RAND KR-1B

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • This article describes a custom motorglider, a modified KR-1 featuring extended 27-foot wings and a larger tail, which increased its wing area from 64 to 91 sq ft for enhanced gliding.
  • Powered by a 60-hp VW engine, it achieves a maximum cruise speed of 130 mph, with deadstick landings possible at 70 mph TAS due to its specialized airfoil design.
  • The motorglider offers an impressive range of 950 to 1,020 miles on 33 gallons of fuel, showcasing high fuel efficiency of up to 29 mpg.
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This sleek motorglider is essentially a stock KR-1 with longer wings and a bigger tail. For a wing curve, an RAF-48 standard KR-1 airfoil was used for the center section and the GA(W)-2 airfoil for the replacement outer panels. The outer wing section provides a clean and responsive curve for use with a spoiler/flap control, permitting deadstick landings at 70 mph TAS. Where the stock KR-1 wingspan is 172″, the motorglider wingspan measures 27′ from tip to tip, thereby increasing square footage from 64 to 91. Power is supplied by
a 60-hp VW engine. Maximum cruise is 130 mph, and with 33 gallons of fuel, range is 950 miles while getting 29 mpg. At the standard 4-gph burn rate, 33 gallons should deliver 8.25 hours of flying at 120 mph for a range of 1,020 miles.

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