Hello Pete and congratulations on getting to this point. I’m still building but have flown KR’s before and I’m a current CFI. First off I’d like to say I like your attitude about being safe. Getting hurt shouldn’t be a part of the homebuilt experience. There are a lot of factors here that need to be addressed. Do you have a tricycle gear or conventional. Have you flown anything similar like a Grumman in the past? Any very clean airframes, etc. the KR’s that I’ve flown have been very good handling airplanes. The airplane is very responsive and slippery. If you don’t have flaps you either need a long runway or be up to speed on slips. As far as your ability you know more than any of us. If you are not fully qualified you will be nervous and that will add to the stress. So if you aren’t ready how do you get ready? If there’s nothing close to you that is similar go see someone who has a KR and get some rides. This will give you the sight picture anyway. The person doesn’t have to be a flight instructor because you are already legal to fly it. You don’t need access to the throttle but just the ability to do some slow flight, landings and straight and LEVEL. This get you up to speed on the sensitivity of the elevator. After a couple of flights with someone else you will know when you are ready to fly your airplane. Take all the time you need to get ready for the first flight. Taxi the airplane until you are 100% at that. Then balance it on the main gear. Up to that speed and then back down to zero. I have done many first flights for people and by the time I actually lift the airplane out of ground effect I already know how it’s going to handle and how the engine is going to run at all speeds. You will too. This will not only give you confidence in your ability but in the airplane as well. Bottom line here is start doing taxi work. If you feel good about that then balance the mains. If you can do a wheelie down the runway then you have the pitch under control. When you can do that you can fly it down the runway at 1 to 3 feet. If at any point you feel uncomfortable STOP. Above all, be honest with yourself. If it’s beyond your ability then reach out for training. If you are nervous get un-nervous with more runway hops. After you taxi it a while look at every nut and bolt on the airplane. In fact before you fly it out a small line of fingernail polish on every nut on the airplane. This makes it easy to tell immediately if anything is loosing up. Check the prop torque after just a few hours. I’m not saying don’t get someone else to fly it for you. You built it and deserve the joy in launching it for the first time. But only if it’s safe to do so. Stay safe and go at your own pace.
Victor Taylor CFI Sent from my iPhone > On Jun 24, 2019, at 17:00, krnet-requ...@list.krnet.org wrote: > > Send KRnet mailing list submissions to > krnet@list.krnet.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > krnet-requ...@list.krnet.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > krnet-ow...@list.krnet.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of KRnet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Phase 1 testing (Pete Klapp) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2019 15:15:18 +0000 > From: Pete Klapp <pke...@hotmail.com> > To: "krnet@list.krnet.org" <krnet@list.krnet.org> > Subject: KR> Phase 1 testing > Message-ID: > > <cy4pr13mb1063fe1a58eb2458eb11f512ca...@cy4pr13mb1063.namprd13.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Netters > That time had finally come as the FAA will be coming on Thursday this week > the inspect and hopefully bless N729PK!! So now comes flight testing which > has me in a quandary as I'm being advised not to conduct the first flight > myself as I am too invested in the plane having spent over a decade building > it. I have been taking dual instruction to knock the rust off my flying > skills, but unfortunately it's in a 172. There is nothing close a a KR > anywhere near the area. Is there anyone in the KR community to assist me as a > start Phase 1? Any and all assistance and advise would be GREATLY appreciated. > Hopeful in Ohio, > Pete Klapp, N729PK > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > See KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html > KRnet mailing list > KRnet@list.krnet.org > http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org > > > ------------------------------ > > End of KRnet Digest, Vol 7, Issue 148 > ************************************* _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. 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 krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
