These are the kinds of details Tom Kyler is making....leaving no room for doubt!
Here's the Assembly Manual Cover Page, at this point. There are also much larger full scale drawings of airfoil templates, for example, which are already complete for the 16% and 18% airfoil AS50xx series, at www.krnet.org
Until the FreeBird plans become available (mid 2024 is the goal), you can visit the KRnet website to find over a hundred links to various KR construction projects, demonstrating the ease of construction and many variations that are available to the builder. And optionally, you can join the KRnet email group, where 600 member/builders carry on construction and flying conversations.
I've been asked "Who's behind KRnet and the FreeBird effort, and will they attempt to monetize it in the future?" I guess I'm the ring leader, Mark Langford, supported by John Bouyea, another champion of the KR genre, and a whole host of other good folks on the KRnet email list. I've run the www.krnet.org website for decades, and John has run the KRnet Email Archive for even longer, is co-admin of KRnet.org, and owns and flies the "prototype KR2S", N133RM, built by Roy Marsh. Also, I built and flew my Corvair powered KR2S N56ML, using the new AS5046 airfoils. The website at www.n56ml.com is almost certainly the most extensive KR build and information website out there. I currently fly one of the earliest KR2s (2180cc VW powered), as well as a 3100cc Corvair powered KR2S. I have over 1900 hours flying KRs, and a lot more BUILDING KRs! I'm also a mechanical engineer, with a keen interest in aerodynamics.
The first step to joining KRnet is to create a member account at the KRnet hosting site at https://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet . You'll be asked for your email address and a screen name. After that's done, please send an email message to
krnet-owner@list.krnet.org
stating that you are requesting to be added to the KRnet list. Along with this, please write a few sentences on who you are (name, address, and phone number), and why you'd like to join KRnet. This information will go no further than the list co-administrators (Mark Langford and John Bouyea), and is used only to verify that you are a real person....and not a spammer or a scammer. Your information is only used to verify that you'd like to join the list because you are genuinely interested in building a KR-like airplane.
For a LOT more detail on KRs and KR construction, including a many links to builder sites, see www.KRnet.org
Feel free to search the KRnet Archive for information on specific topics regarding the KR/FreeBird type aircraft.
Neither of us has ever requested any payment for this....in fact, we've paid for it ourselves (although we do get a very few unsolicited contributions). My point is that we are not in this for the money, and we're not going to suddenly charge money for these plans, hence the free downloads. We do it for the same reason as the rest, because we love these airplanes, and want to "spread the gospel!" If you are worried about continuity or sudden death, we both have "keys to the store" so we are somewhat redundant....at least in that respect!
So you can't wait for the FreeBird project's free plans? What's a builder to do? Well, there's what KR builders have been doing for years...WING IT! Get a set of KR2S plans from somebody on KRnet (some folks never quite get around to building the plane), and then make whatever changes you think you need, within reason, such as fuselage width or alternative engine. Whatever you do, make absolutely sure you perform an accurate weight and balance, to keep the plane safe. Although it doesn't happen often, pilots have been killed on first flights due to an aft CG situation. If you don't know how to do a weight and balance, find somebody that does, or do the research online.
Visit www.krnet.org for more details on how to sign up for the KRnet email list.
Photos below show two other "Freebird-like" homebuilt airplanes, essentially KR2S's stretched at least one bay (14"), plus a few inches between firewall and main spar to offset the xtra aft bay.
Chris Pryce's Corvair powered KR2S on his first flight, coming in for a smooth landing. Wheel pants were added after test flights were completed.
Roger Baalman's KR2S+ . Roger's plane won the "Bronze Lindy" award at "Airventure" 2019 in Oshkosh, despite being well hidden behind a huge field of RVs. Congratulations Roger!