Don't forget that this is all an insurance issue.  If you are really
confident in your skills, you are perfectly free to fly your plane without
insurance.  That is what I did, but I had 70 hrs of tail drager time in the
last 4 years. While I did not have any TD time in the last 2 years, the
rest
of my flying skills were very current.

I'm not sure when you last flew a tail drager or how many hours you have in
them.  I'm not sure when you last flew any aircraft at all.  I can't blame
an insurance company for requiring you be current before they cover you.
There is no question that flying is a skill that fades over time.

I am happy to let you have some time in the right side of my plane (leaving
me the brakes), then later in the back of your RV-4 (again leaving me the
brakes).  But when you are ready to climb into the front of your RV-4 for
the first time, I probably won't be in the back - I won't be any help to
you
back there. All you can do to get back up to speed is helpful.  If you
don't
want to sell the 182, then maybe get it flying.  Then you don't need to
 pay
any instructor to get yourself lots of practice.  Having your landings in a
tri-gear down pat will mean that during the tail dagger practice you can
concentrate on ground handling and transitioning to the RV.

In my opinion, when you are ready to risk your life to your flying skills,
risking the value of your aircraft is a small wager.  I wouldn't be too
worried about insurance, be worried about whether or not you are ready.  If
you want it long term, that is fine.  It will be easy to get insurance
after
you have a good bit of time in your aircraft.

Dave
--
David Leonard

Turbo Rotary RV-6 N4VY
http://N4VY.RotaryRoster.net
http://RotaryRoster.net


Thanks for your thoughts and concern on this subject Dave.

BTW I got the ELT out of the Cessna and I am getting a new battery for it.
One of my former jobs back in the aero space industry was an antenna
engineer so I'll build an ELT antenna to fit under the roll over bar.
Do you see any problems with that. I may put the comm antenna there
as well. Less drag. Also I understand that Jim Weir published
some do's and dont's. Anybody have a copy of that?

Paul Lamar

Paul,

I hope I don't sound like I think I know anything special, but I really have
to second what David Leonard said about tail draggers.  They are WAY
different to land than nose gear in crosswinds.  If you can always make sure
you land into the wind till you get comfortable in it you will be fine.
Nothing difficult at all until you get a crosswind.  You won't believe how
much that plane is going to want to turn on its own and head off the runway.
I had over a 1000 hours in my Bonanza when rodeoing.  I could land it
anywhere anytime.  I once lit on a little narrow strip in S. Dak. right
after thunderstorm went through in a crosswind with inch of water on runway.
I put it down in at least a 30 degree crab (seemed like 45) and hydoplaned
down the runway in the water in that configuration until slow enough to
straighten out.  All in perfect control and not even worried.  So, I know
about crosswinds.   I put over a hundred hours a month on a plane during
spring and summer rodeoing.  Not, as much travel requirement in winter
because rodeos were in buildings and lasted longer.  But, I flew my 180 for
almost two years before I knew what a wheel landing was.  I often flew in
over 100 hours a month.  And still even after I learned what a wheel landing
was, I ran it off the runway 3 or 4 times.  Fortunately I never wrecked it
but came awful close to a fence once.  Had to ground loop it just before I
hit and hope my wing didn't drop too much and hit the ground.  But,  my
brakes were worthless.  If I had had good Cleveland brakes, I don't think I
would have ever went off a runway.  It happens when you lose brake steering
when brakes get hot.  Pedal just goes to the floor all of a sudden and you
have no more control and away you go.  I doubt if you will have that
situation in a your plane.  I would think your brakes will never let go.

You will be fine.  But, STAY AWAY FROM CROSSWINDS UNTIL YOU GET SOME TIME.

Does anyone know how to get from the airport in Appleton (Applegate?? can)
to Oshkosh??  Sort of feel like a traitor for going but had plane ticket and
house rented before Paul told me how greedy they had become.

Sure enjoy reading all the great tech info on this site.  Bunch of brilliant
people.

Van Vannoy