Rotax 583 powered KR2

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Henni
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:52 am

Hi Simon,

Glad you're enjoying it. Herewith a pic or two of Rudis 200+ mph VW powered KR2. Fact is that the KR2 will attain that speed with any relatively light 100 - 120 HP engine, be it 4 stroke or two stroke. It will accept light engine sizes from 60 - 120 HP.

Willie has a 120 HP Jabi in his, but says the wind noises scare him above 185 mph. I can just imagine what speed his aircraft is capable of if all control surfaces properly balanced...

My aim is to have one of the lightest KR2s ever built (apart from the prototype that is) and use the 60 HP engine it was designed for at this stage. It would be very interesting to see how it flies two up over at the Highveld & whether it would also be capable of travelling at 150+ mph using a two stroke microlight engine more used to travelling at the mid 70 mph range only.

My 2nd aim is to lower the stall speed to well below the designed value of 45 mph & I am totally convinced that I'll achieve this eventually, maybe even as low as 35 mph. Not a bad range: 35 - 150 mph!

All the best mate,

Henni
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Wed Apr 02, 2014 9:53 am

Hi all,

This KR2 flies at 230 mph straight & level using a 100 HP Continental aircraft engine. Here's something interesting:

1. When the designer, Ken Rand, went for a photo shoot from a Cessna 172 (I think it was), during the time he was flying circles around the photo plane in his VW1600 powered KR2 whilst the Cessna was flying close to cruising speed.

2. At the Margate airshow, I observed a snotty pilot making rude comments to the late Sakkie Hallgreens KR2. Sakkie asked him what he was flying to which he replied a Cessna 182. Next Sakkie asked him where he was from to which he replied JHB. Then Sakkie said: Okay, when this is over I'll race you back to JHB. When he smiled, Sakkie said: There is only one condition: I'll give you an half hour head start. Next a caption appears in the Aeronews of Sakkie flying next to two Mirages, saying to them: Last guy home buys the beer guys!

3. Sakkie and Maureen, his wife, did the trip Lanseria to Margate in 2 hours 10 minutes in his KR2, ZS-UKU, burning 3.5 gallon/hour!

4. The Quickest KR2 ever built was built completely, from scratch in just 21 days.

5. The quickest KR2 ever built in south Africa was built in only 6 months, spare time only by a builder in Vanderbylpark. He stayed in a flat at the time & built his in his single flat garage. I spoke to him in the 1985s, but unfortunately cannot remember His name for the moment.

6. Interesting discussion on the KR2.

7. Another interesting link.

8. Yet another interesting link.

9. Turbine powered KR2.

I am of the opinion that the KR2 is still the most plane that can be had for either the money or engine size! It was designed around 1975 and is a still a winner, even now nearly 40 years later! It has flown now with VWs, Jabirus, Subarus, Rotaxes, Franklins, Corvairs, Porches, Lycomings, Continentals, Turbines to name but a few...

Cheers all,

Henni
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This KR2 does 230mph straight & level with a 100HP Continental
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KR2 designer: Ken Rand
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Willies 120HP Jabiru KR2
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Turbine powered KR2
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Prototype KR2
Kr75-3A.jpg
One of the first KR2s built
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Rudix » Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:37 pm

Hi Henni,

Great information and photos! Thanks for the photos of the 2-stroke installations, most I have not seen! I wish I could get my hands on a completed, or almost completed KR1, I think that would really fly well with a 582 or 618!

Here is a photo of the engine installation on ZU-CGR, since this photo was taken I have cleaned and neatened it up a bit! The engine is a 2L watercooled VW as used in the Syncro Bus. It develops 120hp in the bus. This one has a turbo charger but only to maintain sea level performance. It is also fuel injected.

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Here is the Garrett turbo installation on ZS-VYZ.

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Below you can see the oil cooler (front) and inter-cooler (back) installation on ZS-VYZ.

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And the Ellison throttle body on ZS-VYZ.

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The top view of the engine installation on ZS-VYZ.

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And lastly a view of the carb air intake on the cowling (top) as well as the oil/inter-cooler air intake.

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Regards,
Rudi
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Rudix » Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:48 pm

I still need an engine for her, ZU-AMV

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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Rudix » Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:05 pm

Henni, remember the good old days? Those days we flew planes that were a BIT slower vhpy

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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:06 pm

Hi Rudix,

Great pics. Very, very neat installation. I realize anew how simple & light the Rotax installation will be in comparison. Between you & me, we'll have the two extreme opposite KR2 engine installations, right here in South Africa. Will be very interesting to compare the difference in overall performance & I'll even write an extensive article on this. I am now more determined than ever to make my installation work to compare end results.

Of course mine will no where near have the same top speed, but most surely there'll be other benefits. One should fly like a real aircraft, one should fly like a microlight. Sooner or later I'll turn those big inboard ailerons of mine into flaps, maybe even same as those on the MCR4, and either make new outboard ailerons or even spoilerons. That, along with the VG's, should lower the stall speed significantly.

Cheers my friend,

Henni (^^)
Last edited by Henni on Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:10 pm

Wow Rudix,

I've lost all pics of my Mizer and those I posted over here are no longer available. Tx for sharing, I really fondly remember the good flying times we had then. I always held you back as you were much faster.

Great memories my friend,

Henni
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Rudix » Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:19 pm

Henni wrote:Hi Rudix,

Great pics. Very, very neat installation. I realize anew how simple & light the Rotax installation will be in comparison. Between you & me, we'll have the two extreme opposite KR2 engine installations, right here in South Africa. Will be very interesting to compare the difference in overall performance & I'll even write an extensive article on this. I am now more determined than ever to make my installation work to compare end results.

Of course mine will no where near have the same top speed, but most surely there'll be other benefits. One should fly like a real aircraft, one should fly like a microlight. Sooner or later I'll turn those big inboard ailerons of mine into flaps, maybe even same as those on the MCR4, and either make new outboard ailerons or even spoilerons. That, along with the VCs, should lower the stall speed significantly.

Cheers my friend,

Henni (^^)
Hi Henni.

Yes, it would be great to compare performances. I am sure you will have the advantage in short field operations!

I considered adding flaps to my KR's but the added work put me off to fit them on flying aircraft, ZU-AMV will get flaps! I find their stall speed low enough that I can approach at similar speeds as I would in a Jabbi or even my Bushbaby. It would be nice to have flaps or a speed brake to help with speed management in the circuit but you quickly get used to that and they slip very well allowing you to quickly bleed off speed to prevent the dreaded float on landing.

I am keen on adding VG's! They can only make the plane better and safer.

Keep well my friend!
Rudi
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Rudix » Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:23 pm

Henni wrote:Wow Rudix,

I've lost all pics of my Mizer and those I posted over here are no longer available. Tx for sharing, I really fondly remember the good flying times we had then. I always held you back as you were much faster.

Great memories my friend,

Henni

I should have more photos in the archive, will have a look :wink:

I sold the Rans about a year ago, loved that plane, had many adventures in her and flew her all over, from KZN south coast to Augrabies, Kimberley, Barberton and lots of other destinations.

Filling her up at Oribi.

Image

Good times but eventually I had other toys and she just stood there sadly.
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:14 am

Hi Rudi & all,

Look at this pic I've found. Look specifically at the main rear wheels. See how this builder turned a tail dragger into a nose wheel. Stunning!!! Every time I saw that pic, I somehow KNEW there was more to it, but could not put my finger on it. Only noticed this part of the pic last night whilst watching my favourite KR2 slideshow before going to bed. I was stunned by the simplicity of it!!!

I can do with some less weight at the tail (wheel) and some more in the nose (wheel assembly). I'm so glad I've found this. Wow, sometimes great ideas can be so simple... I'm sure the twist in that arrangement is not as bad as it seems initially.

Boy, it's nice when one learns how to properly drive GOOGLE using no more than than part of the name of the pic. Here is the write-up on that. It is an South African aerie after all. Keith Lehmann in Bloemfontein build it & sold it unregistered. Sure the new owner could be traced and asked how this is working in real life.

Cheers mate,

Henni
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:09 am

To Boet, Jean or some other technical fundi,

Please note the mods done to the main spring landing gear in the pic above. Can those extensions be welded onto the existing spring gear? (Mine is made of spring steel, not aluminium) If so, any special instructions for this type of weld?

I can create bolt on extensions, but I don't think drilling holes through that spring steel would be too easy using a handheld powered drill only.

Tx for any & all advice you may have to offer on this,

Henni
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby AndreJ » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:41 am

Good morning Henni

I will not advise you to weld on the steel landing gear. ## This will cause the steel to lose its temper and will it be prone to
bending or even breaking. :|

Take it to a company specialising in spring steel either to drill or weld it for you and re-tempering it. I had found there pricing
to be reasonable.

Regards

Andre'
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:30 am

Hi Andre,

Tx for the advice. If I absolutely must take it out, I might as well just move it to the rear of the forward spar as is. Then I need to open part of the wing which I'm reluctant to do as this will create only more work.

I'm still pondering whether this will be worth it.

All the best my friend,

Henni
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby JvTonder » Fri Apr 04, 2014 12:23 pm

Henni,

Die Jodel of te wel sy namaaksel die Falconar gebruik so tipe onderstel, veerstaal met die "verlengings" wat vas geboud word om die wiele vorentoe te skuif en C of G reg te kry vir die stert sleeper, dit is so op die planne. Beste is ook om die metaal te buig en klaar al die gatte te boor en dan te temper, as dit na die tyd geboor word is dit a) blykbaar baie moeilik en b) die metaal om die gatte word n swak punt.

Kyk na die foto en hoe dit lyk.

Groete
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Re: Rotax 532 powered KR2

Postby Henni » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:02 pm

My genugtig Jaco!

Dit moet 'n sterk storie wees om die wiele na voor te hanteer want alle kragte werk nou teen die verlenging en nie meer saam nie.

Sjoe, ek is bly om dit te weet. Ek hou dus daardie opsie oop vir my as ek dit kan doen sonder om die spring bars af te haal. Baie dankie vir die waardevolle inligting.


Andre,

Baie dankie vir jou inligting omtrent NFM. Ek het reggekom en kan nou volstoom begin om die engine mount te bou!

Groete,

Henni
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