I'm about to buy a flying Starduster Too. I need to get trained up so I don't bend my pretty new bird.
I've got 600 hours in ultralights (trike + fixed wing) years ago, and in the last 18 months I have 130 hours in Cessnas, 15 in a Mooney, and 6 in taildraggers.
My tailwheel time is mostly in Cubs. There are a few Cub CFI's around, and one or two with a Citabria. I'm not aware of any actual biplane instructors within a few hundred miles of Lexington, KY.
At the moment, I'm getting as much training as I can arrange in the Cub's. Once I get Cub cross-wind landings dialed in (haven't attempted any yet), I anticipate focusing on the Citabria to get closer to the weight and speeds of the Starduster. If I found a small biplane instructor (or a private pilot inclined to share skills), I'd jump on that in a heartbeat.
Most folks are giving my plan a thumbs-up...but a few people (whom I trust) are very leery of taking on a Starduster without a substantial amount of tailwheel experience under my belt.
Any suggestions? Am I missing anything or talking myself into a corner?
I've got 600 hours in ultralights (trike + fixed wing) years ago, and in the last 18 months I have 130 hours in Cessnas, 15 in a Mooney, and 6 in taildraggers.
My tailwheel time is mostly in Cubs. There are a few Cub CFI's around, and one or two with a Citabria. I'm not aware of any actual biplane instructors within a few hundred miles of Lexington, KY.
At the moment, I'm getting as much training as I can arrange in the Cub's. Once I get Cub cross-wind landings dialed in (haven't attempted any yet), I anticipate focusing on the Citabria to get closer to the weight and speeds of the Starduster. If I found a small biplane instructor (or a private pilot inclined to share skills), I'd jump on that in a heartbeat.
Most folks are giving my plan a thumbs-up...but a few people (whom I trust) are very leery of taking on a Starduster without a substantial amount of tailwheel experience under my belt.
Any suggestions? Am I missing anything or talking myself into a corner?
