"AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY" At the 2012 KR Gathering, you honored me with best paint, Best KR, & People's Choice Awards. I am very humbled by this and i appreciate all the votes & comments about how nice the KR (Russ's Baby) is. I told some of you just parts of the story of its history. It was not possiable to tell the whole story in a few minites after recieving the acclimation of the "Best KR and the 2012 Gathering. But now "The Rest of the Story" Construction began in 1973/74 after talking with Ken Rand and purchasing probably one of the first sets of KR-2 plans. 3 yrs later, June 1977, it was ready to fly. FAAsign off, A/W Certificate in hand, every nut and bolt in place, sitting on the end of a grass fieli in Greenville, Pa. N8227 was borne. What a joy it was to fly an aircraft that I built myself. I was 32 years old at the time, but God had other plans for my life. I went through a divorce, partly due to all the atttention & priority that I put on N8227. I parked the A/C and re-located in Springfield, MO in Aug 1977. My priorities had to change. Now i had the pleasure of raising my 2 wonderful children Dale age 6 and Dawn age 5 and starting a new business on a shoestring. Backing up a little bit to 1968, I made a decision to accept "Jesus Christ" as my Lord and Savior and was "born again" and surrendeded to whatever SHis will would be in my life, whatever that might be. I struggled with finances, emotions, and the business and there was just no time left over for the KR. SU re-married and Vivian became the mother of my children and did a wonderful job of being a wife and mother as I struggled wigh the business. As the kids grew and time went on I would get out N8227 "fire it up" and reminisce a little about just how great this litt A/C was and how much it changed my life. In 1987, I had a thriving business, a wonderfful wife and two great children. So I started to work on the KR again. Not wanting to make the same mistake again, I slowed down the re-build process and tried to gey my priorities straight. It was a complete rebuild fron the top longerons up, gull wing doors,rear window, new engine,instrements, panel,starter, Diehl Accessory case, new paint, ect. When i had the striping done, Vivian went behind my back and had the guy put "Russ's Baby" on the tail of N8227 thus "Russ's Baby" was born. I went to the 1992 KR Gathering in Covington, TN to show off my new A/C and even though it was not a "flying" A/C it was voted "Peoples Choice" award. I went home thinking I would be flying in a short time, but God had other plans. Vivian had a stroke so i had to rearrange my priorities again. Another stroke in '95 and again in '97 and a fatal strokke on Labor Day 1999. Meanwhile the KR Waited. I remarried in 2000 to another wonderful lady, Becky. Things were going along great, business was doing well, kids were married and on thier own and having childeren of thier own. In 2011, the KR Gathering at MVN was coming up and Becky and I attended bnd I was inspired to finish and fly "Russ's Baby" once again. The work began and one year later "Russ's Baby" had new Diehl wing skins, new outer spars, new carb and intake system and was ready to go. On Labor Day 9-3-12 "Russ's Baby" flew again exactly 13 yrs to the day after Vivian's fatal stroke and 35 yrs since its last flight. When Larry F gave special honor to the spouses at the 2012 Gathering I so much appreciated Becky for all her support. And to Vivian for naming my KR "Russ'S Baby". Every KR builder has someone special that has supported them and belived in them that they can do it. Through God's help and the talents that he alone can give. We must always remember that He can also take them away. I appreciate every vote that was made for "Peoples Choice 2010" But, "Russ's Baby" already had that honor in 1992, so I felt it needed to be passed on to someone more deserving than me. I am so thankful that Steve was able to walk away from his beautiful KR-1 in ABQ with no injury. God was with him and kept him safe for a purpose that we know not yet. I really believe that God puts us in a particular place, at a particular time, for a particular purpose, and thet is to "do His will" We as pilots take calculated risks. We weigh the weather, A/C performance, flight conditions, physical limitations and experience before every flight and accept those risks. Every time we push that throttle forward we know not what lies ahaea. (takeoff is optional but landing is mandatory) So lest use out talents that God gave us to build "Safety" into out little airplanes. I washumbled deeply by the awards showered on "Russ's Baby" God gives each one of us talents that we can use for His Glory. May God bless each KR builder and flyer out there so we can go forthe and do "His Will" to further the cause of Christ and to honor the memory of Ken Rand and his great inspiration and impact on our lives. And now you know "The Rest of the Story" Russ Barnett Ozark, MO
