"Never horse around in a KR-2?" Lest some novice take any of these lessons seriously, I can't help but defend those of us in the horse-around camp. When I started reading about staying on the ground when there are gusty winds or bad weather I had to wonder if the Russians or AARP was hacking our emails. My reaction to those "lessons" was similar to that of Larry F. when I've said something scandalous about his beloved Tri-Pacer.
I don't know from where you've derived all these "lessons learned" Henni but not much of it came from anyone who flies KR's. A lot of these lessons, such as "not flying on gusty days", come directly from the microlight world. Although you are using a microlight engine and reducing airframe weight, the KR can in no way be compared to a microlight. It's a machine that can cross the United States in one (very) long day, easily fly in the flight levels, and go through a line of cells and come out the other side in one piece, over and over. For many of us who need some reason to get to the hangar and go flying, it is precisely because Nature graces us periodically with gusty, windy days that KR pilots head for the airport to play. These days provide some welcome opportunities for pattern work. The superb handling of KR's - quick roll and nice big rudder - make playing with crosswinds and gusts pure joy. Microlights don't have the control authority to do what KR's do. They are draggy, kite-like things with the wing loading of a pillow case. They can't fight back. They are defenseless against the zephers & chubascos that come running from miles around when they spot what they think may be an ultralight in the air. They soon find out they have met their match when it turns out they mistook the KR for a microlight. On the other hand, a pleasant Sunday afternoon of circuits and bumps at an ultralight field can turn into what sounds like an angry waspnest as their pilots get word from their ground spotters that a cloud has been spotted ten miles away and heading their direction. What ensues is a desperate run for home at 11 thousand RPM and 40 mph. The lesson about the canopy is a good one but everyone by now (I hope) has mounted a flexible piece of aluminum that automatically slides over a bolt when the canopy is closed. It's a fair-safe device that works beautifully. As for spinning, I wonder if Sam Bailey did them when he would demonstrate the KR's aerobatic skills? I never witnessed any of his airshows but he would be the one to discuss spins with. What I know is no aircraft easily breaks a developed spin with an aft CG . . . and KR's tend to naturally be slightly heavy in the tail. That's one reason stick forces are so light. Two people in the cockpit make that tail heavy tendendy ten times worse, although many netters have no trouble at all with two people in the cockpit - in their modified KR's. The standard KR is a bear with two people in it. Mine sure was - my first one . . . not the one I have now although since it only has one seat it would certainly also be troublesome with two people. I haven't spun mine but with a full header tank and nothing in the baggage I wouldn't be afraid to try. I probably won't though. I get dizzy. > "Avoid at all costs flying with your cg at the aft limits." KR's fly just fine with aft-CG. Most of them come out of the workshops that way. With aft-CG they go further and faster, thanks to less induced drag. Even if you stall with an aft-CG configuration, the KR airfoil is exceedingly forgiving. It actually doesn't really stall, just mushes down and immediately starts flying when back pressure is released. I've got a lot of space for baggage back of my seat (mine is a true KR-1½ - not a KR-2 with one seat in it) and it's usually full of "stuff" - a 24 cu. ft. O2 tank, tools, spare tires & tubes, survival water plus cold weather clothes (sweat pants & thick hoodie), oil, etc. A mildly aft-CG condition is my aerodynamic norm. - true I think for most KR flyers. As for cross-controlling being deadly . . . jeez Henni, I have no fear of crossed controls with lining up with the runway, on that turn to final. The wing is such a gentle wing that it will warn you early on if you are doing something it doesn't like. You mean well Henni in compiling these "lessons", however the KR is a predictable, wonderfully-handling airplane and just about all that stuff you list as lessons do not apply at all. They're simply silly - which is why nobody other than me has bothered to comment on them. The KR is an elegant little airplane and if properly equipped is capable of flight in any weather, day or night, winds be damned. It's not a microlight. Mike KSEE ____________________________________________________________ We Say GoodBye To Sally Fields iflperfecttouch.com http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/59c589addc1e9ac4ca4st03vuc _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
