After getting my license in C172's, I bought a Stinson 108-1 which I never really mastered before trading it for 80 acres of swamp in northern Minnesota (forty years later I sold the swamp for enough to cover my daughter's education). What I really wanted was a KRII. I located one in Fort Myers Florida and bought it, even though I lived in California. The seller, a former carrier pilot, agreed to "check me out" on the assumption that I already knew how to fly and had a conventional gear endorsement. As should be known, a KR is miserable at aft CG and both of us were pretty big guys. He could control her, I could not. Just before each of my touchdowns he would mutter "oh God", unaware I could hear him through the headsets. Having given me such confidence, he climbed out, saying " she's easier to fly solo...try it - good luck!" I immediately set out for home. Near Kissimmee the propeller spinner came off, biting a big chunk out of one of the prop blades. Reducing power allowed me to make a slow descent to a grass strip where I made the best landing of my life. Not really my first, but close enough. I was met on the field by a gyro copter guy name of Bud who loved the KR (she has this effect on people), took the prop off, took the prop and me home, planned the leading edge flat, and glued on a big chunk of mahogany. After feeding me dinner and giving me a bed for the night he planed the leading edge back to perfection, balanced it on a nail, put it on my little bird and sent us on our way. My second landing was a pretty good one at New Orleans lakefront till the ground controller asked me where I wished to go. Sitting on his runway, I didn't care and told him so. He again asked "where do you wish to go?" Getting the idea, I spied a Shell sign in the near distance and asked for permission to go there. He ok'd this with a chuckle and sent me to a biz-jet facility that had no use for small planes, nor did they sell gasoline. My third landing was at Denison Texas where a fascinated local took a roll of pictures, pumped a tank of gas and sent us on our way. Forth landing was at Winslow AZ where I tried to sleep under her wing (can't be done). Fifth landing was a poor one at San Carlos after a 750 mile flight, and sixth was at Samoa, a semi- abandoned field near home. There a local came out, loved the KR, ( she has this effect on people) and arranged for me to take over an unused hanger. Sorry this is so long, but someone might enjoy it. Maybe not.
Gary Sack, 81JM
-- KRnet mailing list KRnet@list.krnet.org https://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet
