From: krnet-bounces@mylist.net To: John Bouyea Subject: KRnet Digest, Vol 347, Issue 198 Date: 5/16/2005 9:00:24 PM Send KRnet mailing list submissions to krnet@mylist.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mylist.net/listinfo/krnet or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to krnet-request@mylist.net You can reach the person managing the list at krnet-owner@mylist.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of KRnet digest..." Today's Topics: 1. RE: project update (Brian Kraut) 2. Re: Certified Engines/ AD's (Orma) 3. Re: project update (flykr2s@wi.rr.com) 4. Re: project update (Mark Langford) 5. Re: fuel costs (Jim Sellars) 6. RE: project update (Mark Jones) 7. KR's and wives (Don Chisholm) 8. Re: project update (Joseph H. Horton) 9. Re: Xpndr cable (Do not archive) (Ron Butterfield) 10. "T"-Tail on KR2 (haroldwoods) 11. Larry Wayne Williams (Dan Heath) 12. taxi testing? (Mark Langford) 13. RE: taxi testing? (Brian Kraut) 14. Re: taxi testing? (JAMES C FERRIS) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 00:04:22 -0400 From: "Brian Kraut" Subject: RE: KR> project update To: "KRnet" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" So in theory you could fly that thing tomorrow morning! This is really getting exciting now. I see visions of dozens of KR heads running home after work to check their email for the flight report. May your skies be blue and please keep the ble side up. Brian Kraut Engineering Alternatives, Inc. www.engalt.com -----Original Message----- From: krnet-bounces+brian.kraut=engalt.com@mylist.net [mailto:krnet-bounces+brian.kraut=engalt.com@mylist.net]On Behalf Of Mark Langford Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 11:38 PM To: KRnet Subject: KR> project update KRnetHeads, I've taken the last two weeks off to do nothing but work on the plane, and if I have my way, I'll take this week off and maybe fly it before the week's out. In the last 14 days I've put 172 hours into the plane. I spent most of today wiring up the limit switch and DPDT switch for my flap motor. You ain't seen nothin' 'til you've seen 30 degrees of barndoor flaps on a KR! It takes four seconds to go from zero to 30 degrees using an RV flap motor. That ought to be fast enough. Most normal people would put the thing on a trailer, but being a lazy scud, I just removed the tailwheel and replaced it with the hitch from my Harbor Freight trailer. It took all of 2 minutes to hitch the KR to the Audi and haul it away on its main gear, although I'll admit that I never got over 35 mph on the 10 mile drive to the airport. See http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/05051551m.jpg for further amusement . These are "plane ports", the only thing available at MDQ right now. I'm starting out there because they have a 100' wide 5000 foot runway surrounded by fields, as opposed to Hazel Green (M38), which has a 40' wide runway that's only 2700' long (although that's where I'll keep it after I get skilled enough to get it in there). The wings are now stuck on it, and now all I have to do is rig the ailerons and I'll start taxi testing in the morning. The engine's running great and I've pretty much finished up all the little things on that punch list. I feel a YeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaa comin' on... Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net -------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave@mylist.net please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 05:12:47 -0400 From: "Orma" Subject: Re: KR> Certified Engines/ AD's To: "KRnet" Message-ID: <003c01c559f7$6e5ed4f0$0302a8c0@ROBBINS1> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Hello Net I've been on vacation in LV for the past week and was surprised to find nearly 200 emails when I turned on this afternoon. This answer is a little tardy, but here are a few comments about certified engines. Some of these points have been made already. 1. Certified engines must have logs in which it is written that it and all of it's parts meets the requirements for certification and signed by a competent authority. 2. Each part of that engine must have a traceable history from manufacture thru installation in the certified engine. 3. Any certified engine must be maintained in accordance with all FAA directives. 4. If the basis of the aircraft certification included a certified engine, the aircraft must always maintain a certified engine, You can't just remove the data plate and call it a home built engine because if you do, the aircraft certification will no longer be within the specification which existed when it was issued. You could de-certify the engine before aircraft certification, but you would destroy the value of the certified engine. 5. Not complying with the AD's on engines or components which have them would be foolish. For example, the Bendix dual mag, if the impulse coupler AD were not complied with and the mag subsequently failed, the engine could quit and leave the pilot flying a glider. Orma L. Robbiins AP/IA Southfield, MI N110LR Tweety, old enough to drink this year Flying and more flying, to the gathering or bust http://www.kr-2.aviation-mechanics.com/ ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 05:59:40 -0500 From: flykr2s@wi.rr.com Subject: Re: KR> project update To: KRnet Message-ID: <4f57544f1d22.4f1d224f5754@rdc-kc.rr.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mark, Truly a feeling of pride when you pulled up to the airport with your plane. Can't wait for your first flight. I bet when you returmed home to an empty garage, you felt very strange not having it there. It is kind of like when you realize a child has left home and moved on. Mark Jones (N886MJ) Wales, WI ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark Langford Date: Sunday, May 15, 2005 10:37 pm Subject: KR> project update > KRnetHeads, > > I've taken the last two weeks off to do nothing but work on the > plane, and if I have my way, I'll take this week off and maybe fly > it before the week's out. In the last 14 days I've put 172 hours > into the plane. I spent most of today wiring up the limit switch > and DPDT switch for my flap motor. You ain't seen nothin' 'til > you've seen 30 degrees of barndoor flaps on a KR! It takes four > seconds to go from zero to 30 degrees using an RV flap motor. > That ought to be fast enough. > > Most normal people would put the thing on a trailer, but being a > lazy scud, I just removed the tailwheel and replaced it with the > hitch from my Harbor Freight trailer. It took all of 2 minutes to > hitch the KR to the Audi and haul it away on its main gear, > although I'll admit that I never got over 35 mph on the 10 mile > drive to the airport. See > http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/05051551m.jpg for further > amusement . > > These are "plane ports", the only thing available at MDQ right > now. I'm starting out there because they have a 100' wide 5000 > foot runway surrounded by fields, as opposed to Hazel Green (M38), > which has a 40' wide runway that's only 2700' long (although > that's where I'll keep it after I get skilled enough to get it in > there). The wings are now stuck on it, and now all I have to do > is rig the ailerons and I'll start taxi testing in the morning. > The engine's running great and I've pretty much finished up all > the little things on that punch list. > > I feel a YeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaa comin' on... > > Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama > see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to > N56ML "at" hiwaay.net > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave@mylist.net > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 06:47:49 -0500 From: "Mark Langford" Subject: Re: KR> project update To: "KRnet" Message-ID: <003401c55a0d$15afbac0$2802a8c0@2600xp> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Mark Jones wrote: > Truly a feeling of pride when you pulled up to the airport with your > plane. Can't wait for your first flight. I bet when you returmed home > to an empty garage, you felt very strange not having it there. It is > kind of like when you realize a child has left home and moved on. Yep, I'm an empty nester! And a big yes on the pride. I wouldn't call it a crowd, but there was a lot of interest in it at the airport. The lease agreement said "no maintenance", but the mechanic was the first guy to welcome me out and start asking questions. The first thing he said was "oh, yeah...I've seen this thing on the net...with a Corvair engine, right?" He ended up holding the flashlight for me as I installed the WAF bolts, and let me borrow some hemostats to get one of the tough ones in. He volunteered to let me borrow any of his tools I needed in the course of the taxi tests. How's that for warming up instantly! There's only one other homebuilt on the field, and it's an EZ that apparently is rarely seen. The FBO owner commented that my Apollo GPS looked like it had gone "flat". Nothing gets past these guys! I drove my wife's Audi to tow the plane, while she followed in my GTI. Then we ran back home and each carried a wing back. She helped me get the wings installed, and afterward gave me a big hug and said something like "welcome to your dream"... Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see homebuilt airplane at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 09:23:16 -0300 From: "Jim Sellars" Subject: Re: KR> fuel costs To: "KRnet" Message-ID: <010701c55a12$0a0d4480$6401a8c0@laptop> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Harold: What gets you to Panama? I also travel there alot and am a KR flier, curious what you do and where and when next in Panama. Let me know more if you can. off net, at 506-856-7977. Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "haroldwoods" To: Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 6:09 PM Subject: KR> fuel costs > Hi Netter. > > My Franklin 120A that is going into my KR2M burns 3.5 Imp.Gal/hour. > That > is at max power. This is 3.5 x 4.5 = 15.75 > > liters per hour. Now you figure the rest, gasoline costs Ca $0.93 for > 92 > octane auto gas. That is US $0.76 per liter, > > Based on todays Canadian prices. When I was in Panama recently I found > that the gas prices were about US $0.50 per US gal. or about US $0.125 per > liter. Last month I was in Portugal where the price of regular unleaded > auto gas was Ca$1.75 per liter. (US $ 1.44 per liter.) I did not check the > price of high octane auto fuel. > > All of this when oil is about US$50. per barrel. My flying could cost > me > Ca$14.65 an hour for gas. How much does your engine burn per hour, Max? > Gas prices can only go up. If some terrorist blow up the Saudi pipeline > and supply is cut off for even a few months, the price of crude oil will > hit US$100. per barrel.Then watch the price of gas go up. The reason that > gas is cheap in Panama is that they dont tax it. We do . Europe really > knows how to tax gas. In the near future we will have to use more > efficient engines in our planes. > > Regards > > Harold Woods > > Orillia,ON.Canada > > haroldwoods@rogers.com _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave@mylist.net > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 07:31:45 -0500 From: "Mark Jones" Subject: RE: KR> project update To: "KRnet" Message-ID: <26D1C67793459F43BF8DA235F92B1F3549DA8E@tulsaexchange.tulsaokmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" -----Original Message----- From: krnet-bounces@mylist.net [mailto:krnet-bounces@mylist.net]On Behalf Of Mark Langford Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 6:48 AM I drove my wife's Audi to tow the plane, while she followed in my GTI. Then we ran back home and each carried a wing back. She helped me get the wings installed, and afterward gave me a big hug and said something like "welcome to your dream"... Mark, You have a real jewel of a wife there. Many of us envy you. Tell Jeannie we are proud that she supports you so. Through my seven years of building, my wife never supported me. As a matter of fact, there were a couple of times she threatened the plane with a chain saw. Now that it is flying, she is starting to show more pride in it in the fact that we now own an airplane. Funny thing is that she told me I should upgrade to a larger plane so we as a family can go places. Ha....I am going places in my KR. She can drive...... Mark Jones (N886MJ) Wales, WI ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 09:01:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Don Chisholm Subject: KR> KR's and wives To: krnet@mylist.net Message-ID: <20050516130123.63168.qmail@web88001.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii when I met mine my KR1 was 90 percent finished. I was just barely able to get it to the point where it was ready to take it to the airport that's where my project stalled. Now I suffer from AIDS (airplane induced divorce syndrome) can't wait to go flying ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 11:34:43 -0400 From: "Joseph H. Horton" Subject: Re: KR> project update To: krnet@mylist.net Message-ID: <20050516.113444.832.0.joe.kr2s.builder@juno.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii . Funny thing is that she > told me I should upgrade to a larger plane so we as a family can go > places. Ha....I am going places in my KR. She can drive...... > > Mark Jones (N886MJ) > Wales, WI > Mark J. -- Your a nut case ;-) I rented a hanger on Saturday and I make the same trip on Memorial weekend. Mark L. has me beat on hours of work in the last 2 weeks. I had to still do my 50 to 55 at the paying job and could only stand about 30 to 35 on the plane. Down to 20 items on the list now and all painted white. That sure makes it look bigger too. Joe Horton, Coopersburg, PA. joe.kr2s.builder@juno.com ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 12:02:20 -0400 From: Ron Butterfield Subject: KR> Re: Xpndr cable (Do not archive) To: KRnet Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050516120025.01eb7698@pop.mebtel.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed I have a stash of RG58AU (stranded center conductor, tinned wires) that is no longer needed. If you guys want some, I can cut off 12 feet and mail it to you for $2 just to cover postage. Email me off list if interested. Regards, RonB ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 15:30:45 -0400 From: "haroldwoods" Subject: KR> "T"-Tail on KR2 To: Message-ID: <004a01c55a4d$c164fd90$0401a8c0@HAROLD> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi Netters. Yes I have a T-tail on my KR2. The rear vertical spar is solid spruce, 5/8" x 48" high.I think that it is about 3.5" wide. In front of the rear spar is another spar running from the top of the vertical stabilizer (about 4.5" infront of the rear solid spar as measured at the top). I has a 1/8" web of birch plywood on the forward face. The left and right sides are 5/8" x 5/8" spruce with spacers every 6".The connection of this vertical middle spar to the rear, horizontal spar of the horizontal stabilizer is via a "T" shaped piece of chromalloy (4130) that is bolted with AN-3 bolts to both spars. The front vertical stabilizer spar is a box made from 5/8" x 5/8" spruce, vertically on the sides with horizontal spaces very 6". The front and back is surfaced in 1/8" birch plywood. The cavity is foam filled. This forward spar is bolted to the front horizontal front spar of the horizontal stabilizer.A "T" shaped 4130 steel connector was used and bolted in place as per the other "T". The front vertical spar is angled forward such that it crosses the the upper fuselage longeron at a distance of about 24" infront of the the rear spar. The "nose" of the vertical stabilizer was covered in solid white styrofoam . It is located in line with the junction of the front of the horizontal stabilizer and the front of the vertical stabilizer. The front of the vertical stabilizer and the front vertical spar are parallel to each other. The join with the fuselage was swept forward, (like the Cessna l80.) The vertical stabilizer was covered with 1 layer of regular marine fibreglass and epoxy.The front vertical spar was continued upward 10 " above the horizontal stabilizer and then rounded on the top 3.5" radius. This provided space for a rudder horn about 10" long and 3.5" high The rudder is 51.5" high and has a constant 15" cord. The elevator cables in the fuselage fit to a horn in the rear of the fuselage. The horn is connected to a 4130 steel tube up to another lever that is connected to the elevator. There is lead weighted balance arm also connected to this lower horn for mass ballance purposes. The rudder horn contains sufficient space for the location of an electrically driven rudder trim tab. There is a strobe unit mounted on the top of the vertical stabilizer just in front of the rudder horn. It is made out of a baby food jar. The rudder is solid white foam filled with one layer of fibreglass. The cord of the elevator has been increased by about 3.5". The side surfaces of the vertical stabilizer are covered with 1/8" birch plywood. This makes the vertical stabilizer the strongest part of the plane. I did not have any thinner birch plywood than the 1/8" or I would have used it. A fibreglass cover is fitted to the front top of the vertical stabilizer for access to the stroe light. A fibreglass cover fits on the top of the rudder horn for access to the electric trim tab on the rudder. There is an electric trim on the elevator. I am sorry for the lengthy description , a few pictures would have saved a lot of time. Regards Harold Woods Orillia,ON.Canada haroldwoods@rogers ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 18:01:06 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) From: "Dan Heath" Subject: KR> Larry Wayne Williams To: Message-ID: <42891822.000003.00248@DANHOMECOMPUTER> Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Wayne, please e-mail to me off net. DanRH@AllTel.net I lost your e-mail address. See you in Mt. Vernon - 2005 - KR Gathering See N64KR at http://KR-Builder.org - Then click on the pics There is a time for building and a time for FLYING and the time for building has expired. Daniel R. Heath - Columbia, SC ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 21:50:46 -0500 From: "Mark Langford" Subject: KR> taxi testing? To: "KRnet" Message-ID: <000a01c55a8b$39c4f410$2802a8c0@2600xp> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" KRnetHeads, I've already made a lot of friends out at MDQ. Chris, the A&P that held the flashlight for me last night while we installed the wings, dropped by every half hour or so to see if I needed a hand, and a new guy came by and pretty much made a day of it, helping me remove the wings again so I could route the cables around the pullies at the roots. I'd forgotten to do that last night in all the excitement. They not only bought me a BBQ lunch, but "flew" to get it and insisted that I stay and keep rigging the controls so I could taxi test before quitting time. They bought lunch because I was the "entertainment" for the day. Everybody there loves the Corvair, based on sound alone, and nobody's actually seen it yet! There's a picture that my 10 year old daughter took at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/05051642m.jpg . I need a little advice here. I got the controls rigged and did about 10 runs down the runway today, and fortunately only almost lost it once. I think I had one wheel off the runway completely (it's "only" 100' wide). The last two runs I just gave it a good bit of throttle and got the tail up immediately, and then backed it down to slightly above idle to keep it up 3/4 of the way down. Towards the end I'd slow it down enough to let the tail drop, and at that point it got real interesting, but I maintained control. My Flight Advisor guy said he wouldn't do high speed tests at all...his theory being that it's way too dangerious to go through that transition period repeatedly, when I could be flying it for an hour between each of these flirts with disaster. But I definitely got better as the day went on. The thing taxis great. At one point the tailwheel quit working, so steering became a real problem. I parked it and took a look back in the fuselage and found the cable lying loose on the floor, with no evidence of there ever having been a nut on the connection, much less a cotter pin. The other side had no cotter pin either, so I remedied that and went back to the runway for more. At one point Chris and Mike appeared with scissors saying "4:19 PM, first flight...let's have that T-shirt". I don't know that I was flying, but I wouldn't be surprised. About two more days of this and I might start thinking "if I've survived this many runs, I could probably take off and land it". Anyway, what do y'all KR taildragger pilots think I should be doing to prepare myself for first flight? Is tail up all the way down the thing to do, or maybe up and down and up and down would be better... Thanks, Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see homebuilt airplane at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 23:08:14 -0400 From: "Brian Kraut" Subject: RE: KR> taxi testing? To: "KRnet" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" My opinion is that up and down just increases your chances of ground looping before you completely get the hang of it. Just keeping the tail up the length of the runway gives you enough bobbles, undercontrolling, and overcontrolling to get used to the plane and be able to reach that zen moment where you and the plane become one without the added risk of repeatedly bringing the tail up and down. I also found that the most dangerous time during tail up runs is when you throttle back and get the tail back down. That is when the torque of the engine goes away and you veer off to the side if you were not on the rudder pedals as you brought the throttle back. Best to get some long easy runs to get used to things and only have to put the tail down once each run, at least until you get more proficient. I also liked the idea of getting the tail down and getting things slowed down a considerable distance before those runway lights at the end. Saved my bacon the time when my rudder pedal snapped completely off and I had no brakes. I do agree that high speed runs before your first flight is a good idea. My zillion hour flight instructor in the Citabria also tought me that way for hours before he let me attempt my first landing. Just my humble opinion. Do get things slowed up and under control long before the end of the runway. You already know how things that were just perfect can break at any time. Also remember that if you need to throttle back fast for some reason to get right on the ruder pedals. Brian Kraut Engineering Alternatives, Inc. www.engalt.com -----Original Message----- From: krnet-bounces@mylist.net [mailto:krnet-bounces@mylist.net]On Behalf Of Mark Langford Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 10:51 PM To: KRnet Subject: KR> taxi testing? KRnetHeads, I've already made a lot of friends out at MDQ. Chris, the A&P that held the flashlight for me last night while we installed the wings, dropped by every half hour or so to see if I needed a hand, and a new guy came by and pretty much made a day of it, helping me remove the wings again so I could route the cables around the pullies at the roots. I'd forgotten to do that last night in all the excitement. They not only bought me a BBQ lunch, but "flew" to get it and insisted that I stay and keep rigging the controls so I could taxi test before quitting time. They bought lunch because I was the "entertainment" for the day. Everybody there loves the Corvair, based on sound alone, and nobody's actually seen it yet! There's a picture that my 10 year old daughter took at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/05051642m.jpg . I need a little advice here. I got the controls rigged and did about 10 runs down the runway today, and fortunately only almost lost it once. I think I had one wheel off the runway completely (it's "only" 100' wide). The last two runs I just gave it a good bit of throttle and got the tail up immediately, and then backed it down to slightly above idle to keep it up 3/4 of the way down. Towards the end I'd slow it down enough to let the tail drop, and at that point it got real interesting, but I maintained control. My Flight Advisor guy said he wouldn't do high speed tests at all...his theory being that it's way too dangerious to go through that transition period repeatedly, when I could be flying it for an hour between each of these flirts with disaster. But I definitely got better as the day went on. The thing taxis great. At one point the tailwheel quit working, so steering became a real problem. I parked it and took a look back in the fuselage and found the cable lying loose on the floor, with no evidence of there ever having been a nut on the connection, much less a cotter pin. The other side had no cotter pin either, so I remedied that and went back to the runway for more. At one point Chris and Mike appeared with scissors saying "4:19 PM, first flight...let's have that T-shirt". I don't know that I was flying, but I wouldn't be surprised. About two more days of this and I might start thinking "if I've survived this many runs, I could probably take off and land it". Anyway, what do y'all KR taildragger pilots think I should be doing to prepare myself for first flight? Is tail up all the way down the thing to do, or maybe up and down and up and down would be better... Thanks, Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see homebuilt airplane at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave@mylist.net please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 23:43:48 -0400 From: JAMES C FERRIS Subject: Re: KR> taxi testing? To: krnet@mylist.net Message-ID: <20050516.234349.2012.0.mijnil@juno.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I think you need to get a new flight advisor. The big mistake I made is to stop building my KR-1 back in 1970, it was coming along good but some of my flight advisors advised that i would kill myself in it because it would be too sensitive in pitch. But i read in 2005 of this guy on KR-net that had been flying his for more than 20 years and it shows him upside down in it, but he said he taxied it for 10 hours before he flew it because of the pitch. So keep on taxing it until you get used to it before you fly it. Just think of all the fun I could have had if I had not listened to my flight advisors, man, 35 years in a KR. Jim Sanford Fl. On Mon, 16 May 2005 21:50:46 -0500 "Mark Langford" writes: > KRnetHeads, > > I've already made a lot of friends out at MDQ. Chris, the A&P that > held the > flashlight for me last night while we installed the wings, dropped > by every > half hour or so to see if I needed a hand, and a new guy came by and > pretty > much made a day of it, helping me remove the wings again so I could > route > the cables around the pullies at the roots. I'd forgotten to do > that last > night in all the excitement. They not only bought me a BBQ lunch, > but > "flew" to get it and insisted that I stay and keep rigging the > controls so I > could taxi test before quitting time. They bought lunch because I > was the > "entertainment" for the day. Everybody there loves the Corvair, > based on > sound alone, and nobody's actually seen it yet! There's a picture > that my > 10 year old daughter took at > http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/05051642m.jpg > . > > I need a little advice here. I got the controls rigged and did > about 10 > runs down the runway today, and fortunately only almost lost it > once. I > think I had one wheel off the runway completely (it's "only" 100' > wide). > The last two runs I just gave it a good bit of throttle and got the > tail up > immediately, and then backed it down to slightly above idle to keep > it up > 3/4 of the way down. Towards the end I'd slow it down enough to let > the > tail drop, and at that point it got real interesting, but I > maintained > control. > > My Flight Advisor guy said he wouldn't do high speed tests at > all...his > theory being that it's way too dangerious to go through that > transition > period repeatedly, when I could be flying it for an hour between > each of > these flirts with disaster. But I definitely got better as the day > went on. > The thing taxis great. At one point the tailwheel quit working, so > steering > became a real problem. I parked it and took a look back in the > fuselage and > found the cable lying loose on the floor, with no evidence of there > ever > having been a nut on the connection, much less a cotter pin. The > other side > had no cotter pin either, so I remedied that and went back to the > runway for > more. > > At one point Chris and Mike appeared with scissors saying "4:19 PM, > first > flight...let's have that T-shirt". I don't know that I was flying, > but I > wouldn't be surprised. About two more days of this and I might > start > thinking "if I've survived this many runs, I could probably take off > and > land it". Anyway, what do y'all KR taildragger pilots think I > should be > doing to prepare myself for first flight? Is tail up all the way > down the > thing to do, or maybe up and down and up and down would be > better... > > Thanks, > > Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama > see homebuilt airplane at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to > N56ML "at" hiwaay.net > > > > _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at > http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave@mylist.net > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > > ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ See KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html End of KRnet Digest, Vol 347, Issue 198 *************************************** ================================== ABC Amber Outlook Converter v4.20 Trial version ==================================