Can I say something here as a new to the KR airplane guy? I agree that workmanship needs to be better than average, but every KR I see listed on the KR website has been "experimented" with beyond what Ken Rand designed. Whether it was materials, or playing with the design, I can't find ONE that was built to the original prints, Mark Langfords included. We have played with engines, we use fiberglass instead of Dynel, we make them wider, longer taller, and WAY HEAVIER that the original. WE ARE ALL EXPERIMENTERS tweeking a great airplane to fit us, our pocketbooks, our ego's, our flying style, you name it. So a comment about doing whatever we feel like seems very inappropriate.
If a builders feels the need to substitute a material based on availability and has tested to ANC-18 standards and believes he has a product worthy and safe to use than that is HIS (or her) decision. After all they are the ones who ultimately must trust this aircraft to support them. Now if there is anyone out there that actually has a built exactly to the plans KR I would surely like to see it. I've yet to see any homebuilt built exactly to the plans in the umpteen years I've been in this. Point is we are not Cessna nor do we want to be. We are those magnificent men and there flying machines that WE built. Period! Fred Johnson Product Manager T.E. West, LLC. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 11:46 AM To: [email protected] Subject: KR> COMMON BUILDING PRACTICES My friend Larry makes some very good points. "experimental" does not mean do whatever you feel like. It means apply rigorous research and testing to your original work so that it is safe and exceeds identifiable standards of construction. If you are not willing to do that research and testing and defend your work as worthy, then stick to the proven plans for all our sakes. I love to experiment in the true sense of the word to try and prove the applicability of something new. Without the proof it is worthless. For an example of such testing and proof look at Langford's work. If you can meet those types of standards, experiment away and we will all learn from it. Bob Polgreen Boat and Parts Nowthen MN _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
