The KR at 50: Meet KR-2S Builder Chris Pryce

The Rand-Robinson KR series turns 50 in 2022 and to celebrate KITPLANES has met up with a couple of KR builders and owners to see what makes these lithe, efficient homebuilts tick. Here's the story from Chris Pryce about his KR-2S "ish" with Corvair power and many modifications.

[@KidYuma1880]

Congrats on your KR2 ish, I know the designer and builder of your original KR1 & KR2 back in 70’s I knew Ken Rand & Stu Robertson in HB SoCal. Thanks to Ken Rand for what he did for Experimental Aircraft. He is well missed I am sure. I wish could send pics from back then.

[@FOSTERSFARMGARAGETV]

My brother has a set of plans for a kr 2 from the 1990s a old man gave him! Awesome to see this one built! The old man was building it in his shed in Silsbee,Tx but I dont think he ever finished it! Sweet Bird!!

[@charleswesley9907]

Finish it for him. Once you fly a KR and get used to its light controls you will be spoiled . You dont get into a KR . You put it on. And you will love it .

[@tinolino58]

Very inspiring personal airplane!😍 KRs occupied my imagination since 1982. I am 6‘6 tall and 240lbs and in the process to design a similiar single seater for high altitude flying in the alps. Yes I consult a structural engineer for the final acceptance by our FOCA. Maybe I should buy the KR-plans and use them as a base, for details and solutions. Please bring up another video after a year or two of flying your airplane.

[@RedNeckWelding]

That’s one of the nicest looking KR’s I’ve ever seen, I’ll have to look for it at OSH23.

[@doncatch1]

Nice. Cngrats.

[@charleswesley9907]

I flew one 15 years with a VW with no problems from Steve Bennett and it was so easy to fly . It was super fun to fly and strong.

[@adamdelarozza1985]

That's a very clever design and i especially like the cockpit, it is laid out much better than Cesena's as I have wide shoulders. I'm impressed with this lil Airplane!

[@vr6chrisvw]

Thank you

[@ufoengines]

I bought a set of plans back in 1972 for ten bucks . I was no more then three sheets legal sized paper and I guess you could have built the plane from those plans . I like the fact the Ken Rand made $70,000.00 selling those plans in one year. I guess that would be $700,000.00 today.

[@mcgenius99]

$489k

[@mdayne1142]

I would love to talk to you about the mods you made. Sounds right up my alley.

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Corvair engine? Where do you find parts for that puppy? Good looking modern bird.

[@SpeedDemon651]

I had a KR-2S with an O200, IVOPROP and dragonfly canopy when I was 18. It was a rocket ship up until the moment I spun 3 crank bearings while doing some steep turns around a point. Just barely made the 5 miles back to the airport and glided in without mishap. The O200 was toast though.

[@Stubby0266]

Wonder where my KR-2SS, if it still exists, that I started building but had to sell? Sold it to a guy in Farmington, UT. SS stands for Super Stretch. Made it longer and wider.

[@2Phast4Rocket]

I cant get used to the mini propeller in the front, especially with the 120 HP engine.

[@charleswesley9907]

If it were built scaled up by 10 to 12% if it would have been better, It is a great little plane .

[@LFL-yu2kc]

Nicee. I recently bought a KR2 it needs a little work a new fuel tank because this one is chaffing on the inside and a new prop sence this wooden one has chips. I'm an A&P and a private pilot. But I don't know much about the KR2 other then what I can see and what's on the plans. If anyone has a kr2, could you message me. I would like to talk to someone about this plane learn more and maybe get ideas of things to add to mine

[@joshualitvin8162]

I’m actually looking at buying one too. Was yours nearly finished?

[@e28powerm30]

I didn't know there were any KR2s based at Twin Oaks(7S3). I'd love to see it up close.

[@KitplanesMagazine]

They're not based at Twin Oaks--they both came in for the photo shoot.

[@flysport_tedder]

heh, just came down to the comments because I noticed this. Such a unique airport. Sad to find out they aren't hiding in a hangar though.

[@2005CessnaPilot]

Lovely looking aircraft! Used to own a Aero Design Pulsar XP with a similar look. I like the taildragger gear. Here's the link to the flight with Chris: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnnYmIJ3mrKMesk

[@liamhammers8561]

This plane is sick why he talking in mph and not knots tho

[@KitplanesMagazine]

Lots of builders do.

[@mikestirewalt5193]

Knots are for boats. It was an early mistake that has gotten out of hand.

[@pdutube]

@@mikestirewalt5193 One knot is one nautical mile per hour. As charts depict distances in nautical miles, it's fitting that speed is measured that way.

[@mikestirewalt5193]

@@pdutube Hi, I know the history. Knots were originally tied af precise intervals in ropes thrown over the side of boats and ships and measured to determine speed through the water. I don't know how this carried over to aviation, but it is easily researched. Airspeed in aircraft was originally measured in miles per hour and still is in much of aviation, particularly private aviation. Nautical miles was carried over into aviation, probably because nautical charts were measured in nautical miles.and nautical charts were more available and established by the time aviation became developed. I've been in commerial and private aviation all my life and I do not use nautical measurements. When necessary, I just convert. For Amerians our car speedometers are measured in miles per hour which is why I find having to convert to nautical or metric is a minor annoyance. I don't expect this to change. Metric makes more sense I must admit.

[@pdutube]

@@mikestirewalt5193 ATC issues speeds in knots and approach plates are in knots. Luckily contemporary instruments show knots/mph, it just seems like too much work to do the conversion.