RANDY POWELL wrote: > Having read through the archives researching the fuselage length for a KR2S it would seem that the consensus is to add two inches in front of the front spar and 14 inches behind the rear spar. Is this still the generally agreed way to go?<
What you are describing is the difference in the KR2 and the KR2S. Adding another bay to the tail will get you another 14", and the only guy I know that is flying one similar to that is Larry Flesner, and his is still not as long as what you are talking about (24" more than the KR2 plans, if I remember correctly). Others are building that way though, so there should be data points in the future. The KR2S is really long enough like it is, but there's probably nothing wrong with adding another bay other than it will lower your fuselage angle on the gear, increase your wetted area, and weigh a little more. Larry has taller gear, so he's compensated for the 3 point attitude of the fuselage and then some. I would be careful about adding 2 more inches in front of the main spar, especially if you are planning on using a heavy engine like a Corvair or O-200, because that will move your engine out 2" farther also, and you may need to add weight to your tail. I'm a light pilot with lead in my tail already (in the form of a battery and elevator counterweight) and my engine is within 3/8" of the firewall, and my CG is close to the forward limit with me flying it. If I added 2" to the engine mount, I'd certainly be looking at some more lead in the tail. So consider your leg length before you just go ahead and do that. Ed Blocher added 4" to his, and he was a short guy with a Corvair engine! Just don't make that mistake, unless you're a heavy pilot and plan to use wing tanks with no header tank (which is also what I have). As for longer horizontal stabilizer, I can't testify as to whether the extra foot of length (6" on each end) makes much of a difference, but I can tell you that it works fine that way. Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net --------------------------------------------------------------
