Adam, I have my KR based at KLAM at an altitude of 7171' with density altitudes normally over 9000' and over 10,000' during the summer. I have an O-200 power plant, and Deihl Wings. I routinely cruise between 9500 and 12,500'. Climb performance is not a problem at 1200' gross, although it doesn't perform like the hot rod it is down near sea level. Initially, I flew out of KLAM for the first 350 hours behind a C-85. That was certainly adequate. Over the years, I have upgraded to an O-200 once the C-85 was run out, added flaps and a larger tail. I also use full sized 5:00x5 tires as a safety factor for the ground speed on landing, but that is probably not necessary as we have had Longezes based here using the 11:00x4x5 tires that didn't have any extraordinary tire issues. The additional wing area of the Diehl wings vs the original KR wing is certainly your friend at high altitude. If you're going to use the AS series plan form, I think it also calls for more wing area than the original wing, but hopefully one of the guys that built that wing will chime in and clarify that.
As a measure of performance, my KR is very much a one for one match with my neighbor's Cirrus SR-20. I have marginally better climb and he is about 2 knots faster than me. So, generally speaking, if Cirrus SR-20 or 200 HP Mooney can operate out of an airport, the KR will do just fine there as well. -Jeff Scott Los Alamos, NM ----- Original Message ----- From: Adam Day Sent: 05/21/12 10:52 PM To: [email protected] Subject: KR> density altitude Density altitude and high elevations I'm going to base my KR2-S at TRK with a field elevation of 5900 hot days giving a density altitude of over 9000 and then still needing to climb 2000 to 3000 feet to safely clear the mountains this is normal flying around here. My question is does any on here have a KR based at high altitude or frequently go above 10,000 feet ? and if so what engine are you using and how the plane handles, climb and cruise with a given prop? Adam Day
