As you know, we can use all the range here in the US, at least now we can. However, I think it has become an accepted standard that only the aft 2" are to be used. I hope everyone knows that. It is dangerous back there.
I concluded my weight testing today and got up to 130# in the passenger seat with 15 gallons of fuel. That took me to about 1160 # gross weight. I determined it to be un-safe at that point and for now have set the Gross Weight at 1145# which puts the CG at almost 1" aft of center. It is not the weight that is the problem, but I think it is that I have full spar span wing tanks and the fuel can move too far aft, so even though the CG shows it safe, in flare, it really goes more aft than can be calculated. I strongly recommend keeping the tanks narrow as you suggest and as I know Larry F. has done. In fact, I recommend it so strongly that I expect one day to re-build my tanks to about 10" wide. I think I can do that and keep flying, by doing one tank at a time. I have to think on that for a while, cause I don't know how much affect having one wing that much more heavy than the other will be. Even at 1160# this KR2 has no problem with take off or cruise or climb. It is almost like the extra weight is not there, but landings are a different story. I have to come in way too fast for comfort and if I don't do it exactly right, I am afraid that I would destroy my plane. So, for now, the gross weight is 1145# and that was at 16 gallons with 110# in the right seat. I think the plane needs flaps, but I want to confer with other builders like Jeff Scott, at the Gathering this year, before thinking about that any further. See N64KR at http://KRBuilder.org - Then click on the pics See you at the 2012 - KR Gathering in Mt. Vernon, Il MVN 40th Anniversary There is a time for building and it is over. Daniel R. Heath - Lexington, SC http://www.krbuilder.org/MyUSA/ -----Original Message----- wing tanks extend 11 inched behind the main spar and out two bays. In Australia we are NOT allowed to use the rear 2 inches of the plans range.
