Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

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Rudix
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Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:53 pm

Ok, I suppose this qualifies my as a KR fanatic (I now own 3) but as some of you might know I have recently acquired Ferdi's very nice KR2 ZS-VYZ to add to my collection. I have had my eye on her for years so when Ferdi called me and told me she might be on the market I jumped at the opportunity!

As some of you might know this is quite a special KR2, it is the current holder of the fastest 300-500 kg plane in South Africa and is a particular nice sample of the species.

I hope to be flying her real soon, need to get ATF and conversion sorted out.

Yes, she is a project (like all my planes)! She just had an engine upgrade and I am planning more work on her, mostly on the instrument panel and interior but I will only work on her when the weather is too bad to fly vhpy I also want to do some more streamlining on her, I think there is even more speed to be had from her with a few fairings and closing a few gaps vhpy

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Below some more information and detailed photos.

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The canopy hinges forward and is kept open with a gas strut.

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Power is supplied by an engine based on a VW tipe 4. The displacement is 2.4l. The engine has been upgraded with a stronger crank, aluminum pistons
and a Garret turbo charger with an intercooler. The ignition system is dual Slick mags. The fuel is injected via an Ellison throttle body with mixture control, ram-air option and carb heat.
The plane is equipped with 2 electric fuel pumps, the one runs all the time and the other only when needed.

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Front view, the fiber glass air ducts can be seen. The prop is currently a P-Prop 54x60 but I am planning on installing a VP prop again. The plane used to have a Hoffman
VP prop but as that prop was only rated for up to 80 hp it was decided to replace it. The engine produces a bit more than 80hp at the moment vhpy The fiber glass spinner
is carbon re-enforced with a carbon back-plate.

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Garret turbo charger with oil feed. Since the turbo charger sits between the Ellison throttle body and the intercooler it was modified with a carbon seal to prevent the fuel mixing
with the oil. The inter-cooler can just be seen below. Cooling air enters the cowling via a NACA duct below before flowing through the oil cooler and intercooler.

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The control stick can be seen above. Also shown is the hydraulic brake cylinder and the fuel transfer pump. This pump, activated by a manual switch, transfers fuel from
the 2 x 50 tanks in the outer wing panels to the 50l tank in the fuselage. In this photo the seats are removed.

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The instrument panel, one area I am planning to upgrade. A panel mount radio, EFIS and transponder will be installed.
The only instrument that is not standard is the manifold pressure lower left.

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Tail wheel detail, springs provide some shock absorption.

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More canopy detail, the space behind the seats can also be seen.

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Left side of the engine, also visible is the NACA cockpit fresh air inlet and the fuel filler cap. The firewall is stainless steel.

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Yes, she flies, and she flies WELL!!
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic." ;)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Thatchman » Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:41 pm

Nice looking plane. Congrats Rudi. Wishing you many safe happy flying hours ahead.
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:26 pm

Thatchman wrote:Nice looking plane. Congrats Rudi. Wishing you many safe happy flying hours ahead.
Thanks Thatchman!

Hope she will satisfy my "Need for speed" vhpy

Fly safe,
Rudi
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic." ;)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Tailspin » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:00 am

Wow

Now that is a Beautiful Bird.
Congrats Rudi
ENJOY her

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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:10 pm

Tailspin wrote:Wow

Now that is a Beautiful Bird.
Congrats Rudi
ENJOY her

Blue Skies s023
Thanks Gavin!

Sorted out the ATF today so now she is legal to fly, now we just need to get the pilot legal with a conversion.

Managed some taxi time in her, up to lifting the tail and she appears to be tame, no worse than some nose gear planes I have flown and visibility on the ground is fine, no need to weave while taxing!

Fly safe,
Rudi
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic." ;)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:27 pm

A few more images of her.....

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Ready for some taxing to swing the compass and get a feel for her.

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Space behind the seats.

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Ellison throttle body.

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Turbo boost (waste-gate) regulator, boost can be manually adjusted.

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Bendix dual magneto.

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Air filter and ram-air intake.

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Oil cooler and inter-cooler from below, she needs a belly wash!!

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Mixture control (top) and throttle (bottom) links on the Ellison throttle body.

Fly safe,
Rudi
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic." ;)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby sailor » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:06 pm

Congrats buddy,
Glad you got the atf sorted without major hassles.

So is she coming to Rhino the weekend? Can't wait to see her in real life.

(^^) (^^)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:35 pm

sailor wrote:Congrats buddy,
Glad you got the atf sorted without major hassles.

So is she coming to Rhino the weekend? Can't wait to see her in real life.

(^^) (^^)

Thanks Boet!

Not sure, might not be this weekend since I need to sort out instructors and conversions and I don't think Ferdi is here this weekend. Need to put the cowling back on and close inspection holes, re-install the seats and an intercom.

Might be best to do first flights from Wonderboom with the longer runway :shock: vhpy More worried about the float on landing than anything else........
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic." ;)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Low Level » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:43 am

Congrats Rudi. Opwindende aerie en exciting tye vir jou. (^^)

Self nuuskierig om julle in aksie te sien. :mrgreen:
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:05 pm

Low Level wrote:Congrats Rudi. Opwindende aerie en exciting tye vir jou. (^^)

Self nuuskierig om julle in aksie te sien. :mrgreen:
Hi LL!
Dankie, ja, sal nog moet gewoond raak aan die spoed!

Gaan jy Saterdag Thabazimbia toe?

Groete,
Rudi
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby avgas » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:02 pm

Mooi Rudix dit is 'n beauty :wink:
Tailwheels to Nylstroom 3de naweek in Julie 2012 (^^)
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Jean Crous » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:11 pm

vhpy vhpy Hey Rudi, hoe lyk dit met so n vinnige trippie Swellendam toe met daai spoed masjien..........dit sal hom net lekker inloop :lol:
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:51 pm

avgas wrote:Mooi Rudix dit is 'n beauty :wink:
Tailwheels to Nylstroom 3de naweek in Julie 2012 (^^)
Dankie!

Ja, die keer kom ek met 'n stert-sleper vhpy vhpy
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:53 pm

JeanTree wrote:vhpy vhpy Hey Rudi, hoe lyk dit met so n vinnige trippie Swellendam toe met daai spoed masjien..........dit sal hom net lekker inloop :lol:
Groete
Jean.
Hi Jean!

Hmm, klink goed, sodra ek gemaklik voel met haar gaan ek 'n "rondom SA" trip doen vhpy

Groete,
Rudi
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Re: Rudi's KR2 ZS-VYZ

Postby Rudix » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:45 pm

KR2 ZS-VYZ takes to the skies again!

With all the engine work complete, inspections done and a new ATF in hand it was time to fly the baby!

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Getting ready for a test flight. Four test flights were done on Saturday 22 October from Wonderboom airport. Initially we had a problem with high EGT's that could not be solved by making the mixture richer. Close investigation showed that the mags were not set on the timing marks so the engine was running with retarded timing. A quick adjustment and a test flight proved that not only were the EGT's way down but the engine was producing lots more power!

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Returning from the successful test flight!

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Sunday 23 October, filling the tank at Wonderboom before the flight to VYZ's new home at Rhino Park.

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A flight of not much more than 8 minutes with an average speed of 157 mph saw ZS-VYZ overhead Rhino, after a "runway inspection" she landed at her new home (^^)
Home sweet home in her hangar at Rhino Park!

Now the work begins, I want to do quite a few small things on her, but only between flying her so nothing that would ground her for more than a day or two! I want to replace a few instruments, clean up the airframe in a few places like where the landing gear enters the wing and re-install spats.

Fly safe,
Rudi
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic." ;)

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