Hi,
Well, Yesterday, 28th Dec 2004, I did my first flight in my KR2 at Atherton Air
Strip 2400ft.
After several false starts it finally all came together. The weather was
perfect, nil wind and silky smooth air. The take off was a little jerky but I
soon settle down to 90kts for the climb out. I climbed through very broken
early morning cloud at 3500ft to 4500ft all my temps were good, CHT 50F below
maximum. A few turns straight an level then power off and simulate an approach
2000ft above the strip, round out to stall, felt soooooo good. Now descend and
join circuit, the water on the near by lake was like a sheet of glass, not a
breath of wind. Lined up perfectly. I read somewhere that your first landing
will be your best and they are so right, I greased it on like I'd been doing
all my life.
Back to the hanger and my wife. I went over all the suspension bolts, engine
mounts, prop bolts and anything else that I could check. All was OK so back
out to the strip and out for a short circuit, a small bounce on the next
landing and a very long roll out, back track and take off again. The next
approach was way to hot and at half strip I went to full power went round ,
this time a much longer approach and I notice about 5kts wind at 60 degrees to
the strip. This was a rough old landing with several small bounce. So back to
the hanger (and the wife) and another though check over. Half an hour air time
in total. Yeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaah and grin that will have to be surgically
removed, if at all possible.
I have to wash the bottom of the aircraft as I'm operating from a grass strip
and the early morning dew covers the bottom with water and grass, etc.
This morning, 29th Dec 2004, I woke well before sun up, Doh.
Out to strip, pre flight the KR2, perfect weather.
A quick circuit with a near perfect landing (not as good as the first one),
back track and take off again heading for our ceiling height of 6500ft.
Now for some stats.
Engine is a 2.2L Jabiru 4 cylinder - total engine time only 1.3 hours on
the ground, engine red line at 3300 RPM
Prop is a Richard Sweetapple 56 X 56 timber prop
Static RPM is 2800
Initially max RPM was 2900, very tight motor.
By 2.7 hours max RPM had increased to 3000.
Best climb is 980ft/min at 80kts but the CHT's are climbing.
Ideal climb is about 750ft/min at 100kts, Oil temp of 100C and CHT temp of
290F
Cruise at 115kts no wheel spats or cover strips and still 2 big holes where
the retract gear came from.
6 touch and goes and then run low on fuel, all not to bad. Only 40 Litres
capacity and I was down to 15L so back to the hanger and another check all
over. I cann't get refueled to this afternoon. :-(
Next flight is planned for tomorrow (or maybe late this afternoon).
Regards
Barry Kruyssen
Cairns, Australia
RAA 19-3873
k...@bigpond.com
http://users.tpg.com.au/barryk/KR2.htm
