Something that can be even more of a concern than directional control is having a gust lift you off the runway before the plane is ready to fly. I'm not sure why my rudder would be any different than anyone else's, but it's always been sufficient to counter any wind no matter how strong. Therefore I don't have an arbitrarily set crosswind limit. Perhaps Ken Cottle built the rudder a little larger than what the plans call for . . . but it looks like a normal KR vertical stabilizer & rudder (I think). Knowing this and being overconfident and careless, on takeoff I let a gust lift me up before the plane was ready to fly. If there had been any obstructions alongside the runway, trees, buildings, vehicles, etc. I would have hit them. As it was, I hung in ground effect (barely) desperately playing with the mixture to squeeze a few more RPM's to gradually build enough speed to climb out of the situation. Pure luck that I didn't lose the plane. . This happened in strong, gusty winds on takeoff at Raton, NM. Heavy with full fuel (22 gallons) and the weight of all my travelling paraphanelia, I was careless and let a gust lift me up and blow me off to the side. It happened in an instant. It was pure luck that allowed me to crawl along just above the rough scrub passing so closely below. Close call I've never forgotten. Usually it's landing that gets our attention, not so much the takeoff. I was careless and didn't forcefully hold it on the runway while building takeoff speed. Winds on the front range can wipe a plane out easily and quickly so that takeoff was a really good lesson. It's easy to forget just how light our KR's are and what low wing loading they have. Mine is 13.5 at full gross, normal for KR's I think.
On the other hand, a KR with the retractable gear definitely can't handle really strong crosswinds without hitting a wingtip. Mike KSEE ____________________________________________________________ Drink 1 Cup Before Bed, Watch Your Body Fat Melt Like Crazy mayserve-magestor.com http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5cc7a661bfcbf266129acst03vuc _______________________________________________ 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
