Dan Heath wrote: >>Even at 1160# this KR2 has no problem with take off or cruise or climb. >>It is almost like the extra weight is not there, but landings are a different story. I have to come in way too fast for comfort and if I don't do it exactly right, I am afraid that I would destroy my plane. <<
What did you mean by that? Are you SURE you have to come in all that fast? When was the last time you took it to altitude and practiced stalls and trying to maintain altitude with minimum engine power? That kind of testing should give you a very good feel for what IAS the plane is going to quit flying. And when you're in ground effect, that speed will be even lower. Probably common sense and a known fact to most, but if you haven't done it, it can be a lot safer than landing too fast and tearing the plane up because it's not ready to land yet. Somebody else mentioned being careful in turns. That's important also, but spending a half hour in progressively tight turns at various speeds (also at high altitude) will go a long way toward calming any concerns about what indicated airspeed the plane is going to fall out of the sky, and what it feels like before you actually get there. If you can fly it for a half hour just on the edge (and I've done that), you'll have it imprinted on your brain what that experience is like and will be less likely to do it accidently. As for fuel tanks and weight/CG shift, you need to fly that thing and quit worrying about what else you can "fix". You're going to die of old age before you get much KR time in, at this rate... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com website at http://www.N56ML.com --------------------------------------------------------
