Rand KR 1(s) of New Zealand (Only One to Date)

The Rand Robinson KR 1 was a very innovative homebuilt design as it was the first to use foam and fibreglass composite construction. It was designed by Ken Rand and first appeared at Oshkosh in 1972. The structure is basic wood and ply, but the surface contours are formed by polyurethane foam which is formed to the shapes required and then covered by Dynel fabric which is impregnated with resin. This allows compound curves to be easily formed, and after sanding a smooth surface results. The wings have 2 wooden spars with polyurethane ribs which are again covered with resin impregnated Dynel fabric. The flying surfaces are simply cut out and reattached with hinges. The original models featured a manually retractable undercarriage but it can also be built with fixed gear.

The KR 1 is a really small aircraft. Its length is 12 feet 9 inches (3.89 metres) and its wingspan is 17 feet (5.17 metres), and its wing area is 62 square feet (5.74 square metres). Its empty weight is 375 pounds (170 Kg) and its MAUW is 750 pounds (340 Kg). Maximum speed is 200 MPH (320 Km/hr).

The photos are from the Keith Morris collection.


ZK-EKT (c/n AACA/451) was built by Bob Maisey of Taupo, and was first registered on 18/9/78. It had very smooth lines with its in-line Walter Mikron engine which was out of Tipsy Belfair ZK-BGZ (another interesting aircraft to blog - it was written off after a crash at Rotorua in December 1956). It was named Miss Taupo and it is photo'd here at the 1982 AACA flyin at Taupo. Bob Maisey flew a lot of hours in ZK-EKT and then sold it to his sons R R and G B Maisey, also of Taupo, on 18/9/96.

It is photo'd here at Taupo after refurbishment and repainting, in 1997. It is still current but I haven't seen it for a long time.