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Have a '69 E-model that I'd like to get painted. I thought I'd do it right after a tank reseal down at KFXE (Ft Lauderdale Exec). I thought it would be easier to just get the plane towed from the tank reseal shop to the paint shop. I just got off the phone with the paint shop and am shocked at having been quoted $23,000 or more for a custom paint job that has a few stripes but isn't all that tremendously complicated. I am based in central North Carolina. Any recommendations for reputable East Coast shops that cost a lot less than $23,000? And how much are others spending on a full paintjob? Bartow FL's shop quoted me a lot less, but that was without all the details. Thanks in advance. JML

If you are flying an airplane where you need the automation to save you from a deteriorating flight situation, you probably shouldnt be flying that airplane.

I think this is probably true and what is doubly ironic is the airplane was more than capable of saving his life. Put on the autopilot, climb and call ATC for flight following to a VFR airport.

Not to digress.... After reading the thread, I think the guy was emboldened by a TAA Cirrus. Not bashing Cirrus or a lot of good Cirrus drivers, but the record on insurance rates and fatalities in type reflects a lot of fancy equipment emboldening low time pilots. In the end, it's still a plane and you have to fly and land it in the weather you can handle.

The biggest risk of flying at 1000' AGL (in flat country, at least) with 2000' ceiling is antennas. The new GPS's with terrain and obstacle alerts in their database can greatly reduce the risk of flying into them. Our Aera 500 is wired into the audio panel. It triggered an obstacle alert on an IFR departure a few days ago just as Approach called us with their alarms going off in the background. "Turn right immediately". There is a 1600' antenna just south of the airport. The Obstacle DP says heading 139 until passing 1600' before turning west. Due to strong winds aloft, our ground track was more like 170, bringing up within one mile of the antenna. We were still in VMC, but it still looked pretty close.

I guess the AMU (Aviation Monetary Unit) applies to scale models as well - 1/2 AMU for a desk ornament? John

I have the GTN-650 driving the 696. http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33781-right-side-of-panel/http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33781-right-side-of-panel/

If the plane is a keeper and you're definitely going to get the IR, then this sounds like a decent deal to me. Sounds like you have a great engine monitor already (I would place this as a higher priority than the GPS!). Do you have an autopilot? I have a 530W/430W combo and would highly, highly recommend the larger screen size if it is "only" 2k more. Add the relatively cheap Garmin power-data cable for your 696 so that the GTN flight plan data can be "pushed" downstream too. I haven't checked Jimmy G's latest evaluation tool, but I would expect you'll get a healthy hull value bump with a GTN installed as well FWIW.

For the past few weeks i have planned somePNP flights with some cold mornings so i built a cheap preheater and tried it out this weekend. The heater is simply a 100 watt bulb in a lamp socket and a 2nd in a porcelain fixture. They are wired together to a timer switch. The loose bulb i placed up through the cowl vent over the gear close to the oil pan. The fixture goes under the dash right behind the gear lever. I set the timer to come on at midnite and go off at 9am. Without it i measured temps. Hangar metal away from plane was 40deg one morning around 9. The wings were c38. Thru the oil svc port the engine to was c36. Sat nite i plugged it in and Sun at 8 i measured hangar wall 34, WINGS 35, engine top 52! I did no measure inside but it was noticeably warmer than outside. I put two bath towels over the top(all i had there) of cowl. I'd say it works. I made it with 2 bulbs for the engine but only have one now. Pictures coming after next trip to airport. I only plan to turn on when using plane next morning. Bill

Interesting that you have a rare, one-off, unstallable Mooney. Maybe you should patent this feature. Are your fuel tanks also more full after a flight than before? ;-)

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing. Side note...I too can remember things from the 60's clearly. It is what I did yesterday that is a challenge. Getting old aint for sissies!

I too am ready to buy a M20J or M20K, probably a 1979. Cash buyer.

I'm thinking of buying a 530 just to trade up to the Caddy! -a-