I had a nice 63 mile cross country flight today after our hangar breakfast to a 3000 foot grass strip for a local EAA chapter fall picnic. 180 mph ground speed going out, 127 on the return. Great people and nice airplanes including a polished twin Beech and a turbine ag tractor. The local ag flier had laid 600 foot of asphalt on the hangar end of the strip and I was hoping to find out just what takeoff distance the KR could make. On my side was a 10 mph head wind and a -400 density altitude (cool fall temps). Full power, tail up, and it lifted off just as the wheels reached the end of the asphalt.
Back at my home airport I noticed when exiting the KR that my tailwheel was completely flat. Never a problem before today and I have no idea of the cause. Totally flat and I couldn't tell it on taxi. The tube looked scuffed but I relate that to the taxi in with a flat. I can only wonder if the cool temps lowered the pressure in the tiny tire to the point that maybe it spun on the rim on touch down. Other than that, not a clue. I had an extra tube and 30 minutes later I had the wheel remounted. I still love the pneumatic tail wheel over the old solid wheel. It is great. Larry Flesner
