At 07:33 AM 3/30/2010, you wrote: >What effect if any does the engine have on flying a KR-2 with 2 people? You >would think that a larger engine like an 0-200 would bring the CG forward more >as opposed to an Volkswagon 1853. >How does the wing design effect the flying characteristics with 2 people? The >stock KR-2 wing vs. Diehl wing vs. AS504x wing. >Can you just move the wing back a little to give a more forward CG? >Kris Leirfallom ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Adding a passenger will move the C.G. aft and in some KR's to a critical location that will make the airplane very unstable and difficult to fly. The heavier engines move the empty C.G. forward so adding a passenger is not as critical. C.G. too far aft can make the airplane a killer. I don't know what the C.G. range of the new wing is but I suspect it is similar to the RAF48 (original wing) so there is probably not a great deal of difference between the two wings when it comes to W&B. Whichever wing is used, the loaded C.G. must fall within the design range. Moving the engine forward to address a C.G. problem would be much easier than re-designing the fuselage to move the wing. On the subject of wheel landings or 3 point with conventional gear, my KR lands best using a tail low wheel landing with a bit of forward stick on touchdown to stick in on. If I watch my approach speed, I can land and turn around in 1500 feet on a hard surface runway. Tail wheel or nose wheel is strictly a matter of preference. My conventional gear handles so well that I forget I'm flying a tail dragger. Larry Flesner
