You'll still likely have to do the 5 hours conversion to RAA. Part 61 helps you go the other way to upgrade but not GA to RAA. Happy for it to be pointed out if I am incorrect. RAA is a seperate entity so until such time that they change their ops manual there would be no automatic change come part 61 time.
If you are GA now, part 61 doesn't really help you much in saving on cost other than being able to utilise the drivers licence medical and that was available before part 61 anyway.
The 5 hours conversion prepares you for high drag low inertia machines amongst other things. That 5 hours is not necessarily dual.
That aside, if you are a weekend 152 or 172 pilot you will struggle to fly a Jabiru at first and would probably take a couple of hours minimum to be comfortable yourself let alone convincing them you are safe to take their aircraft solo. It's not rocket science however they fly quite differently and are less forgiving than a 172. You will likely enjoy flying a relatively new aircraft versus a 30 year old one.
Ps Horatio seems I was writing this when you wrote yours.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 23rd Oct 2013 at 08:29.