Photograph:
Rand KR-2 28-4085 (c/n V84) at Narromine, NSW in April 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 54 kw (72 hp) Revmaster four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
- Length: 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 7.43 sq m (80 sq ft)
- Max speed: 322 km/h (200 mph)
- Cruising speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Stalling speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Range: 966 km (600 miles)
- Empty weight: 218 kg (480 lb)
- Loaded weight: 408 kg (900 lb)
History:
Rand Robinson Engineering Inc of Huntington Beach, California, was formed in the United States in 1974 to market plans for the KR-1 single-seat and KR-2 two-seat series of amateur constructed aircraft. The first of the series, the KR-1, was flown for the first time in February 1972 fitted with a 27 kw (36 hp) [1200 cc] converted Volkswagen motor vehicle engine. It was subsequently re-engined with a 43 kw (58 hp) [1700 cc] conversion of the Volkswagen. More than 6,000 sets of plans and kits of the series have been sold around the world. The type has also been known as the Rand Robinson KR-1 and KR-2.
In 1973 Mr Rand designed the two-seat variant of the KR-1, and this became known as the KR-2, a prototype of which was first flown in July 1974. Examples of both variants have been registered in this region. First of the type in Australia was a KR-2 VH-IWE (c/n W.99) in Western Australia. However, on 5 September 1979 this aircraft was lost during test flying when the pilot baled out after an in-flight emergency, the aircraft being destroyed. Second example of the type was VH-MGU (c/n S.7) in South Australia. Further examples have been completed over the years, most registered under RAA regulations. One example (VH-VPT) was fitted with a converted Chevrolet Corvair engine.
The wing of the aircraft is of composite structure with a spruce front spar, and spruce and plywood rear spar. Most ribs are formed from styrofoam plastics, the spaces between being filled with styrofoam slab. The whole wing structure is then filled with Dynel epoxy. The lower half of the fuselage is of spruce and plywood, and the upper part of carved styrofoam, also covered with Dynel epoxy. The tail unit is of spruce and carved styrofoam, with similar covering to the wing. A retractable tailwheel type undercarriage is usually fitted but it may be fitted with a tricycle undercarriage.
A British adventurer, Colin Hales, in the United Kingdom built a KR-2 G-BYLP (c/n PFA 129 11431) fitted with a Jabiru 2200A engine and it is registered under a UK Permit to Fly. He flew it to the EAA event at Oshkosh in Wisconsin in 2014 and subsequently flew it around the world, making some 66 flights just to get to Australia before continuing on. Construction of the aircraft commenced in 1996 and it was completed in 2000.