24 December 2011, one day after my 75th year on earth. Took a short flight in the John Day valley to celebrate my jubilee. Easy flight, no snow in the valley, snow line at approximately '6,000 feet, pretty mild winter so far in eastern Oregon. Logged time totals 1,436 hours on my KR, first flight September 1984. Still is flying good. has its blemishes as do I after several minor surgerical repairs for both of us, none required on me do to flying, Apparently the medical doctors and I know how repair broken or malfunctioning parts well; as the 'inspector/repairman' I only operate on the my KR!
As the body stiffens one learns to adapt. In my case with the retract gear, the bending and reaching to retract and unlatch the landing gear became difficult. My solution was to install a small pully on the floorboard where the end of the gear handle lay when retracted. A pull on the nylon cord after unlatching the gear from the down-and-locked position quickly retracks the gear. No more bobing my head down now. A similar arrangement also now unlocks the gear from the up-and-locked position too. I've flown it back to northern Michigan four times (born in Traverse City), some of those flight were interesting, summer weather in Minnesotsa, Wisconsin, northern Michigan can get interesting. Limit my flying to the local area now, try to make monthly EAA Chapter 617 breakfasts and wednesday chili lunches in Prineville, Oregon as often as weather cooperates. Life is an adventure, a very rewarding one if you have a KR to do it in. David Feiger John Day, Oregon
