Les Palmer cut me an aluminum gear which copied Dan’s design. We made the gear an extra 2 inches longer. I wish I had done it from the very beginning.
Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 22, 2019, at 10:17 PM, Kayak via KRnet <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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] _______________________________________________ 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]
