If you're not comfortable with flying at 1200# to start with, work your way up to it using 20 or 25# increments. Doesn't matter what you use for weight as long as you can secure it. I would suggest duct taping whatever ballast you use inside a trash bag, then strapping it into the seat belt or place part of it on the floor in front of the front spar. You'll find that CG is much more important to the way the plane flies than the gross weight, so pay very close attention to your CG. You also want to test as much of your CG range at gross weight as is reasonable to do. Start out with the CG forward, then work your way back incrementally. Depending on what your tail configuration is, you'll find the elevator will start getting a bit more sensitive as the CG creeps back. Don't go beyond your comfort level. That would establish the most aft CG you are willing to fly. I will tell you that while the plane is a tad bit more sluggish getting off the ground and climbing at 1200# gross, it still flies quite well. By sluggish getting off the runway and in climb, that is only in comparison to my KR flying at a lighter weight. Keep in mind that I am starting out above 7000' and 1200# and still out climb my next door neighbor's SR-20 Cirrus and most of the Mooneys on the field.
FWIW, my O-200 powered KR seems to match up very nicely with the SR-20. If we are both running full throttle, I climb a bit better than him, but we are just about a dead even match at cruise. Jeff Scott Los Alamos, NM ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Heath Sent: 02/12/12 06:05 AM To: 'KRnet' Subject: KR> Weight Testing I believe that to satisfy your gross weight, you must test the plane to that gross weight along with a W&B of the plane at the time of the test. I still need to test my plane to the 1200 # gross weight that I have arbitrarily set for it. I tried to go to the EAA site for help, but they have so many log ins for so many different parts of the web site that I could not find anything. So my question to all you who are currently flying your KR and have established your Gross Weight, how did you test for that weight? I think it is a very scary thing to fill your cabin with heavy junk, so I know there must be a safe way, but I have never heard it discussed. See N64KR at <http://krbuilder.org/> http://KRBuilder.org - Then click on the pics See you at the 2012 - KR Gathering in Mt. Vernon, Il - MVN - 40th Anniversary There is a time for building and it is over. Daniel R. Heath - Lexington, SC _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://mylist.net/private/krnet/ to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@mylist.net please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
