Insurance for tailwheel RV's: what you need to know.

[jestes]

RV Pilots

If you are building a tailwheel RV or looking to buy one please note that most insurance companies are now requiring pilots to have 200 total hours and 25 tailwheel hours to quote flying coverage. If you are buying a used tailwheel RV and you are under these hours there are still markets that will quote you, these are our transitional markets and they will insure you when others may not. However if you are building a tailwheel RV there are only 4 insurance companies that will cover the test phase period and they are not the same transitional markets. The carriers that will cover your test phase are the ones requiring these higher hours. With that said we may still be able to get one of these markets to quote you but its not guaranteed as they have become more strict and its not as easy as it was in the past. So don't be surprised if you are a lower time pilot and can't get a quote.

Please take the time to prepare yourself so you not denied coverage when it comes time to buying flight insurance. Try to build up as much tailwheel time as you can during your build stage as this will help you in the end.

Please contact me at jestes@nationair.com with any questions you have.

Regards,

Jenny Estes
NationAir - Sales Manager Light aircraft office

[DaAV8R]

Thanks Jenny,

That is great info. It is always a bit of a mystery how many and what type of hours are required to get over the insurance hurdles. I recently purchased a Cessna 120 to fly while I build. I received quotes on the 120 from my long time trusted broker and Nationair. Much to my surprise, Nationair was more responsive and provided better and cheaper options. I purchased my insurance from Nationair.

At the rate I am building I think I will have about 4,000 hours of tailwheel experience by the time the -8 is done

[jestes]

Originally Posted by DaAV8R

Thanks Jenny,

That is great info. It is always a bit of a mystery how many and what type of hours are required to get over the insurance hurdles. I recently purchased a Cessna 120 to fly while I build. I received quotes on the 120 from my long time trusted broker and Nationair. Much to my surprise, Nationair was more responsive and provided better and cheaper options. I purchased my insurance from Nationair.

At the rate I am building I think I will have about 4,000 hours of tailwheel experience by the time the -8 is done

Thanks Robert that is good to know. Yes we hear that all the time, if only you could just work on building the aircraft all day every day

[tkatc]

Originally Posted by jestes

Yes we hear that all the time, if only you could just work on building the aircraft all day every day

There are people that do that???

Thanks for the info!

[RV7Ron]

This is valuable info...I had checked with Jenny about a year ago and she recommended 200/25 to me back then. Consequently, as I close in on my first flight I have 200/40 so mission accomplished...but I had a year to get there, which helps a lot. Plan ahead.

[scard]

I also find this helpful, although I got this message over a cold beer in a back yard last week. The beer delivery method of insurance info was much more enjoyable . Thanks Jenny.

[bkthomps]

that's why I bought my RV-4 which I'm now selling, great way to do some weekend RV style trips and get TW time while building

My RV-7 is getting closer to flying now and I've got plenty of tailwheel time built up

[wjb]

Looks like I gotta keep my Citabria time up ... It's a bit underpowered, but it does have a stick and it's sure fun to fly!

(just checked the log book ... 244 hours TT, with 70 in the Citabria and 4.5 in a Super D ... half of that upside down!)

[issu14]

Originally Posted by wjb

Looks like I gotta keep my Citabria time up ... It's a bit underpowered, but it does have a stick and it's sure fun to fly!

I'm in the same position 240/20 tw in a Citabria. Working on the wings (can't get enough of that stick stuff)

[crabandy]

I was surprised, couple hundred RV hours ( almost exclusively instrument instruction in A models), 30 hours tailwheel (champ, citabria, tailwind) and I'm insured. Still going to get some 7 tailwheel time prior to fist flight.
Another hour or 5 is always beneficial for the pilot and the insurance company with the right instructor.