KR> Learnings from My First Flight
I promised some feedback after I digested my first few flights so here is what I have to offer. Please take it for what it costs you; just the time to read it. I'm open for clarifications or, as noted below, a good critique. 1. Don't underestimate the value of a long runway for your taxi tests. I figured I could get the information and testing I needed with my 2000' grass strip. That helped but it proved to be not enough data for me. I did get the engine running well & the alignment of the nose gear figured out. That's great but as several of you have mentioned the value of the crow hops and re-lands was helpful. I didn't get that benefit and, after 2 takeoffs at McMinnville (MMV), I still had some PIO and resulting pucker. I think more runs, both up and down a longer runway and crow hops might have allowed me to "hop up" and let back down right away. That might have stabilized my first takeoff. 2. About the PIO and center stick; I figured I could rest or at least stabilize my arm by holding my elbow against the outside of my thigh. That didn't work well when close to the ground. 10' - 30' vertical excursions 1000' off the ground aren't any deal at all. Close to the runway it's another matter, right? "Luckily" for me, nobody was running a video camera of my first attempts. I'm sure it would have been very enlightening but probably a little concerning as well. At least it looked a little dicey from inside the cockpit. So I've made a wooden box-type arm rest that I'll install prior to another flight. Maybe everyone doesn't, but I guess I need that help. 3. If you can have someone trusted fly alongside your first flights, it was a comforting feeling knowing I had eyes outside the airplane. It's nice to know there isn't oil leaking out, parts flapping around or whatever. It's also quite nice to have someone on the ground when you do make your first landing. I enjoy a good, honest critique especially when their efforts help you realize you really did float the first 1500' of the runway and it DID look like you were going pretty fast on short final. The airplane wouldn't have dropped out of the sky and I put a little too much credibility in the numbers shown on my Dynon & backed up by the "steam gauge." They agreed and, according to the manometer, they didn't leak. That still doesn't mean they are accurate. 4. MORE SLOW FLIGHT. My flight test plan, derived from Rick Junkin & Zipper Goodman (where is Dave anyway?), said the first 2 flights are all about getting confidence in the engine running and the controls moving the airframe appropriately. Yes, the engine ran and runs just fine. The stick and rudder make the airplane move in the right directions. Ok that's fine. Flying slow is how we have safer landings. I know the first flights aren't to set the record for how a stall series will be documented. Dang nabbit, ENOUGH SLOW FLIGHT just didn't happen on my first 3 flights and as a result I don't have the confidence to know how it performs when going slow, especially when close to the ground (see #2 above!) I promise to myself to figure that out on the next 3 flights. 5. I would loved to flown in a KR2 prior to my first flight (maybe with somebody at a Gathering.) I'm 6'2' & 205# and just too big to get a ride, I guess. Knowing what I know now, I would even have paid for a commercial flight to visit the location of a willing KR-tutor. I thank my neighbors, especially the 1.7 hours I got in Jerry VansGrunven's RV12, N612RV. We pretended I couldn't see the instruments and he made me fly it by how it felt. Now after 1.7 hours in N5391M I realize the RV12 doesn't feel anything like the KR. That's ok; it still feels different than the 800-some hours in my Cardinal and that was a big help. That's enough rambling from me. I hope this might help somebody getting ready for THEIR first flight. Cheers. John Bouyea N5391M/ KR2 OR81/ Hillsboro, OR
KR> Brake fluids/brake lines
Hi Chris, Thanks for the feedback. I wouldn't use DOT 5, but it is approved by some of the manufacturers, and I have seen it used successfully on a Long-eze. His concern was about flammability of MIL-5606, so he switched to DOT 5. As far as I know, he didn't have any issues, but I've lost track of the plane long ago now, so I was only able to track if for a couple of years after he switched. This does bring up another point as long as we are talking about brakes, and that is the issue of the plastic based brake lines and brake heat. If you run the nylaflow/nyloseal/nylon/plastic brake lines all the way to the brakes, they may be exposed to a lot of heat, especially if you have wheel fairings as they interfere with brake cooling. I have seen two failures of the plastic brake lines due to brake heat. One was a simple rupture and loss of both brakes at low speed. The other was a rupture and ensuing fire causing complete destruction of the aircraft after the MIL-5606 fluid sprayed onto the hot brakes. I made a transition from from the soft brake lines to aluminum lines at the lower gear leg outside of the wheel pants. Others may have other solutions, but it is something to ponder when designing your brake lines. Best regards, -Jeff Scott > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 5:12 AM > From: "Chris Kinnaman via KRnet" > To: krnet at list.krnet.org > Subject: Re: KR> Brake use of loctite Or teflon tape. > > I've never had good results with DOT-5 silicone-based brake fluid in any > ground vehicles. Maybe seals in A/C brake systems are compatible with > it, but in the (one each) motorcycle and car I used it in, the seals > dragged which in turn caused the pads to drag on the disks. Aircraft > brakes are not too good at "bouncing" the pads off the disks during > rotation, the way it works on ground vehicles, to begin with. The pedal > height / lever travel was inconsistent too, no doubt due to the pistons > in the master & slave cyls sitting in varying positions after letting > off pressure on the lever. When I used it the systems were flushed, > disassembled and dried before adding the DOT-5, so mixing of any amount > of DOT-3 and DOT-5 was not a factor. Likewise, when going back to DOT-3, > everything was flushed, disassembled, and dried. The seals were > undamaged and not replaced, and once DOT-3 was back in the system, > everything worked fine. This being said, I wouldn't use DOT-3 in an A/C > due to its eagerness to grab and retain moisture. > > Chris > > > On 11/11/2014 10:27 AM, Jeff Scott via KRnet wrote: > > If MIL-5606 Hydraulic is exceedingly expensive or difficult to get in > > Europe, DOT-5 Silicone based Brake Fluid is an acceptable replacement > > fluid. Just don't ever mix the two, and if you change from one to the > > other, the system has to be flushed clean. > > > > -Jeff Scott > > Los Alamos, NM
KR> Brake fluid
After saying be careful I realized I don't know if my cylinders and rakes use the same fluid...they came with the fuse when I bought it...the brakes are Tracy Obrien and I think the cylinders are Hegar. I asked both what fluid to use. https://sites.google.com/site/mykr2stretch/ https://sites.google.com/site/mykr2stretch/parts-for-sale On Nov 12, 2014 12:43 PM, "Garry C via KRnet" wrote: > Well this is just great, my. CFI told me to just go down to Sears and get > hydraulic jack oil and use that for brake fluid > > Sent from my iPhone > ___ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options >
KR> Brake fluid
Well this is just great, my. CFI told me to just go down to Sears and get hydraulic jack oil and use that for brake fluid Sent from my iPhone
KR> Brake fluids/brake lines
Mil-h-83282 is what I used for ground equipment as a maintainer. It is a synthetic substitute for 5606 and it works great.
KR> Brake fluids/brake lines
Here's what Grove Aircraft thinks about brake fluid alternatives... http://www.groveaircraft.com/fluid.html Mark Langford, Harvest, AL ML at N56ML.com www.N56ML.com
KR> Brake fluids/brake lines
Be careful substituting brake fluids. If a system is designed to take mil-h-5606 you typically can't use commercial aviation hydraulic fluid such as skydrol and vice versa because it will destroy the seals. If you are concerned with flammability of 5606, use the new synthetic replacement for 5606...mil-prf-87257...it is completely compatible with 5606. https://sites.google.com/site/mykr2stretch/ https://sites.google.com/site/mykr2stretch/parts-for-sale
KR> Spins
Great story. Spins are not approved for KR. I would never intentionally try either. Phil Matheson -- http://www.flyingmag.com/technique/accidents/aftermath-his-last-selfie Mike KSEE ___ Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options
KR> Website update
Thanks, Paul, I talked to you about it at the gathering but it helps to have the pictures and instructions, Larry Bell On Tue, Nov 11, 2014 at 4:02 PM, ppaulvsk at aol.com wrote: > I came across this website long time ago on how to finish your composite > surfaces for painting.http://curedcomposites.com/finish.html It > talks about applying micro to the whole surface then sand down with > different sanding board. > One thing that I would change is with the micro. After mixing a vary > stiff batch. Thin it down with MEK. Than add some more micro. Then thin > that down to a consistency of leveling compound. Poured on the surface and > help it level out. it takes longer for it to cure but after it does sand it > down. You come out with a perfectly flat surface or whatever kind of > surface you want. This is the way I did it on E4-B's in the Air Force. > > Paul Visk > Belleville Il > 618 406 4705 > > Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint! > > - Reply message - > From: "Lawrence Bell via KRnet" > Date: Tue, Nov 11, 2014 10:48 am > Subject: KR> Website update > To: "stefkr2 at kpnmail.nl" , "KRnet" < > krnet at list.krnet.org> > > Steph and Dad, > That's the first blow by blow I've seen on doing the finish, thank > you. I'm not sure about the auto filler, sounds heavy, but you did a > beautiful job. The best step I noticed was a complete cover of mocro > mixture. I have been doing it spot by spot and plan to change to your > system. > Thanks again, Larry Bell > > On Tue, Nov 11, 2014 at 8:07 AM, stefkr2--- via KRnet < > krnet at list.krnet.org> > wrote: > > > Hi kr-friends > > We did a update to our website. > > Now we need to finish everything inside so we can do a weight And > balance, > > then the engine. > > Stef > > > > > > -- > > Steph and his dad are building the KR-2S see > > http://www.masttotaalconcept.nl/kr2 > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > change > > options > > > ___ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options > ___ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options >
KR> Brake use of loctite Or teflon tape.
I've never had good results with DOT-5 silicone-based brake fluid in any ground vehicles. Maybe seals in A/C brake systems are compatible with it, but in the (one each) motorcycle and car I used it in, the seals dragged which in turn caused the pads to drag on the disks. Aircraft brakes are not too good at "bouncing" the pads off the disks during rotation, the way it works on ground vehicles, to begin with. The pedal height / lever travel was inconsistent too, no doubt due to the pistons in the master & slave cyls sitting in varying positions after letting off pressure on the lever. When I used it the systems were flushed, disassembled and dried before adding the DOT-5, so mixing of any amount of DOT-3 and DOT-5 was not a factor. Likewise, when going back to DOT-3, everything was flushed, disassembled, and dried. The seals were undamaged and not replaced, and once DOT-3 was back in the system, everything worked fine. This being said, I wouldn't use DOT-3 in an A/C due to its eagerness to grab and retain moisture. Chris On 11/11/2014 10:27 AM, Jeff Scott via KRnet wrote: > If MIL-5606 Hydraulic is exceedingly expensive or difficult to get in Europe, > DOT-5 Silicone based Brake Fluid is an acceptable replacement fluid. Just > don't ever mix the two, and if you change from one to the other, the system > has to be flushed clean. > > -Jeff Scott > Los Alamos, NM > > >> Stef wrote: >> Can one of you tell me can I use on the fitting to the cylinder teflon >> tape Or do we need loctite...and what kind of loctite do I need. We have >> Matco brake cylinders. And the oil, can we use normaal car stuff dot4?<< >> >> I think best practice is to use something like Henkel/Loctite 567 thread >> sealant for tapered hydraulic fittings, and it also works for fuel and oil >> connections. MIL-H-5606 hydraulic oil is what most aircraft use for brake >> fluid, and I'm pretty sure that applies to Matco as well. Aircraft Spruce >> sells it, and I'm sure it's also available in Europe. Dot 4 fluid isn't >> compatible with the types of seal material used for the MIL-H-5606. See >> http://www.kilohotel.com/rv8/article.php?story=20080525201121619&mode=print >> for more on that...which involves swapping out the seals, but it's >> possible... >> -- >> Mark Langford >> ML at N56ML.com >> http://www.n56ml.com > ___ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options > >
