Hi Netters,
I just thought you might like to hear a testimonial on the KR-2. January
1, 2007: I joined Rich Shirley for a flight from our home base at Corona
Airport up to California City Airport. CA. City airport is about 90 miles
North and out in the high desert. We were to meet several other members of his
EAA Chapter for New Years breakfast; an annual tradition. The weather was cool
and clear once the ground fog burned off at Corona. Our 9:00 AM takeoff was
uneventful and both KR's climbed like homesick angels until we reached our
cruising altitude of 7500". As we climbed out we experienced some buffetting,
but nothing serious. We headed out of the LA basin through the Cajon Pass
where it is usually gets a little rough, but still nothing too serious. Santa
Ana winds were forecast and on the other side of the mountains we started
picking them up. They were blowing up the rising terrain of the mountains and
were mildly turbulent. We were getting about 300 to 500 FPM free elevator ride
so we just pointed the nose down with trim and were cruising along at 165 MPH
indicated. INDICATED! Ground speed was down around 120 mph. By the half way
point we were at 8500" and bumpy but nothing serious. Just too much for
formation flight. As we began to let down West of Edwards AFB things smoothed
out again and we sailed into CA. City airport where everything was calm for a
landing. We had a great breakfast and BS'd for about two hours. As we broke
up and all headed out it was still very calm for take off. We quickly were
back at 7500" for the trip home. It was still bumpy at altitude and we were
still picking up the the 300 -500 fpm rising Santa Ana wind but this time we
were sailing along at over 200 mph ground speed, Back at the pass with no
problems but as we crossed over Pomona we started picking up some serious
stuff. The rate of climb began searching for the peg in both directions. It
finally pegged at 2000"fpm in both directions at almost the same time. Then we
hit something way off the scale. Everything: 2 hand held radios, my hand held
GPS, a small metal tool box, and a headset bag full of gear, along with one KR
pilot hit the top of the canopy with a thud. The gear up-lock tripped and the
gear partially extended which wasn't a bad thing as It started slowing the KR
down immediately. When I figured out which way was up; I went ahead and locked
the gear in the down position and started letting down near Chino airport. As
we passed over the Chino airspace we started letting down in earnest from the
6000" to 2000" preparing to enter Corona pattern for runway 7.
Corona is a great airport. It has cheap gas, It is usually the first to
clear and the last to cloud over. It does have tall trees on the North side of
the runway which can cause a severe down-draft when touching down during a
Santa Ana wind but I've landed here in these Santa Ana conditions many times.
So No Fear.. Right?...
As I entered the 45 from the south I had to crab at 45 degrees to the 45 which
means I'm pointed directly at the runway all the way in to down-wind leg. I
turned down-wind and with the wind behind me was at base leg almost
immediately. Confidence starting to wane I started Base at almost a 45 degree
crab and was soon ready for final. I dropped the bellyboard to my standard
mid-position but maintained power trying to get to the runway. Halfway down
final Ithe KR stopped in mid-air as it was hit by a very strong gust. That was
very unsettling so I reduced the bellyboard setting to first position and we
started gaining on the runway again. Getting close to the runway I noticed
that each of the four wind socks was pointed straight out in a completely
different direction and they were changing directions by the second. As we
entered the dreaded downdraft of runway 7, I heaved back on the stick and the
KR settled firmly on the runway without a bounce ( well.. maybe a small one).
We coasted to the center turnoff witout braking because with those wind socks I
was afraid to take my feet off the rudder pedals. I looked over and saw the
professional Corona CFI & Test Pilot just shake his head and walk away. Rich
landed right behind me and we were soon trying to hold our KRs down while
filling the fuel tanks. The wind got to Rich's KR1 and tried to flip it over
once as we carefully walked them to the hanger, while hanging on to the tail
feathers. It wasn't until we were in the hanger with the doors closed that we
finally quit flying. ATIS said we had 45 degree crosswinds of 20 mph with gusts
of 38 mph. N56SR is 23 years old now, it's one tough old bird, and it always
gets me home.
