Alberto Zorsi's Italian KR2S
NOTICE: The KRnet Mailing List has moved, and you'll need to resubscribe NOW!
Alberto Zorsi's Italian KR2S
NOTICE: The KRnet Mailing List has moved, and you'll need to resubscribe NOW!
The "welcome to the list" message asks for some personal information to help me verify that you are a real CorvaAircrafter, and not just a spammer. If you've never sent that info to me, please do. If you're one of the regulars, I already know who you are, so don't bother. After the intial signup period of about a week, I'll be asking all new subscribers for that info. It will go no further than me, and will not ever be used for anything other than verification purposes.
We're going to try an experiment, but I need list subscriber cooperation. The list is now set to allow jpegs (only) to be sent to others. This is an effort to allow better transfer of information to others to ask and answer questions, and perhaps the occasional photo of your plane, panel, engine, or other building/flying related stuff. If we start getting pictures of your new baby, puppy, or pickup truck, I'll pull the plug on it, so please keep it on topic or risk losing the capability. The limit on a photo plus the size of the email is 120KB, which means 100k is probably the limit on a photo when coupled with a four or five paragraph email. Most photos come out of the camera at 1-10MB, so you'll need to shrink the picture down to something like 640x400 dpi and compress it a bit to get under 100k. The reason for limiting size is that first off it's a pain in the butt to receive a 4000x3000 dpi picture, which when opened shows only a tiny part of the photo on your computer. Another reason is that some folks on this list are in the outback of Australia, BFE, or somewhere similar, and still use a slow dialup to get internet. I don't want to kill those guys off the list with a bunch of huge photos. There's plenty of free software out on the web that will resize and compress images, so use one of these before posting photos. Compression should be set to something like 7/10 to prevent too much image degradation. We're all building airplanes, I'm sure you can deal with this. One such program is Irfan View, which is well supported, full-featured, public domain, and free download. There are lots more out there. This jpeg download ability should be considered "on probation" until I'm convinced it's not going to be too painful. If you get a message back that says your photo is waiting on the list moderator to approve it, you'd better try again with a smaller photo. I have moderator notification turned off...otherwise I'd spend all day nursing people through the process...
Thanks, Mark
KRnet is a free Internet mailinglist devoted to helping KR builders and pilots to construct and fly their KR aircraft more safely and efficiently. This is THE place to get your KR questions answered. There are over 800 KR builders and pilots available to help you with problems that you may have concerning construction. It's a friendly group of folks who thrive on helping others. There are about 5-20 messages posted to the net each day. If you can't find it here, you're not gonna find it. To join, send an empty email message to
krnet-join@list.krnet.org You'll receive a "confirmation" email within a minute or so, to which you must reply for your subscription to take effect. You must be a member to post messages to the list. Again, this is completely free of charge, and we make a point of keeping it "advertising free". Once you are a "confirmed" member, you may make adjustments to your account (using the password sent to you in the confirmation message) such as to change your account to the digest version (which will put all messages into one message per day to reduce email). If you decide you'd like to UNsubscribe, simply send a message to krnet-leave@list.krnet.org . Other information on the list itself and maintenance of your KRnet account can be found at http://list.krnet.org/info.html.
Please search the KRnet Archive for information on specific topics before posting questions to the list. It's considered poor form to join and start asking questions that have already been answered 100 times before.
Nasser's United Arab Emirates KR2. Link coming soon to Nasser's site at ...
The "Official" 2013 KR Gathering will be held on Friday October 4th and Saturday October 5th at Mt. Vernon, Illinois (MVN), hosted by airport manager Chris Collins with lots of help from Larry Flesner and various KRnetters. More details can be found at www.KRGathering.org a few months before. Usually you can expect about 10-20 KRs to fly in for the Gathering, depending on the weather. 2007 was a record, with 21 flying KRs in attendence. This is THE place to put your hands on real KR aircraft, as well as talk to about a hundred other builders and pilots, so don't miss it! If you're light and lucky, you might just get a ride in one. You won't likely forget it soon either. The die-hards will arrive on Thursday, the 2nd. For an idea of what you'll see at the Gathering, check the links below.
The links below feature various KR projects under construction to provide some insight into the KR building process. There are also links to finished and flying KRs, just in case you need a little inspiration. You can also search the KRnet website for keywords:
KR2S Projects under Construction:
Alberto Zorsi's Italian KR2S
Completed KRs, with most recent completions at the bottom:
Rudi Venter's South African KR2
Events
There is a KRnet FAQ that is full of building tips which you may visit without joining. There is a lot of stuff there, so please check it out before asking the same old questions on KRnet.
There's a very informative "KR Performace" spreadsheet ) in web viewable HTML form that details performance numbers (speed, stall, weight, prop, engine, carb, etc) of many of today's flying KRs. The Excel spreadsheet version KR Info, so if you'd like to add a line or update yours, please send it to Mark Langford for inclusion into the Performance Spreadsheet
There is a directory of US KR builders located at http://krnet.scottstanton.us/cgi-bin/krnet_list.pl .
There is a KRnet member's "Yearbook", including links to their projects, for quick reference. It's way out of date, but maybe I can do something with it soon.
The KRnet Archives is run by John Bouyea, and has almost all of KRnet's correspondence since the earliest days.
The KRnet list archive site is a list of all email messages posted in the last few years, listed chronologically.
A low-drag airfoil was recently designed specifically for the KR2S in a cooperative effort between several KRnetters and the University of Illinois. See details at the AS504x Airfoil Site
Dan Heath has posted several KR Weight and Balance spreadsheets, among other things.
Ernie Koppe, originator and Editor of the KR Newsletter, has graciously allowed us to publish newsletters created during his tenure to KRnet. Mark Lougheed has taken the time to scan all of 87 of them, and posted them on John Bouyea's KR Archive site at http://www.bouyea.net/digests/kr01-87.pdf .
A CD consisting of all 27 years of issues (considerably more than the first 87 mentioned above, and of higher quality), saved in searchable PDF format, is available for $49 by contacting Larry Capps at:
KRNewsletter CD
53 Redstart Road
Naperville, IL 60564
This is South African KR2, ZS-VYZ, originally built by Martin Clark in 1985, owned by Ferdi Koekemoer when this was taken, and now owned by Rudi Venter. It is fitted with a 2400cc turbocharged and intercooled Volkswagen as well as a 59inch Hoffman in-flight adjustable prop. I must say it has aged well, for a 24 year old airplane! For more details, see Rudi's ZS-VYZ page
Don Reid has scanned and posted all known Sport Aviation articles dealing featuring KRs. While you're there, check out the rest of his highly engineered KR-2XL!
Rick Junkin, a professional F-15 test pilot, has published a KR2S Flight Test Plan especially for the KR2S. You'd be crazy not to read this before flight testing your KR. This is truly excellent work!
If you are getting ready to make your first flight, be sure to check out Jim Faughn's "How to make a Perfect KR Landing" site.
Rob Schmitt has posted a KR2S Pilot Operating Handbook, provided as a template for others to use.
KROnline is a FREE online electronic KR Newsletter devoted to sharing information with other KR builders and pilots in a timely manner. It is chock full of valuable information gained from the experience of many web oriented KR builders. Check it out!
There's a Word document that details KR accidents listed in the FAA's database, at http://www.n56ml.com/KRaccidents.doc , although it is several years old and use an update.
There is also a "CorvAircraft" list devoted to the Corvair engines in aircraft. You may subscribe by visiting http://mylist.net/listinfo/corvaircraft and subscribing online, or simply by sending an email to corvaircraft-join@mylist.net. . There are several Corvair experts on the list, and experimenters who are flying behind Corvairs in KRs, Pietpenpols, Zeniths, and Sonex's (Cleanex), and working to install them in several other homebuilt aircraft.
Rick Maddy's excellent CorvAircraft Search Engine is located at http://www.maddyhome.com/corvairsrch . There's a LOT more info on my Corvair webpage at Corvair webpage.
There is an alternative aircraft engine list devoted to the use of VW and 1/2 VW engines, as well as other automotive and motorcycle engines, in aircraft. For information on how to join, as well as access to their archives, visit the VW Aircraft Engine List Webpage. This is very good stuff for those interested in Volkswagen engines especially.
Suppliers of KR parts:
nVAero, LLC, 23052H Alicia Parkway #413, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(800.515.4811)
Official supplier of KR parts, blessed by Rand Robinson. Manufacturer of the composite KR1, KR2 and KR2S parts, mechanical assemblies such as flap mechanism and control sticks, canopies, KR plans,, and kits.
Great Plains Aircraft, P.O. Box 545, Boystown, NE 68010 (402) 493-6507
VW based aircraft powerplants and accessories. Lots of good stuff that can't be found anywhere else, and at reasonable prices.
Corvair (Aircraft Engine) Authority, 5000-18 HWY 17 #247, Orange Park, FL 32003. (904) 529-0006
Corvair Conversion Manual, and all the parts to do the job.
Diehl Aero-Nautical, 1855 North Elm, Jenks, OK 74037 (918) 299-4445
Manufacturer of wing skins, VW engine accessory cases, tricycle and conventional landing gear...
Tracy O'Brien, LLC, 156 Bunker Creek Road, Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-4089
Supplier of KR-sized aircraft brake systems.
Grove Aircraft Company, 1860 Joe Crosson Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020, (1-888-432-7534)
Aluminum landing gear for KR aircraft
Ed Sterba Props, 513 68 Street, Holmes Beach, FL 34217, (941)-778-3103.
Wooden propellers for VWs and Corvairs.
Props Inc., (541)-265-3032,
Wooden propellers for VWs and Corvairs, by Jeff Bertuleit.
Total Engine Concepts, 2391 Old Dixie Highway, Riviera Beach, FL 33404 (561) 842-2813
VW based powerplants and Accessories
Revmaster Aviation,
7146 Sante Fe Avenue East, Hesperia, CA 92345 (760) 244-3074
VW based aircraft powerplants and accessories, cowlings
Palmer's KR Machine Shop, 3247 High Lark, Dallas, TX 75234
Aluminum, steel, and fiberglass KR parts, many original and unique
Wicks Aircraft,
, 410 Pine St., Highland, IL 62249 (618) 654-7447
KR kits and components and many other aircraft parts, and my personal favorite (except their web site's obtuse).
Aircraft Spruce and Specialty, 201 W. Truslow Ave., Fullerton, CA 92632 (800) 824-1930
KR kits and components and many other aircraft parts
Wag Aero, 1216 North Road, Lyons, WI, 53148 (800) 558-6868
Wide selection of certified and homebuilt aircraft parts
Zenith Fuel Systems,
Carburetor source
Ellison Fluid Systems,
Carburetor source (one of the best, and most expensive).
Aero-Carb,
Another slide carburetor source (new on the scene and relatively inexpensive).
Advanced Composite Materials,
The most inexpensive source I know of to buy 5.85 ounce 48" wide carbon fiber ($17 per yard).
Sport Flyer's Internet Resources
Everything else you'd ever need to find to build an airplane...
The KR Gathering videos are available for $25 from Video Bob at Omega Productions, 1050 Parkhurst NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Or you can call him at (616)774-3913. Bob accepts checks or money orders. This is as close as you can get without having been there. The 1997 and 1998 videos are still available and feature interviews with KR builders and pilots, a detailed look at many of the KRs attending, lots of flying, and a ride with Marty Roberts in his 0-200 powered KR2. This video is great for getting sufficiently fired up to start or finish building your KR! Another video detailing the antennas, composites, woodworking, and finishing seminars that were held at the Gathering is also available.
Related sites:
This is Joe Horton's 3100cc Corvair powered KR2S as seen at the 2006 KR Gathering. Photo by Dave Mullins (the guy with the huge honkin' lense!).
This is Larry Flesner's 0-200 powered KR2S, which Larry built before the KR2S plans were available. The whole plane is "upsized" a little to meet Larry's 6'-4" frame, and there's still plenty of headroom left! The workmanship is outstanding, and this plane gave my 2700cc Corvair a good run for the money. I took this picture on the way to the Wicks open house in 2010, where we met Ron Highower, EAA's new president.
Mark Jones in his "Deer Slayer" KR2S, on the way to Oshkosh for Airventure 2009.
This is Richard Shirley's KR-1. This thing is nothing short of totally awesome, and his piloting skills are incredible, as well. There are more photos and details located on the 2001 KR Gathering web page.
Jim Hill's KR2 doing 200mph flyby at Hazel Green airport, trying to get a better look at the windsock. Jim's KR2 has now been stretched and converted to tri-gear.
Here's Netherlander Marcel Driessen flying his KR2S.
This is Marty Roberts in his 0-200 powered KR2. I took this picture from Jim Faughn's equally nice KR2.
This is Rick Lanning's KR2, the oldest flying KR, originally built by Dan Diehl in 1976.
Steve Glover flew his flawless KR2 all the way from California to make the 2004 Gathering.
This is Troy Petteway's O-200 powered KR2. It will do 230 mph flat out, mostly because of attention to aerodynamic detail. A careful study of this photo will show you how this plane differs from most other KRs. He is also flying the new AS504x airfoil.
This is Aussie Allen Buzza in his retractable KR2, flying formation with Peter Gilbert in his BD5 over Fremantle Harbor near Perth.
John Shaffer's "KR2SS" (super stretch) has retractable tri gear, and looks very sweet in flight. This is his second KR, and like many others, has a lot of neat ideas implemented in this one. There are more photos of it at 2004 MVN KR Gathering web page.
Here's Marty Roberts, Steve Alderman, and Jim Faughn flying formation near the Red Oak Iowa airport during the 2003 KR Gathering. There are lots more photos located on the 2003 KR Gathering web page.
This is Joe Horton's airplane at Sun N Fun 2010. Steve Glover sent this to me to show how much hotter Joe's plane seemed to be that year...
Sorry if there aren't enough bells and whistles for you on this page. I've tried to keep loading time to a minimum. As a former 2400 modem user, I'm accutely aware of the price we pay loading so many superfluous images, fonts, audio, and video flotsam and jetsam that all too often replace plain text. And while others are downloading annoying flashing banners and advertisements to you, I'm downloading helpful information for you.
This web site was established by Mark Langford in 1994, and was the very first site dealing with any of the KR series of aircraft, or even experimental aircraft, for that matter. Please report broken links or offer constructive criticism to Mark at krnet-owner@mylist.net.
