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Just wanted to say hello to all my fellow mooniacs! Im new to aviation, but always wanted to be a pilot. Walked into a flight school last summer and just kept comming back everyday till i got my PPL. Learned to fly in 180 piper archer, but had my eye on Mooneys since day 1. This summer i just could not help myself, I found the plane i wanted 74F with really low time airframe (855 hrs), and motor/prop (144 hrs since 2006), so i wrote a check. Found a hangar at my home airport KBJC near Denver the owner was willing to part with so i wrote another check, (sorta jumped in head first i know). Flew out to miami commercial one way two weeks ago, met with a cfi and we flew my bird back, logged 13 hrs in one day, whew! I took the Mooney up for the first solo flight in my new plane a day later, what a rush! Now the Mooney is in for her first annual and so far things are looking pretty good. So here I am guys green as they come 90hrs TT with 14 in type and 5 takeoffs / landings in it. Noticed this site is full of really friendly people who are super knowlegable, so thought i would introduce myself and N25EJ.

And the answer is... Too much low IFR even en route to KROA. Southwest for $404 round trip wins... I will toast you all from my 737 seat... *sigh* Thanks everyone! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was in similar situation yesterday. I came to the point where I did my run up, lined up on the runway, looked at the sky once again and taxied back to my hangar. Was that right decision? I don't know. But I know it wasn't wrong decision.

If there is ever a question about the outcome of a flight, don't go until the question is answered. Better to be on the ground wishing to be in the air........

The issue with VW is not that their engines don't meet emissions standards. They have two problems: VW said many times that their diesel engines meet emissions standards when they don't. To avoid fines, penalties and bad press for said failures, they rigged their engine control software for a special "testing" mode that will pass certification testing, but change for more power and dirtier exhaust when being driven. #1 carries a small fine per vehicle. They have sold many vehicles. This one is simple math, leading to a large number. #2 rightly carries a whopping big fine in each country where it has/will be found. This keeps the other players in line. If it puts VW out of business, tough for them, they shouldn't have cheated. I have no sympathy for lying, cheating b@st@rds, just other Cheap B@stards. If you don't want to play by the rules, don't voluntarily jump into the game.

Poor puppy! Flying aerobatics on the first flight! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

When I need to make a go/no-go decision based on uncertain weather, I say to myself "I'm gonna think about this over a beer". Then I open a beer and after the first sip I say to myself, "Well shit, I can't fly anyway because I've been drinking!"

The Mooney Summit lll made front page of the local news paper http://www.newsherald.com/article/20150930/NEWS/150939901

That exactly the challenge with a widespread area of IFR conditions. I gave up flying over extended areas with less than 1000' ceilings. I'll take my chances over 20 miles of low conditions, but not 1000 miles of it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I flew the Bravo up yesterday, but my wife Alice is making the 7 hr drive up here today, as she has more door prizes, give aways, wine, beer etc than the poor Bravo could have handled! Just one of the many many reasons I love her!

Welcome to the F class. I've owned my 75F for 24 years. I do have a question for you. What is that dark spot in the last picture, just ahead of the left vent and right below the paint stripes? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I've found in conditions where wind is gusty and from varying and unpredictable direction, I've gotten into an uncomfortable feeling of cartwheeling if a direct crosswind becomes a quartering tailwind down the runway. Just be ready to reverse your nose down pressure at a moments nose-tice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Left wing because standard landing pattern is left turns. The wing inside the turn is the wing that stalls first. As mentioned above the Pitot tubes and stall tab the left wing as well.

Bryan's document showing the rear seat folding mod is attached here. Folding Mooney Seats.pdf

lycoming even makes a new data plate to fasten on to the new sump as well. So truly the only thing with 2401 hours on it is the logbook. Actally that was new too. So the only thing that had 2401 hours on it was the legend of the serial number

I had a very similar problem on my 1982 M20J. After months of fluctuating fuel pressures, that would go strong and steady with boost pump on, we finally tracked it down to a pin hole air leak on the head end of the electric boost pump.

I also am an avid biker/racer. The first picture is a perfect summer day, flew the mooney early in the morning to Frankfort MI, landed at a grass strip during a balloon launch, rode the bike 6 miles to town raced a road race and was home by noon. Perfect use of a great airplane on a nice day. I do travel with my race bikes from time to but, but have to remove the back seat cushion on my 1967 F model and fold the back seats down. Then it is a very tight fit , I don't have a bag but I can see where it would be a good idea. This year I purchased (2) bromptons, these are the best folding bikes you can buy in my mind. (2) of them fit into the baggage compartment and only take up half of the baggage compartment. They fold and un fold in 2 minutes and they are relatively easy and fun to ride. They are $ 1,700 to $ 2,000 so not cheap but they are very quick and easy to get in and out of the plane for the wife and I. Check out the brompton side for more information they are great bikes. They are so easy to fold and take that I bring them most places we take the plane,

Thanks for the suggestions. I bought cheap BBQ covers from KMart and wheel covers from the bike shop. As you can see, my road bike fits easily. I removed the co-pilot seat, it only takes a couple of minutes.

That was my first thought when I read the OP. The related one, Bonal, is whether you regularly lean for taxi after you start, and again after clearing the runway. Good operating practice in any make model. I remember flying with a guy in his 182 out of Los Angeles and he aggressively leaned for taxi. When I commented on it he told me he was the only 182 pilot he knew in the area who had never had fouled plugs.

should this apply to banks and brokerage firms? Or just car makers?

Congrats!! Similar to you, I did my PPL in a PA-28, then immediately purchased and started transition into my Mooney with only 85 hrs under my belt. 9 months and 75 hours later, I'm incredibly happy with my decision. With my M20C languishing in the avionics shop at the moment, I just flew in an Archer again with a CFI to brush up some skills- I couldn't believe how awful the thing felt after my experience in the Mooney. You made the right decision - good luck!

The weather turned out great. Few clouds in Georgia but real thin. I already had a chance to fly with Mike Elliott. Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

Sure, but then you wouldn't have learned the little tidbit about Roanoke TAFs often being wrong because of its location relative to the mountains. I filed that in the memory banks in case I'm ever headed that way. The board gives you access to people from the area with local knowledge, which I consider always useful. I know I learned from various people's views on what is acceptable (to them) risk and it helped me calibrate my own risk tolerances. "Strangers?" perhaps, but many of us know each other from having met at events and/or through this forum. I don't see anything wrong with wanting to test your own thinking, especially with people who you know will care about the quality of your choices.

That said I'm buying a lottery ticket. I wouldn't have had to cancel in my new HondaJet Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wasn't trying to pick nits! Most of us think of P-Factor in terms of rudder input, but as we know, there are other things that influence yaw. The subject was on my mind because of a recent discussion about taildragger takeoffs with a family member. One of us made a casual statement about P-factor and its effect after raising the tail wheel. We were talking about the airplane's tendency to pull left while accelerating. I got to thinking that it really could not be P-factor pulling the plane left as the prop blades are pretty much symmetrical to the relative wind with the tail up. Prop wash and torque are also significant forces, but we tend to lump it all together as P-Factor. I certainly did until recently.

Interesting points, Ross... I think the way I have measured P-factor is using rudder trim to keep the ball centered. in climb, the right rudder is in pretty strong. Power/torque are at a high setting. in cruise the the rudder trim is centered. in descent the left rudder trim is in pretty light. Power/torque are at a lower setting. A lot to keep in mind while thinking through the initial question... These are my observations, -a-

According to Marauder's weather pictures, Lightning detection is going to be good to have... -a-

My wife says don't make the flight

Deleting and cleaning now...

+1

Wow! Sharp eyes. PilotPierce, be aware that virtually nothing goes un-noticed on Mooneyspace. All of your virtues and blemishes will soon be outed! In a nice way.

Agree - and you can't get too zealous in increasing your rotation speed or you can cartwheel (or wheelbarrow).

I took a brief look at this morning. The departure decision is not so hard. Weather looks good at the departure airport. But you have low ceilings (IFR or LIFR) on the 2nd half of your route and it is not expected to improve all day. Your options if you can't get into your destination don't look that great. Mountains to the west, ocean to the east and low ceilings across most of the region. The best alternative would be too far to be practical, or back to home. Seems like an exercise of futility. I would scrub the mission. It's possible but Southwest has a flight that can get you in by 2:00pm. Better.

Be safe above all, everyone! If your stuck down here for a day or two, well darn the beautiful luck. We are already planning next year's event (Sept 28-Oct2, maybe 3rd, 2016 depending on hypobaric chamber availability Oct 3). This isn't a forced march, stay in your comfort zone. Ron, I and the rest of the Mooney Summit team are not done setting the bar for what an educational Mooney specific gathering should be. We will have many many exciting things to announce in the coming year. All of this effort goes to empowering the Bill Gilliland foundation to provide financial aid and crisis therapy for a downed Mooney pilot's family when they need our help and support the most.

Greg, i was going today to the Mooney Summit and planned a lunch stop just past KRDU (at KHRJ). Last night I changed the route to go West of the Appalachian mountains for the very reason you are now (re)considering your options. just this morning I cancelled my trip because I don't want to deal with Joaquin on the way back onSunday or Monday. good luck, and fly safe. robert

If I am solo and I am going to maybe an overnight work trip - sometimes I will bring my montague quick folder. http://www.montaguebikes.com/swissbike-x50-mountain-folding-bikes.html It rides like a full size mountain bike since it has standard 26'' wheels, disk brakes and it is quite sturdy enough to ride for real and to ride it hard off road - I have had it for at least 10 years. It folks small enough that with wheels off it will go in through the baggage door - and it folds very quickly. And wheels in wheel bags through the front door. I do this when either I am in an urban environment and I don't want to fuss with a road bike or fuss with packing since it is just a business trip really - sometimes even I will bring this bike and a triangle rear wheel trainer just to have something to do in the hotel room in the evening - since I am a boring nerd at night anyway and I am not one to go out and hit the city.

That is exactly what I have been doing - BBQ covers from walmart, and then actual wheel bags that I purchased from ebay. I usually also take off my seat post since I have a big bike - 61cm - but I leave my wife's on since she is short(er).

Will do. My weather seems to be working out. Hope to lift off around sunrise.

One of my good friends and aviation mentors is a retired chief pilot for a major airline. He told me a very long time ago that the most dangerous time to fly an airplane is right after you pick it up from the factory or right after it comes out of maintenance. He ought to know be cause he was on the new aircraft delivery acceptance team for his airline for many years. For what it's worth, my only inflight experience with jammed flight controls happened after a "reputable" avionics shop installed a new navcom in a Stinson 108-3 Station Wagon that I used to fly. It slipped a fraction of an inch in some light turbulence and blocked the control yoke mechanism up under the panel. I ended up with roll and limited nose down elevator, but no up elevator. Thank goodness the airplane responded well to trim inputs and I was proficient at wheel landings. Over the years, the vast majority of the in flight "issues" and precautionary engine shutdowns that I've experienced in the jets I flew for a living could be traced directly back to recent maintenance/inspection events at factory service centers. You should never allow yourself to let your guard down anytime your are around an airplane; but you should be especially vigilant for the first 10 hours or so after any major maintenance - some issues take time to develop

Hi Bob, we will sleep in and leave Memphis around 9am. Don't get to KEPC too early, or you may get there before the fog lifts

Bob, I'm so jalous of your pannel.. It's very elegently laid off..

I would not use the adhesive backing, it would be hard to place and even harder if it had to be removed. Just cut it for a tight fit between the bars and it will stay in place.

Wish you were closer. Love to see one of these in person. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Little Timmy has grown up. He drives a German car. It runs on gas. Premium gas. He likes military history. He has a vintage German Mauser K98 rifle (scoped) that he uses it to knock down buck in the Fall. He also has a German pistol, but it holds 18 US made german designed rounds. He wears a watch, Chronograph that is Swiss made. His phone is China made by US design. He laughs at electric cars. ALL electric cars. He understands why the Prius looks as it does and why (options for transportation are varied.) Some for the right reasons, (choice) and some for the wrong reasons, (Big G picking winners and losers). Little Timmy supports the environment by buying ammunition, hunting licenses, boat registration, buying efficient modern gas engines, Checking his air in his tires, changing his plugs and oil, keeping his thermostat at a reasonable setting (just right) and using efficent light bulbs. He doesn't hug trees, but he loves them. Especially young forests, about 7-10 years after a clear cut when the stem density is high, and the Grouse and Woodcock have food and nesting grounds. He hopes he can leave a little lead in the woods. That lead also supports the future success of the habitat.

$3.39 in KLEE- Leesburg, FL

Not to invoke an evil chant that will raise Timmy from the crypt he now resides; however, a politician without term limits is focused on his or her career and not necessarily taking a stand on those issues that may put that career at risk. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Some more fun post-annual facts. Though it was no 8 second ride a new steering horn was installed and the rudder controls are noticeably more responsive on the ground. My PC system is working for the first time after a faulty pilot control valve was replaced. In the nice smooth air on the way back to KOAK I flipped the handy dandy panel mounted switch, bumped the roll control a smidgen, and the aircraft tracked heading (and altitude) perfectly with no control inputs for 4 or 5 minutes before losing a degree. I think the improved tracking might also have to do with a bit of play they managed to work out of the rudder controls at the rod end going into last bell crank. Finally: 150 knots TAS. Super!

The latest release of FlyQ is compatible with the Stratux SSID.

While a plane living in Fl. certainly is exposed to high humidity during the summer months, it isn't any worse than a plane that is exposed to advection fog daily where it is surrounded with 100% humidity. My point is that you can get a rust bucket from San Jose as well as one from Florida, or you can get a great plane from either place. Some of the best maintained Mooney's I have flown in and seen live in Florida, and the worst came from dry Arizona. Recently, a Mooneyspacer, ordered up a 0 time factory reman for 56K at Osh. as another high dollar option for the engine when it finally cooks the cylinders.

That is a good start...hopefully it will be expanded soon to include products like the G3X or Dynon or . . .