then you
pull the stick back and taxi. In a tri gear, you don't land on the nose
gear anyway, after touch down you push the nose over only after the
airspeed bleeds off a little. In the KR first you flair and land, and
except for full stall landings, you stay on the mains let the speed bleed
off and then pull back.
Orma L. Robbins
o...@aviation-mechanics.com
aka AviationMech
19 Years flying the KR-2
20 this August
