Gotcha, Training/time in type is more relevant than total time. That answers my original question. As long as we invest in good tradition training, we should have no problem. Now we just need to find the right plane.
Thanks roscoe
T
) and a mighty heave. The -6 just needs one finger and your thumb on the stick and a slight flick of the wrist and you're at an 80-90 degree bank like *right-this-split-second* 
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Although I've not flown one myself, the -9 is reportedly nowhere near as "twitchy" as a 6/7/8, it's supposed to be quite stable while still being responsive and have noticeably heavier stick forces than the others. The 4-seat RV-10 also is not twitchy at all, I've flown a -10 and it was very easy and pure bliss for a big 4-seater, waaay much lighter on the controls and responsive than my old Cherokee. I was told it is just a little lighter on the controls than a Bonanza, but I've never flown a Bo, so I don't know how they feel.
Saying a -6 is as easy to fly as a Cherokee is a bit of a stretch. It's "easy" as in the control stick forces are very light and you don't have to push any controls hard, but it is much more "difficult" to fly than a Cherokee in that you have to be very gentle on the controls and be on your toes, quick thinking, and paying attention all the time prepared to make brisk changes in pitch or roll when needed, and to not chase the airspeed needle coming down final. Yeah, you can definitely say a -6 can be considered "twitchy".
I flew a Cherokee for 10 years and 800 hours, and you can basically turn your brain off in the landing flare and the plane will land itself just fine. In the RV-6, you're flying the thing until you shut the engine off. The old saying "You're not done flying, till you're tying..." really applies.
Also a Cherokee has a 30 degree per second roll rate... the RV-6 is about 150 degrees per second roll rate. To stand a Cherokee up on a wingtip in a really steep bank takes both hands on the yoke (or better yet one hand on each yoke so you can get more leverage
Once you've become accustomed to how an RV-6 flies, then yes it is "easy", but as I've mentioned elsewhere in the past... my transitioning from the Cherokee to the two-seater RVs (mostly -4, -6, -8) was a lot like learning how to fly an airplane all over again for the first few hours until I got the hang of the extreme nimbleness and responsiveness after so many years and hours of flying a wallowing pig of a spamcan and having that kind of aircraft handling experience so thoroughly engraved into my brain.
Two questions - 1) What's your experience providing transition training in high performance tailwheel aerobatic planes to high time or airline types who have never touched a tailwheel? Many people take around 8 hours to get their tailwheel endorsement. You can solo a zero hour pilot in an RV or other "easy" tailwheel pilot in the same amount of time. This is not a new concept among tailwheel instructors. 2) What is it about sitting in an airliner with your arms folded for thousands of hours that builds stick and rudder skills, making one better equipped to transition into a tailwheel airplane? Look, I know airline flying is a skilled profession and discipline unto itself. Not saying otherwise. But we're talking about pure stick and rudder skills and hand-eye coordination. Thinking airline drivers are better equipped is sorta like saying the professional bus driver is more likely to quickly pick up rally racing skills than someone off the street. Bad example, bus drivers have more "wheel time". And your RV-6 is more like 120 max. Go accurately time a complete roll.
I know this touches a nerve.
Thinking airline drivers are better equipped is sorta like saying the professional bus driver is more likely to quickly pick up rally racing skills than someone off the street. Bad example, bus drivers have more "wheel time".
And don't tell me you've BTDT with what he's done.
30 degrees per second for the hershey wing Cherokee 140 is the rate published in Piper Owner magazine some years ago. A taperwing Warrior, especially the 1974 model with Frise ailerons, rolls much quicker. That 50-60 deg/sec is probably accurate for that model with the different wing. After flying a 140 for a decade, I tend to believe that 30 deg/sec rate is probably pretty realistic and I would not try to roll one myself, as the nose drops way too quickly and a split-S is sure to ensue unless a Bob Hoover or Matt Yonkin or equivalent pilot is at the controls. Many years ago, some fellow was observed rolling a Warrior over Lake Altus, Oklahoma, not too far from here. He rolled it several times before plunging it into the lake killing himself and his passenger. The autopsy report found alcohol and drugs in his bloodstream.
Oh I do turns and stuff sometimes too. On rare occasion I even work up the courage to do stalls and spins.
