Leaderboard

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I decided to use a combination of one of the Mooney designs from Oshkosh, but change the tail to reflect the original paint scheme on my airplane. If Mooney decides to use the same paint scheme I've chosen, I don't want my airplane to look exactly like all the others. I think I want the red to be more burgundy but overall I really like the way this turned out. The wings will be the same as the design on the Mooney board. I haven't tried to attach pictures before, but here's the sketch from the paint shop showing how it should look when complete.

From this point forward o think we should have a "slowest groundspeed" contest.

$250 Total. Well, I already had the Jeep. Spent $90 on the tow bar and $160 to weld a trailer hitch with a cotter pin attachment on the front. Bring on the snow and ice! Ok, hold off another month or two on the snow and ice. But I'm ready.

I heard the song on the radio the other day. Made me think of the video and Mooney flying! Best regards, -a-

Kurt, Absolutely amazing job on the video. Thanks for capturing the passion of our hobby and why we do what we do. (Whether others think we're crazy or not!) ~Abe

Wow.. awesome video!! Shows what flying is all about!

Looking forward to a write-up of this event as I'm leaning towards this unit and the KT-74 to meet the ADS-B requirements. Thinking that I have an all BK stack now so it may be an easier integration.

The paper work + 150lbs GWI is for the 201's (1989 and up), not he 252. The only GWI for the 252, that I know of, is the Encore conversion. One gentleman who frequents this board did it a few years back and I am sure he'll join this thread. Or use the search tools and you will find a chronicle of his conversion. Edit...well there you go...his post preceded mine.

If you turn off the master the speed brakes will snap closed if extended. They probably need a lub. You have to remove them for that. Never use a spay lube as it will get on the clutches. Make sure the drains are clean and open. Dirt builds up at the bottom and clogs the drain. When you fly high / cold they will freeze and possibly damage the units if you extend them while frozen because of a clogged drain. When I leave the plane out of the hanger for extended periods, I put some painters blue tape over the speed brake opening to keep them clean.

Don't know the conditions, but I had one similar incident where I am certain ice in the mechanism was the cause. I had been flying in below freezing air and needed to descent rapidly. I got into some rain on the way down and although the conditions were above freezing the wing was still cold. I have not been inside the mechanism, but it appears to have drains that extend below the wing. I was pretty sure that ice had formed inside and stopped one brake from working properly. Once on the ground the brakes worked and have ever since.

The paint shop I'm using is Arizona Aircraft Painting located at KFFZ - Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ. Mostly I chose them because that's where I base my airplane. I thought about using other places but I decided to go with a local company in case I need touch up work later. Also, I can drop in on them from time to time and check on the progress.

My best personal one: Try http://www.groundspeedrecords.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=83&Itemid=1219 to really open your eyes!

Remove the speed brake units from the wing. Disassemble them clean and lubricate the worm and sector gears and the pivot points. Don't lube the clutch! Reassemble them. When tightening the screws for the case make sure the blades lay evenly in the assembly. They can get a little cattywampus.

100LL doesn't evaporate well, when below 20°F. People with a C know this because their arm tires from pumping the throttle so much on cold days... The POH is written mostly for operations. MS is most often written for handling properly for our economics. With a dial up preheat system, turn the heat on when it is 40°F because you can. Any time below 20°f is because you have too. -25°C? They must have been confused by the metric system. Scan the page, send it to Stacy? This way he can get it put it in the system for updates... Best regards, -a-

The only perspective in your entire statement is the 14 beds (if it's even true). Again, there are two living Ebola cases in the US. So 14 beds seems sufficient. I suppose that's subject to change on both fronts; don't you? The rest is your opinion/conjecture. I know you know the difference. Remember the bird flu? Anthrax? How about the last time Ebola showed up? Do we just have dumb luck with these things? So far there have been more cases of Polio in the U.S. this year than Ebola... Nothing turns a bunch of smoking, out of shape, diet soft drink drinking, fast food eating slobs into contagious disease experts faster than some Ebola histeria.

While I like the Mooney Bravo (of course), it would prob. be overkill for your stated needs. I wanted a plane that could climb to 10k feet quickly, and that had lots of interior room. Reasons? My wife won't accompany me if there's extended turbulence - and I don't like to fly alone. Plus, I'm big. Here's my suggestion: buy a used Cessna 150 and learn in it. Beat the snot out of it when you're learning to land. Get nice and sick of how damn slow it is. And get the license. Then sell the 150. THEN... peruse the used A/C market again. I think you'll prob. gravitate back toward Mooneys... but who knows? It can be titillating to read through airplane ads and dream... (a friend's wife calls them "airplane porn"). Another suggestion: Stay 'in the moment'. Set goals, like 1. Get PPL 2. Research used A/C market 3. Find financing (if needed) 4. Research insurance options Don't be like me - I found an airplane I thought was really cool - even though I hadn't touched a control wheel in twenty years. I bought it and then had to slog through re-learning how to fly in an airplane that just seemed to be a beast. Sure - *now* I feel comfortable flying it. But, ya know what? I prob. would have been just as happy patrolling the local cow pastures in a Piper Cub. I guess I'm saying, "Don't put the cart before the horse."

are you talking about the white tail light on the empennage? I don't remember a light on the rudder...

I know no one on this list would install one from Grote, but perhaps someone has a "friend" who installed one and can give a pirep.

LMAO! That one still does not get old; however, it has been more than a decade since they fixed that issue. We used to have the ability to disconnect both rotor heads independently of each other for maintenance purposes. If the maintenance crew did not install the pin properly it would come out in flight and both rotors would have a midair. After a few episodes of this nature it was modified so that you cannot disconnect the rotors independently anymore. PS: I noticed your "Scouts Out" blurb at the bottom. Welcome to the Chinook community since most 58 pilots are transitioning to the 47 soon

Tacking is for sailors isn't it? Crabbing is for pilots.

I'm really hating you right now.

"Media Matters"? Fox bashing..............really? Nothing tells us more about partisans who quote Media Matters, Koz, Move On, Salon....... just precious.

Citizen, works well, priced right, easy fold up. Ray

You need a new category in your poll: Will install when they offer a built in autopilot, or the DFC90 /Aspen pair is certified for Mooney, so that I can dump my (insert Century, King here) without buying an outdated STec design for $15-20k (While still on soapbox: or when FAA gets its head out of its rear and enacts limited Part 23 reform to let us install Dynon/Trutrak...)

The copilot's smile would be all it takes to sell Mooneys. Confidently having a great time. Day, night, big city and grass strip. Kurt must be a marketing guru! Best regards, -a-

Me too

She's really great looking. And the plane ain't too bad either.

Very well done. I'll tell you it looks and sounds great playing over AppleTV on the big screen. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Clean belly. Nice touch.

Fantastic video!!!!! Why no flaps on the first take off?