Well you really have received some great advice here and there are many excellent warbird pilots in the UK who have not come from the ranks of the FJ's. Peter Kynsey, Brian Smith, Paul Bonhomme, Alan Wade, Stuart Goldspink, Taff Smith, Lindsey Walton, Clive Denney and Brian Brown to name but a few. Most have graduated through the aerobatic fraternity and all have shed loads of tailwheel experience in high performance aircraft like the Pitts.
Alternatively you could win the lottery.
Perhaps, in view of my background, I should use a handle "Barnstormer 1963" 'cos thats when we kicked off the circus.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
