Here's a new
idea. Take a good idea and make it twice
as good! One of the ideas that has tickled
my mind for quite a while is that a twin KR
would be an interesting and economical way to
have a safer over-water, long distance
plane. Have a
look.
THE IDEA
This idea
has been tumbling around in the grey matter for a
while. It began as just some jesting and
playing around with paper and friends and too much
coffee. What began as a simple twin
soon turned into a variation of the Twin Mustang,
then a Cessna 337 look-alike, and even a small
single seater inline twin racer. After much
thought I have decided to build a twin that is
derived from a KR2S base with some
modifications. I believe the KR2S has the
strength and follows the purpose that I am looking
for. I credit the brain power of my
friend William Wynne for much of the
encouragement and ideas in building this
plane. He has also provided me with some of
the materials to begin on this project. Here
is what I have come up with so
far.
THE PLANE
I decided
to keep with the ideals that made my KR a
success. SIMPLICITY. The
KR "DUEX" is a KR based twin with two
corvair engine mounted off the center section of
the wing as common twins are. The engines
will be very simple in function and design.
In working to keep the plane light I am developing
Corvair engines that weigh less than 200
lbs. each. The fuel system will be
gravity feed to Aerocarbs with one central header
tank. The main tanks will be in the wings
and stub wings with electric pumps filling the
header. The center section of the
plane will be extended one foot on either side to
accomodate the engines. The outboard wings
will stay very much the same as a standard
wing. I will be using the AS5048 airfoil
with the taller spar to help with the extra
torsional loads and allow for more fuel
capacity. The props are most probably be
fixed pitch Sensinich 54X54 props. The
gear will be a fixed taildragger similar to a
Deihl gear with 5X5 wheels. The cabin is
about 40" wide at the shoulders and the fuselage
is made out of caron honeycomb board. The
canopy is a Dragonfly style. Instrumentation
will be quite basic with ability to expand as
money dictates. My goal is to build
the plane and it weigh as close to 900 lbs empty
as possible. I have flown my KR
at 1300+ and it performend better than expected so
I think the twin with a gross of about 1500
- 1600 lbs is possible. Here are some
initial drawings to wet your
whistle......
When will it be done you say? I am
hoping to work on it as much as I can and
have it ready by Oshkosh 09 but we shall see what
life says. More updates to come......
