----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Higdon" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 3:45 PM Subject: KR>Retratcs or not
> Ed, The reason I was attracted to the KR-1 and later the KR-2 was The Retracting > Gear. My KR-1 Plans are one of Kens first ones (SN 69). When I get a chance to > start on one It'll be a retract version. > Bill Higdon > Ed Janssen wrote > "Russ, > > Yes, there have been many different "improved" versions of positive lock > systems devised for the up and down positions for the retracts. Most I've > seen over the years worked pretty good, although some were a bit complicated > to operate. Quite a few designs are discussed in the archives - you may > want to check them out. > > Being one of the KR "old timers", I personally prefer the looks of the KR > with the wheels retracted (especially Don Betchan's KR-2's highly modified > retracts that completely hide out within the wings and really give the plane > a sleek appearance), although the tires stick out of the bottom of the wing > a couple inches or so in the original design. Conventional (fixed) gear > allows a bit longer prop to be used if needed, depending on the engine > configuration. The shorter retracts haven't proved to be the best choice > for rough fields either, as the plane will ride just inches from the grass. > > Most KRs you'll see these days will have the fixed gear option, which has > proven to be probably the best overall configuration with regard to safety > and simplicity. Dan Diehl converted his tailwheel KR-2 to fixed gear in > "one long weekend", he's stated, but most guys will no doubt take much > longer to do the job. > > Ed Janssen" > > > > > _______________________________________________ > see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html >
