AIRPLANE ‑KR‑

The tail rose gently as speed increased, and after around 900 feet I was airborne at 45 knots and accelerating nicely. The removable wings have twin built-up spruce spars and foam ribs, as do the empennage and control surfaces.Many builders spend months filling and sanding the glass to remove undulations and even the tiniest of corrugations.

“Except for going too fast, the KR already meets every other LSA requirement. A higher canopy would have made it much less demanding, but you will be hard-pressed to find a sleeker or faster two-place airplane on Volkswagen power.Complete airframe kits, subkits and plans are available from nVAero, 800/515-4811, Like the popular Volkswagen slogan used to recommend: Think small.nVAero’s Steve Glover has big ideas going forward with the KR series.It’s been said that a good kit airplane never really dies. The KR-2S will accommodate engines including VW 2180, Pre-molded parts greatly speed construction time (approximately 800 hours) A well-proven design with hundreds currently flying!Fixed tricycle or conventional landing gear option.16" longer than standard KR-2, it adds additional leg and head room.

Nevertheless, a few years ago, one British couple did fly their KR-2 the 12,000 miles all the way from England to Australia, a truly impressive undertaking!A 2074cc VW engine is more than up to the task of powering the lightweight KR-2.A subsequent development was the KR-2S with a 16-inch fuselage extension, 2.5 feet more wingspan and a new, 3 inch higher canopy, all of which must make a huge improvement in runway performance, forward visibility and handling, along with increasing the weight and probably reducing top speed a little.Some later examples have a wider cockpit and/or additional wing tanks, and there are a few with fixed and/or nosewheel landing gear. The KR-2S is the latest KR in the fleet. Finally, at 38 knots, the stall warning sounded, and at 37 the nose gently nodded away.

First, you pull on the upper toggle to withdraw the locking pins via cables, though Buzza suggested it would be easier to press down on the mechanism’s upper knuckle.

This made it a little more difficult to accurately hold the airspeed back, but of course that was preferable to the speed decaying if I was distracted.Back in the traffic pattern, I followed Buzza’s advice, reducing airspeed early to enter downwind at 80 knots.

The tail dropped almost immediately, and I overcorrected for the tiniest tendency to veer right, promptly finding myself working the pedals to stay within reach of the centerline. I’d have to rely to some extent on peripheral vision while the tail was down on the runway.

Most will have a higher canopy than the one I flew, so their forward visibility would be better (possibly much better). (VWs rotate opposite to Lycomings and Continentals). K-R Aircraft Inc. has established a worldwide network of associates to assist us and our customers in the acquisition, selling and evaluating of aircraft.

That was 144 knots true airspeed (KTAS). “We have molds for all of the original RAF 48 wing skins, we have the turtledeck, 11 different cowlings for different engine configurations, and the forward canopy frame on the 2 and 2S,” Glover said. He introduced a similar modeling style—low cost and quickbuild techniques—to amateur aircraft construction, claiming that his airplane would be easy for the new builder and would require a minimum of workspace, tools and skills. New airfoils have also been developed, claiming 10 knots more top speed, better climb performance and improved low-speed handling.The VW engine purrs thanks to a full-width muffler under the cowl.To sample the KR-2, you step up a mere 6 inches onto the small wing walkway, then down into the cockpit.

I optimized my seating position with conformal foam cushions, so this was the best I could do, with my head hard up against that tapered canopy, leaning slightly inboard.The engine runup was straightforward, and the electronic ignition was indistinguishable from the magneto, with similar rpm drops. But a glance at the vertical-speed indicator (VSI) revealed a trap. An interview with Andy Chiavetta of Aerochia Aircraft Performance and Racing. However, the KR-2 does have comparatively impressive cruise performance with low fuel consumption.

California residents add 7.75% sales tax. Since 1995 we have listed thousands of airplanes for sale, private jets for sale, piston aircraft for sale, helicopters, experimental, Light sport, commercial, turboprop aircraft and Amphibian planes. This one is typical, and weighs 632 pounds empty. Buzza suggested I first try a few high-speed runs to get the feel of the short-coupled airplane. The only factor of note was a slightly increased requirement for stick backpressure when the wheels were extended (as you would expect from their position). Completely closing the throttle caused a slight pitch-down, and the speed was slow to decay, but it gradually unwound through 60, 50 and 40 knots, at which point a slight trembling buffet started in the airframe.