I think the original retracts had a coolness factor. and no other advantages plus all the disadvantages you mentioned. I do recall from reading newsletters 30 years ago that the unlocking and broken bolts issues are fixable, but you still have less ground clearance and more drag not to mention forgetting to lower the gear "those who havent, will".
(all that being said, because we ethnic Italian's tend to place form and beauty before function, I will likely try to incorporate retracts IF i ever get my project off the ground, so to speak) On Mon, Jan 21, 2019 at 2:26 PM Randall Smith via KRnet < [email protected]> wrote: > I know when I started flying my KR it had retractable gear after the third > time the gear unlock while I’m landing I decided to go with a fixed gear. I > actually picked up 5 to 7 kn with a fixed gear and wheels all fared in. > Plus I picked up ground clearance on my prop. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Jan 21, 2019, at 10:10 AM, Richard Seifert via KRnet < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > > I've been following the airfoil thread and would like to add one thing. > > Almost every modification you make to the original design will have an > > up-stream or down-stream effect. Decisions on which airfoil you plan to > use > > will likely effect the type landing gear you will be happy with. > > I chose the retracts because that was the only airfoil used when i was > > building and I liked the challenge of flying a tail dragger. > > The RAF 48 airfoil provided well documented flight characteristics with a > > low stall speed. I found that airlfoil worked well with a light weight > > KR-2's retract system with mechanical brakes. > > However almost everyone in the KR community (including myself) made > > modifications to the original design, which almost always increased the > > aircraft weight. The increased aircraft weight and the increased stall > > speed / landing speed of the newer airfoils quickly overwhelms the KR > > mechanical brakes leading to longer runway requirements. > > The KR retract gear system does not accept hydralic brakes easily, and I > > believe that was the primary reason builders started switching to fixed > > gear with hydraulic brakes. > > I believe most successful builders will agree, the most challenging part > > of the KR building process is improving the design, without adding weight > > and reducing usefull load. > > I guess the moral of my story is don't expect a Cadillac to perform like > a > > Mini Cooper in a slalom race. > > _______________________________________________ > > Search the KRnet Archives at > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. > > Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > change options. > > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] > > > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. > Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] > _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected]
