(Written Friday PM - mail server down) Netters,
MY KR IS BACK IN THE AIR !!!!!!! Who says Friday the 13th is unlucky? Tank leak: I seem to have the leak fixed in the left tank. I took the wing home, cut open the bottom of the wing from the 48 inch rib to the 36 inch rib and 12 inches behind the forward spar. I then removed the foam and exposed the entire bottom of the tank. I ended up cutting out the bottom of the tank, doing some re-sealing work and then re-attaching the bottom. I replaced the removed foam, sanded to shape, glassed and finished the wing skin through primer. I also had a small area on the top of the wing I had to close back up and re-skin. It held gas for 2 hours with the tank bottom and one end exposed with no visible signs of dampness or leaks. That's when I drained the fuel and closed up the wing. I managed all this while going through a bout with the flu. Bed rest for a day, work on the wing for a couple of hours, back to bed for a day, work on the wing, bed rest, part time at the laundry, bed rest, work on the wing, and on and on. Prop: The 4 inches of pitch that Ed Sterba took off the prop seems to have made little if any difference. I'm still pulling about 2300 static and 2500 at flat out cruise. I'm not going to make any more changes to the prop at this time and get some hours on the engine. It is a high time engine and may be a bit weak. I don't want to take too much off the prop just in case. The prop is a 60" X 68" and was repitched to a 60" X 64". Speeds: I replaced my "KPH" ASI with a "SMPH" ASI. Flat out cruise I'm seeing between 150 and 160 depending on how straight and level I hold it and for how long. I'm tending not to do any long straight and level runs just yet, more turns, climbs, slow flight, etc. Also, I still don't have wheel pants on those 30" Diehl gear legs with the 600X6 wheels and brakes hanging out in the breese. At 2500? rpm I'm only pulling maybe 85 hp out of the engine also so I look to get another 10 mph or so at some point which should give me a strong 160mph+ cruise. Remember, I do have a big (and heavy) KR. Handling: I'm actually starting to move the control stick in flight now.:-) I'm getting more aggressive with ailerons, stick, and rudder and exploring some of the yet unknown areas of handling. I flew a bit deeper into the stall also and it is very gentle. On the first attempt the ASI was bouncing on the peg at 40MPH when I felt a slight buffeting (I think) and the left wing did a gentle drop of about 20 degrees. The KR was flying again as soon as I released back pressure. I flew right back into the second stall and this time the right wing dropped first, a little quicker and maybe to 30 degrees or so. Again the KR was flying as soon as I released back pressure. With it breaking left on the first stall and right on the second stall I'm inclined to think maybe I didn't have the ball centered either or both times. I'll try it again and watch for more clues. Slips: My first real surprise, and I must admit the first time I've puckered real hard and real quick, was when I tried a couple of slips. Holding about 80mph indicated I kicked some left wing down and right rudder for a side slip. At about 20 degrees wing down and 15+ degrees nose right the nose did a rather quick nose down pitch of about 20 degrees. (or so it felt) It caught me by surprise and I neutralized the controls. It came right out of the slip. I tried it again, not believing what just happened, and it did it again. Expecting it the second time, it felt to me as if at some point the elevator blanked out. Any of you guys flying "standard" KR's ever notice anything like that? I'll check it out further and keep you posted. I'll have to make sure I'm not doing something with the controls to cause it. Everything I've ever heard is that KR's slip like a dream. I'm glad I didn't try my first slip on a landing and close to the ground. It probably wouldn't have been a problem but I'll bet it woud have scared the @#$%^&* out of me! Problems? I noticed oil on the belly after the flight. I'm guessing it's coming from my oil quick drain which sticks out the bottom of my cowl about 1/2". I may put a solid plug in it tomorrow and see if that is where the oil is coming from or if I need to look further. Speed brake: I probably need to hook up some LED's or some kind of indicator for my speed brake. At least a full up and full down LED. Right now it's a bit of a guessing game. I have limit switches so I'm not loading it at either extreme but it would be nice to have an indicator. With 5 landings now I'm sure glad I installed it. It helps to stabilize the speed on landing and gives a bit better nose down pitch for visibility. I suspect it helps kill the float also but I have yet to try a landing not using it. Maybe tomorrow. Speaking of landings, this thing is AWSOME! We won't discuss the first land but the last four have been "squeakers". I probably shouldn't even call them "squeakers" as the tires never make a sound, they just start rolling. No bounce, no nothing. I just flare to a tail low attitude, I hold it off, and then the tires just start rolling. It touches down smoother then the Tripacer. Yes, I know, this will all change when I start flying with a bit of wind but for now it's making me feel like a real pilot. Final thought: My wife timed her visit to the airport perfectly today. She was out shoping and stopped by just as we were rolling the KR out to the apron. My friend Bill followed me up in the Tripacer with my wife flying right seat so she got to see the KR in flight. She couldn't get over how small it looked after seeing it in the garage for 13 years. Funny thing is the Olds looks bigger in the garage that on the driveway too. :-) I may try to get in some "fun flying" tomorrow (my 59th birthday) and then settle down to some serious testing with timed climbs and decents, speed brake numbers, etc. Larry - grinning from ear to ear - Flesner
