Larry Flesner

Spouse: Sallie
1104 Mockingbird Lane
Carterville, Illinois 62918
• Project / aircraft: KR 2, 13 year build, first flight December 2003 total time 650 hours
• License: Commercial, SEL , mechanic license on 211LF only , 1500+ TT flight hours / 650 hours tail dragger
• Work status / occupation / business owned: retired Xerox service rep., part time work to keep flying
• Hobbies / interests: writing songs / poetry / guitar
• Comments: willing to help others with electrical / fiber glassing / etc.

I started building the KR in 1990 and first flight was December of 2003.  I made a number of changes to the plans such as a 24 inch stretch of the fuselage, longer than standard gear, no fuselage fuel tank but all fuel in the outer wing panels.  I’m using an 0-200 Continental in place of a VW engine and all structure above the top longeron was built in place with no plans.  I designed and built the instrument panel from scratch and it seems to work well for me.  

I started flight lessons in the flying club at Kelly AFB in 1964.  A Piper Colt rented for $6 per hour wet.  I finished my private license in 1969 after leaving the service and moving to southern Illinois to work for Xerox as a Field Service Representative.  I got my Commercial license on the G.I. bill in the early 70’s.  Flight time was in fits and spurts until the mid to late 90’s when I started flying skydivers at Carmi, Illinois.  I managed to get 150 hours there and gave that up when I purchased a 1955 Tripacer in 1998.  I managed to put 500 hours on the Tripacer before selling it in 2004 when the KR took to the skies.  I currently have 650 hours on the KR and overhauled the engine last spring.  My KR flies like a little fighter and is a great cross country machine.  It has been to Oshkosh 4 times now and I hope to do it again each year as long as I’m able.