I've heard for sometime that the R-22 is harder to fly than the little
ultralite Mosquito.  This past week end I took a 1/2 hr ride in an R-22.  In
my opinion the cyclic in the R-22 with its lack of feel or any kind of force
feedback is at least an order of magnitude more difficult to adjust to than
the Mosquito.  Had I tried to lift the R-22 off the grass without the
benefit of an instructor, I would probably have rolled it.  On the other
hand I have soloed two versions of the Mosquito with no trouble.  I think I
agree with the wags that claim if you can fly the R-22 you can fly anything.
It took me about 10 minutes before the instructor felt like leaving his hand
off the cyclic. I now have some stick time in several versions of the Bell
47s, a Brantly, 300CB, several different Safaris, two different Mosquitos, a
Huey UH-1N and the Hummingbird.  To date my pecking order in ease of flight
would start with the Huey, then the Mosquito, then the Brantly, then a toss
up with the Safaris and the Hummingbird, The Bells and the 300CB and
certainly last the R-22.
I did like the governor tho.

Stu Fields