Spitfire replica idea

mini P-51

Based on the KR-1. Not very obvious when you look at it! There’s even (though well hidden) the big underbelly radiator scoop. I’ll bet the ground clearance is minimal!

Easy to confuse the two! Never even heard of a KR-1 on the British register, although I’m probably wrong.

My apologies, yes I’m thinking of the KR2. A couple of years out of GA and I forget everything!

That would be the KR-2 or the -2S.

The KR-1 can’t carry two people – the -2 is basically a stretched and widened -1 with more power, more fuel and, in some aircraft, dual controls.

KR-2 in the foreground, KR-1 in background.

I think every KR1 in the UK is overweight! I have never come accross one that can legitimately carry 2 adults and enough fuel to go much further than round the curcuit!

Rand KR-1

The Rand KR-1

Ye of little faith.

The Rand KR-1 is made of the same materials as I plan to use – hell, the Spitfire replica was INSPIRED by it!

Check out the specs for the KR…

Length 12′ 9″
Wing Span 17′ 0″
Total Wing Area 62 sq. ft.
Empty weight 375 lbs.
Gross weight 750 lbs.
Useful load 375 lbs.
Baggage capacity 20 lbs. max
Take off distance 350 ft.
Landing distance 900 ft.
Stall Speed 52 mph
Maximum Speed 200 mph
Cruise Speed 180 mph
Range 1400 miles
Rate of Climb (light) 1200 fpm
Rate of Climb (gross) 800 fpm
Service ceiling 15,000 ft.
Engine VW 1834
Fuel 8-30 gal.
Fuel consumption 3.8 gph
Landing gear Fixed conventional or trigear, or retractable conventional

Maybe the 400lbs is a little optimistic – say 450, and a gross weight of 850. Yeah, OK, I’d have to widen the fuselage over half-scale, but it’d still work, in my opinion.

VW car engine, and your going to get an empty weight of 400 lbs? I dont think so. An even in a full size spitfire, you need a shoehorn to fit the pilot into the cockpit. In a half size replica you are going to have to wided the fuselage considerably which is going to make your spitfire look more like a YAK-1.

Hey, you never know! Never say die!

I’m certainly not giving up on the idea of my replica – if I can at least get some proper drawings made, then that’s a start. Then I’ve got to find somewhere to build the thing, but my grandparents have an empty garage….! 😀

If I can just get one or two people who have built an aircraft to give me some form of approval (or even just to say “Yeah dude, it’ll work!”), then I’d take it further.

There’s a PFA Rally tomorrow at East Fortune, but unfortunately I can’t go, otherwise I’d take my drawings and specs along and have a chat with someone there 🙁

Doubt we’d ever have formed a group together anyway.

The aircraft would have had to be based in North Yorkshire to be halfway between us 🙁

Moggy

Well, with my crap job at the moment, I’ll still be struggling to get the £12k!!! 🙁

Hence the reason for the choice of materials – make it small, economic and inexpensive to build. 18 months and I’d have a Spitfire! 😀

I have in mind a group owned and built one. Five like-minded guys should get the build time down to something reasonable and the investment each to less than 12 grand.

Availability wouldn’t be too much of a problem though, as non-tourers work quite well even in big groups. (There was 10 in my Yak group)

Moggy

Certainly have – wrote an article on them, too (they spelled my name wrong, though! :()

http://www.supermarineaircraft.com/Magazine.htm#article5

Wouldn’t mind one, if I could afford it, hence the idea of building a more affordable mini-Spitfire.

I think the main weight penalty must come from the heavy duty sound system you have to install to make the VW engine sound like a Merlin to those on the ground 😉

Have you seen the 80% replica that you can buy as a kit from Australia?

Moggy