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As a retired LEO (cop) my view is that flying and ramp checks are much like a driver's license and traffic stops. The only real difference is the police need probable cause to stop you. Then they will check for valid license, current registration, inspection etc..again a driver's license is only a privilege, not a right. By exercising the the "privilege" to drive we also accept the fact that we may be stopped and checked if a LEO feels there is just cause. If all is in order you are on your way. As pilots we took certain tests to earn the "privilege" to fly. A ramp check is merely a traffic stop so to speak conducted by FAA at the airport..A ramp inspector has more discretion and has more latitude to pick who he checks. On the brighter side as most have noted he only makes safety suggestions and you are on your way. Getting cuffed and stuffed into his FAA sedan is unlikely. Wrapping up...It was a not to long ago that a GA crash happened. The guy had no flight review, consumed alcohol prior, the plane was out of annual and no medical. A recent ramp check may have saved a few lifes. I admit I'll probably be the first guy to bitch about being delayed because of a ramp check, but it's part of the "Privilege". As far as all the other posts about government theory, big brother and rights etc. I'm a simple guy. It's just a safety check, no more, no less. If you have your stuff in order you are good to go.

Rockydoc, I think you're missing something. You don't have a right to tell the FAA inspector to go away because you're too busy for a ramp check. His internal policies tell him that he should, and if he refuses you may have the basis for a complaint to the FSDO or the FAA IG, but that doesn't confer a substantive right on the pilot. I didn't exercise the "I'm too busy" clause when I was ramp checked, for a few reasons. First, I wasn't aware of it at the time. Second, even if I had been, I just wasn't that busy. And really, how many of us are? It would take the inspector about 5 minutes to verify the documentation. I suspect it's a fairly rare case for any of us when we can't spare 5 minutes at the end of a flight.

Well I just bought my very first airplane and it is this M20J. Some of the things that drew me to this model are the speed, economy, build quality and solid flight characteristics. I am a larger pilot at 6'3 and 250 yet feel quite comfortable in it. Seems to have more room than the Arrow I had flown regularly prior to buying this one. I have a fair amount of time in a G1000 equipped 182 as well as a Diamond DA40 which is closer to the Cirrus you described. There is certainly more room in those two planes, but I am really drawn to the speed and beauty of the Mooney. The 201 is a solid IFR machine as we experienced a lot of weather bringing her home to Las Vegas from Palm Bach Florida. You can check out my flight stats on flightaware.com . Put in N5760Y and you will see that flight. It is broken up into four legs. Palm Beach to Mobile Alabama. Mobile to Addison Texas. Texas to Albuquerque New Mexico. And final leg to Henderson Executive (Las Vegas). We of course had headwinds the whole way but made really good time. We flew a total of about 12 hours over two days. Average fuel burn was 9gph. Hard to beat. I would tell you this. Are the quarters smaller in the Mooney? Yes. But with that kind of speed and efficiency it is a hard plane to beat. The range is excellent. The speed is great. The plane is beautiful. I am in love with it. I don't think you can go wrong with it.

HMR - YOUI think it's scary? That's the shot the avionics shop sent ME about 1 week into the panel upgrade! Note I also posted an "after" shot in a later post.

That has to be one of the scariest pics I have seen in some time!

Maybe there is some more to this than you are telling, but from what you wrote, your A&P gets multiple cars repaired free and $100 every time he signs off on your work. The only thing he is having to do is assume liability for your work. I wish I had an A&P license and a hundred guys like you. I would buy a good liability insurance policy and everything is good.

HRM, You may be the exception rather than the rule. I flew mine and had that zen thing going the plane flew great but not being in Mooney's I had no comparison. The owner did owner assisted annuals and got accustomed to the way the plane flew so all seemed fine to him. I had Don Maxwell do the pre-buy. He taxied the plane out and he said it road like a tank and he was exhausted before taking off! That taxi ride alone saved me $3,000! So a quality pre-buy will pay for itself 90% of the time.

Mod works of Punta Gorda contracted with me and the insurance company to fix some hail damage. Included in the work was new wing skins. When I picked up the plane it looked great only later did I discover the skins were only bondoed over not replaced. They took the money but did not do the job. Later when I called Coy Jacobs version of the business in Venice I found the crook I dealt with from Punta Gorda on the other end of the line. Would not trust anything from these guys. If you think you were treated right by these guys the they did a better job of FOOLING you that they did with me. Cause I guarantee they screwed everyone they ever dealt with. Their "happy" customers just didn't figure out that they had been screwed. PT Barnum was their patron saint.

I installed a fabric boot years ago ( I think Aero comfort). I know my Alzheiemrs may be showing ....but it seems to me that I installed mine from underneath the floor. Not near my hangar right now , so I may be mistaken ( I've had years of practice , being mistaken .....the only thing that I'm really good at ! )