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After speaking extensively with John Yodice, general counsel for the AOPA and the guy that writes all of their authoritative legal articles, I consented to him having the AOPA follow up with the CBP/DHS about my incident. A few days later a couple of AOPA employees sent me an email saying: “AOPA had a sit-down with the folks at CBP yesterday and we met with the head of the Air Interdiction effort while Mark had a good meeting with the Commissioner. I briefly discussed the general circumstances surrounding your stop and the leadership was appalled. They asked if I could share the information so that they could conduct an internal review and take appropriate disciplinary actions. I advised them that I would need to check with you (didn’t reveal name or dates in my conversation) and would get back to them.” After receiving that email, I called AOPA and had a long discussion with them expressing my fears that should I pursue this matter with CBP/DHS as they encouraged me to do for the sake of “the cause” that CBP/DHS would go to the FAA and create all sorts of havoc for me. I’ve rarely seen a government agency investigation that didn’t try to somehow shift the blame to the complaintant and retaliate totally out of proportion to things. But, after discussing it with my wife, we arrived at the mutual decision that we have a duty to stand up and be counted and give AOPA the go ahead. Yeah, just like I did when I told them they couldn’t search my airplane without a search warrant and I wanted an attorney before I would talk to them anymore. I can’t express the anxiety that I am having over having made that decision, but its done. So what happens, happens. Keep your fingers crossed for me and wish me luck.

Well...I had a new aviation experience..........I have an aquaintence that passed away. I expected to hear when the recieving of friends would be, I heard nothing. The next thing I heard was that there would be a memorial at his favorite airport. There was a huge crowd, music, food, and lots of airplanes, this truly was a celebration of his life as he loved flying. His wishes were to always be around the airport and planes, he will be as he was scattered from his plane and a procession of airplanes flew by afterward, I was a part of that. When Dave's Commanche landed part of him was still on the plane, maybe its just me but it was a different feeling knowing that I was part of something like that. R.I.P. Dr. Dave Bennett MAW

The May Issue of The Mooney Flyer is here. You can access it at www.TheMooneyFlyer.com In this issue: Ø Flying Mooneys in Turbulence by Phil Corma Ø Everything you need to know about Carbureted Mooneys and Maintenance/Repairs by Paul Loewen Ø Pull a Cylinder for low compressions? Maybe not! by Master A&P Cliff Biggs Ø Getting Your Mind Right by Master CFI Mike Elliott Ø Really Dude? 1/4 tank? by Jim Price Ø MAPA Convention by Shery Loewen Ø Musings on Mooneys by CFI Geoff Lee Ø Mooney Tale to Glacier Park by Linda Corman Plus an expansion of Upcoming Events around the USA and now, Europe also! Bringing the Mooney family together, one event at a time. Phil & Jim

Well... - they have to improve for many reasons...

Thanks for the update. Truly is a mystery.

Rockydoc - you are doing the right thing and we're with you. Our forefathers didn't fight for our liberties so that they can be trampled. We are a nation founded on the principle of freedom. It is our job to defend that...

I just climb and maintain 70 degrees...

I went and retrieved my plane from Spicewood today. The good news is that it performed admirably on the 70 minute flight home. The bad news is that we know no more than we did before about the relationship (or non relationship) between the head failure and the vacuum pump failure. I plan on changing the oil again in 10 or 12 hours. If no metal, I will believe the metal came from the rocker/shaft/valve interaction at the time of the failure. If I find metal again, will send it off for analysis and go from there.

Thanks Mike, but Hector at Aero Comfort put one in the mail for me today. Gary - thanks for the great recommendation!

This is an evaporative cooler. It cools by evaporating water. This process, by definition, adds water vapor into the air. This is good and these are efficient if you're in a hot DRY climate. If you use this in the airplane though you'll be introducing a ton of humidity into the cabin! This promotes corrosion and not a good idea! The best option is the B-Kool cooler which actually removes humidity from the air. The B-Kool is an awesome cooler and a great value. The most efficient cooler of its type. http://www.b-kool.net/product-details.html See also: http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11954-b-kool-introduces-new-product-line-portable-cooling-as-low-as-27900/?p=148679

Very nice F model came up on the forum a couple of days ago. I have a very nice F model but the one posted looks really good. Personally I like the room, 64 gallon tanks, better useful load. Almost bought an E model but got a an F for about the same price. I do take four a people quite often so it fits my purpose. Like everyone said the E model has the speed by a small margin but after flying a Cherokee at 100knots for nine years, 145knots is just fine. Good luck

I'm out of Wilgrove (abt 20 air miles away)... I may be wrong but I think My guy at Wilgrove would come look at it. His name is Mark Howell.. 704 6985739. He's an honest guy and if he can't fix it he'll tell ya BILL

I am sure the J is the more efficient than an Ovation on a $/mile basis. But I sure do like the extra speed and am quite happy with the fuel burn, modern feel and look and comfort of the Ovation. Everyone complains about full fuel load on the later models but I have never left anything behind. Basically, if it will fit in the plane it can go. With 90 gallons fuel capacity and 180-190 knots with 13-15gph LOP, I can leave off some fuel and add some baggage and still travel a long way. I don't agree that it is exponentially more expensive to maintain a 6 banger than a 4 unless it is a turbo. Based on my experience, the real increase in maintenance costs over legacy aircraft is the avionics. But that comes with any model. If you are only concerned about efficiency, you shouldn't be flying a aircraft anyway. Take the Prius. There are a host of reasons to consider an Ovation over a J. Or the other way around depending on your budget and mission and style.

Don't forget your wing mounted selfie shot! http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33221-dollar/

Things I wish I could have installed in my Mooney: The Garmin G3X Touch avionics suite with digital autopilot - $6k. Amsafe airbag seatbelts. The King KT74 ADSB out enabled transponder. Gami Prism. I do not feel safer knowing that the FAA prevents me from installing these by the difficulties of their STC process making it economically difficult for these reputable companies from offering their products to me. That said, I am flying certified since over all the system works pretty well. This "half way" experimental category is tempting.

Very valid points but with the proposed approach at least the market will settle out for itself and not be artificially inflated and or restricted by the gov’t.

Oh… please, please, please!!!

Experimentals have had this for years. It seems to work fine for them. I don't see the downside? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Darwin effect would soon cleanse the pilot population!

I use three cameras to tape some of my flights. I don't try to control the taping while I fly. I just edit them down afterwards. To attach the cameras I use the provided mounts (they are strong enough to hold the cameras in place) and place the cameras on the inspection plates. Here is a link to one of the taped flights.