I have a copy of KR-1 plans book dated 1972. On the cover, it lists: length - 12' 6" span - 17' 2" empty wgt - 310 lbs gross wgt - 600 lbs engine - 36 hp VW (you're right Virg, 1200cc) fuel capacity 7.5 gals top speed 140 mph cruise speed 130 mph stall speed 42 mph
The plans also show single mag ignition, alternator and PTT switch, no starter, basic instruments and sling seat. The key to the KR-1 is building it simple and light. Adding length and width will add weight, which will adversely affect performance. Having said that, concerning the 1600 cc VW, there was a category of racers that competed using the 1600, the 2 best examples being the Monnett Sonerai I and the Steve Wittman designed V-Witt, both which cruised at 150mph, climbed at 1,000 fpm and had empty weights of 430-440 lbs and gross wgt of 700 lbs, numbers significantly higher than the KR-1. They also list takeoff distances of 600ft and 800ft respectively. My instructor taught me to multiply takeoff distances by 3 for a safety factor when determining which strips to use, so even with the V-Witt, 2400 feet is plenty. One could argue that since the KR-1 is lighter, the composite surfaces smoother than fabric and metal used in the other 2 planes, and already demonstrated similar performance on LESS power, the 1600 cc should be enough power for the KR-1. I would also recommend finding out which prop size was used on the racers and use it also. By the way, the current world record holder for endurance in the under 660 lb gross wgt class built a plane using the same techniques and materials and is virtually a copy size-wise as the original KR-1 specs listed above, and used a 2cyl 36hp engine to travel 1675 miles in a closed circuit without landing in 15 hours 11 min on 20 gals of fuel in 1988. He won the FAI Bleroit medal. (CONTACT Magazine Issue #76) Sometimes more hp isn't the only way to achieve a goal - keep it simple, strong and safe, and add lightness, is a good credo for KR's. VIRGIL N SALISBURY <virg...@juno.com> wrote: Ken flew a 1200 cc, Virg On Sat, 3 Dec 2005 07:36:04 -0600 "Mark Langford" writes: > G.V. Strutt wrote: > > >I would like to know what the average pilot size is for the KR1 . > > Can a KR1 be made to fit a pilot of the following dimensions: > > 6 foot 3 inches, weight 205 Pounds. > > cockpit width required is 24 inches. > > KR1 to be fitted with 1600 vw engine. > > You can certainly build a KR1 to fit just your body, by simply > expanding the > dimensions given on the plans to fit yourself. That'll require > more > thought, but it shouldn't be that much more effort, considering how > skimpy > the plans are to start with. Just keep in mind that the plans were > designed > for a guy that was something like 5'-4" and maybe 140 pounds, and he > didn't > leave any extra room anywhere. I should qualify that with the fact > that > I've never built a KR1, but I have modified a KR2S in a manner > similar to > what you're talking about. > > As far as the 1600cc engine goes, I'll bet 98% of the folks on this > list > shudder at the thought of flying behind a 1600cc VW engine. The > power level > is just too far down there for any kind of decent climb performance. > No > doubt it could be done, however. And 1600cc engines often don't > have the > larger "Force One" main bearing at the prop end, as done by Great > Plains. > If you're going to the trouble of machining the case for the larger > bearing, > you might as well make it an 1835cc engine, which itself isn't a > stellar > performer either. Several folks are replacing 1835cc engines with > Corvairs, > so it may be that you could pick one up for relatively cheap. But I > think > you COULD build a KR1 to fit you that was powered with a 1600cc > engine, but > I'd be willing to bet it wouldn't be long after you started flying > it before > you'd be looking at other engine options. That's just my opinion, > based on > comments over the years from pilots who've flown 1835's. I'm not > sure I > know of anybody actually flying a 1600cc engine, if that gives you a > clue... > > Mark Langford, Harvest, AL > see homebuilt airplane at http://www.N56ML.com > 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-le...@mylist.net > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > > Virgil N. Salisbury - AMSOIL www.lubedealer.com/salisbury Miami ,Fl _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@mylist.net please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html Tim Hoversten Portage, WI timhovers...@yahoo.com --------------------------------- Yahoo! Shopping Find Great Deals on Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping
