DAVE - I know, quite bizzare isn't it, but the anwser is yes. Its a bit of an anomoly with the single seaters.....but it still has to be signed off BUT after you have conducted a flight (sorry, might have put you crook with my previous comment. I wasn't thinking about singles when I wrote that). For example the PW5 and LS4 involved a briefing and sitting in the machine - followed by an observed flight from the ground, and having satisfied the instructor, I was signed off as type rated. Same for the Pawnee - involved the instructor sitting on the wing and going thru things - watching me conduct 3 takeoff and landings and then signed me off as type rated.
FUJI - I get your point, while I agree that a discussion ( or as you say - argument) should stack up on its own merits, I also believe that when stating something, at times, its prudent to back it up. I could easily have said don't worry about checklists-waste of time, having only flown 1 aircraft. However on this debate, I thought it prudent to state that I had flown a wide range of aircraft (Quote "I'm type rated in over 40 different aircraft, including helicopters and gliders") to provide substance or credence to my comments regarding the checklists. And no...I don't have a million hours.
Cheers