The perfect $25K aircraft although the W10 Tailwind is better :-)
I have a friend who has a W10 that'll do about 205 mph on an O-320, climbs at 2000 fpm with CS prop, is easy to get into, seats two in pretty good comfort, operates from small airports and has room for bags. About the same performance as an RV4 with more room and not particularly hard to fly. Wittman was a practical genius who learned from air racing so long ago that basically nobody is alive to remember it first hand.
Its also outrageously loud in the cabin, handles a bit weirdly, is delicately constructed and impresses no one but those who know. Actually the appeal is just that. In order to appreciate the Tailwind you need to mentally separate yourself from 2014 and put yourself into a time when going fast, far, free and cheap was the objective... And you did it more so than you talked endlessly about it. Some get it, some don't
Edited to add that I was right seat when this was taken.
