New guy from FL checking in

[WheelBuster]

Long time lurker and new member checking in. Orlando based and hoping to meet some of the local crowd eventually. No Mooney yet, I am in the earlier stages of getting my license but am keeping a 2-3x/week schedule with a goal of finishing end of year or January. If things go as planned I hope to join the Mooney crowd in the near future! 

[flyingvee201]

Does your Mooneyname mean you love doing hard landings?   Busting wheels?  LOL

Welcome aboard!  :-)

[WheelBuster]

Does your Mooneyname mean you love doing hard landings?   Busting wheels?  LOL

Welcome aboard!  :-)

 

Fortunately not, but I saw that coming when I was registering  That was a nickname from many years ago as a young guy playing in the local weekend golf game. I have every intention of that never being tied to a landing! 

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard.

There is a strong Florida contingent here...

Best regards,

-a-

[David Mazer]

There are a number of us with Mooneys at SFB.  At which airport do you reside?

[WheelBuster]

There are a number of us with Mooneys at SFB.  At which airport do you reside?

 

I am closest to KORL (about 15 min south of it) but am training up at Orlando Apopka (X04). 

[rbridges]

I am closest to KORL (about 15 min south of it) but am training up at Orlando Apopka (X04). 

 

How is the airport?  my brother lives in the Orlando area.  It looks like apopka is the closest.  I've been planning to fly down to visit him.

[1964-M20E]

How is the airport?  my brother lives in the Orlando area.  It looks like apopka is the closest.  I've been planning to fly down to visit him.

When I go down there I fly into KORL real nice people at Sheltair. KORL is the closest to my daughter other than KMCO but I'd rather not deal with MCO since everything cost more over there.

 

If I were ever to move to Orlando area I think I’d try to be close to Apopka they seem to have a nice airport.

[WheelBuster]

How is the airport?  my brother lives in the Orlando area.  It looks like apopka is the closest.  I've been planning to fly down to visit him.

 

I like it, it was one of the reasons I chose the flight school up there. Very nice people, not too crowded, light flight traffic, decent runway just a tad narrow (60ft), at least for a new guy. Fuel seems reasonably prices around 4.75 for 100LL (unlike 6.xx at KORL). Much more scenic flying in and out (unless you want to see lots of buildings and neighborhoods). 

[David Mazer]

How is the airport?  my brother lives in the Orlando area.  It looks like apopka is the closest.  I've been planning to fly down to visit him.

X04 has great fuel prices but the runway undulates up and down.  Especially on 33.  I usually try to land just past the threshold and let it come up to meet me.  Then I have to ride the downslope and let the plane lose speed and fully settle onto the ground.  The ground run is always longer than other airports because of this but the runway is long enough.  Once on the ground, the taxi has a slope up on the runway side and utility boxes on the other and large drains at each intersection.  I end up taxiing all over the place to weave in and out always watching the runway side not to hit the slope.

 

I go there pretty often, and I seem to run into a fair amount of traffic for a small uncontrolled airport, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for transients other than the great fuel prices.  Oh, the people are nice and there is a descent A&P with Mooney experience there but the FBO has no real amenities other than a bathroom.

 

There are other airports around with more services, closer to town, better runways, and higher prices.  Orlando has a lot of options.  Depends on your goals.

[WheelBuster]

X04 has great fuel prices but the runway undulates up and down.  Especially on 33.  I usually try to land just past the threshold and let it come up to meet me.  Then I have to ride the downslope and let the plane lose speed and fully settle onto the ground.  The ground run is always longer than other airports because of this but the runway is long enough.  Once on the ground, the taxi has a slope up on the runway side and utility boxes on the other and large drains at each intersection.  I end up taxiing all over the place to weave in and out always watching the runway side not to hit the slope.

 

I go there pretty often, and I seem to run into a fair amount of traffic for a small uncontrolled airport, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for transients other than the great fuel prices.  Oh, the people are nice and there is a descent A&P with Mooney experience there but the FBO has no real amenities other than a bathroom.

 

There are other airports around with more services, closer to town, better runways, and higher prices.  Orlando has a lot of options.  Depends on your goals.

 

Even better feedback from someone with a lot more experience than me!