I hope to go make my first flight within the next week or so. A few years back when I bought my previous aircraft I went through the same dilemma. I had no tail dragger experience, and the only available aircraft to get time in was a cub, I read up everything I could find relevant to cubs and my aircraft, and eventually decided to just go for it. Climbed in buckled up, pushed the throttle and did a fast taxi, a bit oh-err on the slowing down bit, taxied back, turned into wind and off and up a simple circuit and back down, a little bit of a bounce another oh-err slowing down and that was it. A hundred hours later still have the odd oh-err and bounce but I am reasonably happy landing that thing.
So now I have a KR and older and wiser ;-) This time round thought would get some "training" My local flying school has a single tail dragger - a cub so as I have not flown solo since last fall I went to do an hour to at least get back in the groove. It was an absolute waste of time (and £130), the CFI had me doing 15 mins of taxying, and then insisted on doing the take off, all I did was 30 mins of straight and level followed by some steep turns. As a final insult he showed me how to grease a landing. So how do I get relevent experience ? RV6 would be good, they are a lot heavier but probably as close as you will get. I share the view that you need to be comfortable in flight, but suspect that it does not matter too much on what - I think I would have been better off getting a couple of hours in a Tomahawk - with a good AFI than my Cub experience. Beyond that, it's a case of learning from other KR pilots, everyone knows that KRS are pitch happy, so treat the stick gently... I am greatfull for all you guys for your wisdom on how to fly the thing, so famous last words, I know what to expect and I have planned that first sortie over and over. All I need now is 8kt wind straight down the runway and I am gonna go for it. Pete
