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Well I just signed the intent to buy. I'll be minority shareholder with my credit union on the 1985 Rocket that was listed on All American Aircraft. The pre-buy went well. Thanks to Chris @MIm20c and Paul @PJClark for their helpful input! This plane has had one owner since the mid-90s. It's been well taken care of although the panel, interior and paint are dated. The engine and airframe are solid with no major issues. First order of business when she's mine is to name her then install an engine monitor. The owner flew it for many hours using the Rocket Engineering suggested power settings. I'm super excited to start my Mooney ownership journey for the 2nd time.

I would run the other way. If you still want a Cirrus - great. Go buy another Cirrus. From someone else. The fuel bill for a test drive is a bad omen. I would walk away from a deal on that alone. Cheap ass Hundai interior on a $300 Ferrari wouldn't sell and neither should it on a $300k Cirrus. That is a premium price on that year model and so expect a premium specimen and premium sale person if you must deal with a sales person. I think if you want a 2005 Cirrus you can find a nicer one for a lot a lot less. And they will include the fuel in the test drive.

Not very impressed with the plane now that it's here at the airport for prebuy. Fit and finish of the radio job is not congruent with $330k. I'm not financing this so I've got big expectations for every dollar of mine that I'm handing over for this. Lots of little things that make me think otherwise. I've got an existing arm injury and just holding the side stick in neutral elevator position for a minute or two, my arm is killing me. They claim it will be better in flight because I'll have it in trim. We'll see. I'm a taller dude, 6'1" ish and sitting in the seat where I'm comfortable with my pedal /foot placement, I've got a glare shield and headliner in the top 35% of my sight picture. I'm thinking I'm going to reject this plane. Not sure brand C is for me

I’m not a CFII, but have nearly 2000 hours of Rocket time. I get to lower Michigan regularly so might be able to hook up if interested. I’m pretty sure you’ll find few people out there with the combination of flight time and maintenance experience I have specific to the Rocket. Let me know. Tom

Garmin GFC 500 autopilot installed.

My buddy sent this to me seems appropriate.... haha

It finally happened. We purchased our first Mooney today. This is our first airplane and we couldn’t be happier. N6413Q, is a 1967 F model that has been meticulously cared for by Ryan the previous owner. It’s taken a couple of years to get here but the ability to own this great Mooney makes today very special. We think it was meant to be. We’re hoping to attend the formation clinic in San Marcos and meet our fellow Mooniacs. Thanks again to Ryan for offering us this great Mooney. Tom

Have you guys heard the news? Cirrus announced that they are buying Mooney corporation and resuming aircraft production. They are going to modernize the M20 with all the latest and greatest including all composite design, CAPS parachute, Garmin GFC700 autopilot, 1250lb useful load. A 6 seat variant is being discussed. Cirrus is contemplating scrapping production of their popular SR20/22 lines in favor of the Mooney type certificate they are buying out as the staple of their fleet. Now you won't have to choose between 1950's era peace of mind like steal roll cage and one piece wing spar and impressing your friends with shiny composites and a parachute so the wife feels completely safe. The new SR-M20 will include: igital Engine & Fuel Monitoring Cirrus Perspective+TM by Garmin Cockpit Latest Garmin Perspective Software Upgrades 10’’ Screens GMA 350c Bluetooth® Audio Panel w/ 3-D audio QWERTY Keyboard Controller Dual WAAS GPS/Comm/Nav Radios Dual ADAHRS Enhanced Garmin GFC700 Autopilot featuring: - Fully Coupled Approaches w/ Vertical Guidance - TOGA w/ Coupled Missed Approach & Holds - Electronic Stability & Protection - Hand-flown Stall Protection though ESP - Hypoxia Check & Automated Descent Mode - Blue Level Button - Autopilot Stall and Over-speed Protection - Flight Director and Flight Path Marker ADS-B Out Transponder ADS-B In Weather and Traffic 406 MHz ELT triggered by CAPS Pull Garmin Flight Stream 510 Garmin Pilot (1 year subscription included) Garmin® FliteCharts and SafeTaxi XM Weather & Audio Cirrus Executive Adds Yaw Damper; EVS Camera Cirrus Awareness Adds Active Traffic; eTAWS Cirrus Advantage Upgrades to 12" Screens; Adds ChartView; 1 Year of Jeppesen Subscriptions; SurfaceWatch Certified Flight Into Known Ice (FIKI) Adds Full FIKI including Tanis Avionics & Engine Pre-Heater Carbon, Platinum or Rhodium Appearance Upgrade Adds bold Carbon styling, the luxurious elegance of Platinum design or the simplicity of a Rhodium scheme. Includes upgraded premium leather. GTS Select all Packages above to make aircraft a GTS and receive GTS package pricing. Air Conditioning Included in GTS without Ice Protection Cirrus Global Connect Tanis Avionics Engine Pre-Heater (120V) Included in FIKI package Safety: Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) Airbag Seatbelts (Front Seats) 26G Energy-Absorbing Seating surrounded by a Rigid Roll Cage All LED Exterior Lighting featuring Cirrus SpectraTM wing tip lighting Interior/Exterior Ambient Convenience Lighting Remote Keyless Entry Spin-Resistant "Cuffed" wing Built-In Oxygen for all Five Occupants Dual Alternators (#1 is 100 amps; #2 is 70 amps) Integrated Electronic Carbon Monoxide Detector Basic Terrain Avoidance and Warning System* Digital 4-in-1 Standby Instrument Lightweight Wheels & Brakes and Tubeless Tires Interior and Comfort: Dual Side Yokes Single Movement Power Lever with Integrated Prop Control Easy Access Doors on Both Sides with "Positive Latching" UV Protected Windows 60/40 FlexSeating™ allows for up to Three Rear Seat Occupants Center Console with Four USB Power Outlets & 12V Power Outlet Single Connector "Ships Power" Headset Outlet for all Five Seats Six Front, Two Rear Adjustable & Windshield De-Fog Air Outlets Two Front and Two Rear Folding Cup Holders Four-Point Harnesses with Airbags for Front Seats Three-Point Automotive-Style Belts for Rear Seats Rear LATCH Attachment Points for Automotive-Style Car Seats Standard Leather Seats with Recline for all Seats* Large Rear Cargo Door with Accessory Storage Compartment Rear Cargo Netting with Quick-Release Mechanisms Easy Rear Seat Folding Mechanism folds to Near-Flat Two Rear Coat Hooks and One Rear Coat Hanger Rail

I'm glad I'm not alone in this. That and $50 for the CFI's time really put me off in a big way. Thinking bigger picture, this is their MO. I don't want to do business with them as a maintenance company like this either, which was one of the draws to Cirrus.

And, I'll bet you didn't even have to look that up

From a VERY early age, I remember telling my friends & family that I wanted to be an Army helicopter pilot. I was born in 1969 so either I'm a reincarnated Army pilot OR I watched Vietnam footage at such an early age (I don't have any memory of it) that it imprinted on me. Either way, I went straight in to the Army out of high school and learned to fly the UH-1 at "Mother Rucker" in 1988 at the age of 19. Selected AH-1 Cobra's out of flight school and flew them in Germany, Korea, SWA and back at Rucker as an instructor before leaving the Army in 1995. I ended up branch transferring to the Navy, where I flew the T-34, T-45, S-3 and B707 (E-6 Mercury). My favorite and most exciting flying memory is getting my carrier qualification in the T-45. Family responsibilities intruded on life, I had a growing family, and I ended up flying 707s. I preferred the excitement of carrier aviation and never thought of, nor planned to fly for the airlines. After I did my 20 years, I got on with AirTran and was promptly furloughed 9 months later in 2008. It was a blessing in disguise. I ended up going to Iraq to teach the Iraqi Air Force flight program in Kirkuk. It was fun and I really enjoyed the challenge. At the time, the USAF was doing the flying in C172s and C208s, both with G1000 navigation suites and the 172s had Theilert diesel engines. My job was ground instruction and simulator training, which I enjoyed immensely. While I was furloughed, Southwest Airlines bought out AirTran. I was now (after integration) a newly-minted Southwest FO. I was based in LAS, BWI, MDW and back to LAS as a FO. In 2019, I upgraded to Captain and have held a captains seat at both OAK and LAX. In 2017, I bought a M20E and had a lot of fun learning to fly a small GA piston airplane. We were running a small business here in Michigan, and when we closed up shop, we decided to move back to Vegas. I didn't have a mission, and didn't feel comfortable flying a non-turbo plane in mountainous terrain out west, so I sold the Mooney. Last year, I started wanting to buy an airplane again. I always kept coming back to the Mooney for it's ownership value. Today, I got the pre-buy results back and am in the process of buying N58089, a Mooney Rocket. It's been a wild, fun ride and I still have 13+ years until mandatory retirement.

Yes he is. Denver based. I don't want him to buy a Mooney, we've already got one. I need him to buy a Baron, or a Skywagon, or a SuperCub... but you know airline pilots, they're all cheap. He figures he doesn't need an airplane as long as he can use mine.

I already voted, for real.

Just my 1/50th of a dollar's worth - while mistakes and miscommunication (and assumptions) were made by several parties on my installation, I mostly blame the shop that upgraded the Garmin 430 to 430W (well before I owned this aircraft). During that upgrade, Garmin required the installer to change the antenna (which was done) and the coax to a low-loss type like RG400 or RG142B (those are specifically mentioned in the Garmin install manual), which they failed to do. Now, should my avionics shop that installed the IFD440 have noted that it was the wrong cable? Yes. We all know the old saying about "assume"... In the end, Avidyne came through with flying colors and I am happy to recommend them.

I am looking for a new home for my Mooney M22. Aircraft based in Australia but fitted with necessary fuel line to add ferry tank. Excellent condition. Always been hangared. 150 hr since complete overhaul of the TIO 541 A1A engine. 1600 hr TT. Two Nav/Comm. King 525a system with HSI and slaved compass. JPI EDM 900 engine monitoring system installed as primary. Garmin 330 GTX ES transponder. Please contact me if interested.

I don't blame you at all. That's not the kind of person I would want to deal with. There are plenty of good airplanes out there, and a handful of excellent brokers.

I wouldn’t even think about buying a plane from a guy that cheap. And yes, the interior looks a little too Hyundai for a $300k+ airplane

Welcome back good buddy! We thought we lost you there for a minute...

I am one lottery win away from purchasing it.

In the past I have had an insurance company allow a non-CFI pilot do my transition training into an airplane I had no M&M time in. It was only a checkout, no formal hours required and I am a CFI so maybe those were the differences. And of course my broker its awesome. That may be worth investigating. Alternatively, fly with a CFI as required by insurance then really learn the airplane from Tom.

Tom, I'm at Hastings 9D9. Mark Anderson from the EAA speaks well of you and your beautiful airplanes (Rocket and Lancair). Whenever you get down this way, I'll buy you lunch and pick your brain on all things Rocket. My wife has an aunt in Escanaba so I'm sure we will be up your way soon. I'll make it a point to call on ya at IMT -Roy

Stepping down from a Mooney is against all things natural. Also be advised or pay close attention to some of the issues with the IO-550-N. I have had personal experience with two of them. Balancing many aircraft propellers annually I see many different shapes an sizes, but I have run into two SR22’s that would not respond to weight. In both cases the crankshaft ended up being the culprit.

Some good advice here. I think if I was alone, I would fly along the coast one way and direct the other. The VFR route under class B does have a lot of pluses. Not sure it is any safer than direct (with altitude), but my passenger may feel safer seeing land and the sights should be nice on a nice day. Thanks Anthony for setting the stage, you are the best. Rent a car and drive - I thought this was an aviation group I will be flying into Toledo from F00 or TKI. Hope for some good weather next week!

I would at least consider going VFR, and use the VFR Flyway chart. It keeps you close enough to the shore to be safe and will give a great view of the city for your passenger.

Good advice above. I’d elect (3). if MVFR, you can file to Gary, shoot an approach, cancel and go VFR up the shoreline. -dan

Stetson has some prior experience... So getting additional value out of the transition training... it would be optimum to fly with a Rocket pilot... Focus on the specifics of turbo ops, and getting to the FLs... high altitude cruise, and O2 systems.... Stetson, you are in Michigan? We can invite @Yooper Rocketman to the conversation... Tom may have some suggestions... Go MS! Best regards, -a-

C'mon dude, it's 2021. Post some pics.

Yep, turned in the family truckster (National Lampoon's Vacation reference) for the mid-life crisis mobile! I have a local CFI who has flown Mooney's scheduled in a couple weeks for some orientation flights. I am also going to buy Paul @PJClark lunch & pick his brain as he took a similar path- he took a solid but dated Rocket and modernized it. I'm really excited to be flying a Mooney again!

Congratz!!! What part of the country are you in? And shortly after getting my Mooney I went to one of the MAPA Safety Foundation training events. It was a great source of information for flying a Mooney. Much more than a non-Mooney CFI can give you.

https://advancedaerotech.com These guys in Greeley, CO have done the GFC500 on a few Mooneys and seem to have the best rates. I'm hearing $17,000 out the door for the GFC500 and the G5 to drive it. @Warren and @PJClark are a couple of references. I know of a couple of others as well. If you came to Colorado, I might be able to help with transportation.

Hey - take a look at my post. PM if you want any info. Mine was an Ovation, but it may get you started. One thing to note - the internal g3x nav is not suitable for any serious navigation. So, you need 2 nav sources for any serious IFR.

I would trade my Mooney straight up for a Lancair 4PT or even just a 4P. I'd take on the operating expenses easily... except for the insurance. But then again, if I had no more money in the hull, because I'd traded for my Mooney, maybe I'd just skip the insurance.

Panthera.

Thanks all for the feedback. For now I’ve decided to just replace the failed CDI as I found a serviceable replacement for only $245 which buys me a little more time while I decide on the upgrade path.

Wow someone here please buy this incredibly cool and unique Mooney and fly it back across the Bering Strait to the US so we can all stare at it in awe.

I learned more last night. “Bob” was operating (for decades) out of a T hangar on the non-commercial side. He had the fuselage of an old Cessna hanging from the rafters to “satisfy” the “used primarily for storage of an airworthy aircraft” requirement. City found out about it, and is evicting him. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

https://lasar.com/prebuy-check-list

Please don't!! You'll just get mad all over again. And if you do, please don't write it here--you'll cause untold misery and agony.

I had that happen to me. On approach and on the ground couldn’t get MP below 13” but the plane ran as it should. Turned out to be a crack in the line going to the MP gauge sensor.

Age 4. I am going to be a Milk Man when I grow up because he drives a cool truck and has a neat uniform. Then my parents take me to England to visit the grandparents. Bristol Britannia with BOAC. WAY cooler than the milk truck. I am hooked on airplanes from then on. Age 14. H-Ray RC model with OS-Max .35 engine and Heathkit radio. Bought it from a high school buddy for $20. Dream of joining the RCAF and flying fighters. Age 17. Accepted into Royal Military College. Chickened out and went to a local flying college instead. Found out years later that they had accepted me as a Naval Officer. (and no, our navy no longer had airplanes) so I guess my instincts were right. Age 23. Flying Navajos for a little charter operation after a few years of instructing and bush flying. Decision time. Do I keep doing this until the airlines open up or give up the airlines and follow my dream of flying in the RCAF? Age 25. Cold Lake Alberta. First low level trip in the F-5. 450 Kts at 100 feet. Holeee Craaap! Instructor is flying from the back seat and I am trying to figure out how you focus on anything when the world is going by in a blur. (It gets easier) Age 35. Two kids. Time to hang up the helmet. Local company is looking for corporate pilot for their Westwind and Falcon 50. I guess this will see me through to retirement. Age 39. Airlines are hiring even “old guys” like me, and wearing a pager 24/7 is no longer exciting. Joined Air Canada as Cruise Relief Pilot on the 767. Rejoined RCAF as a reservist and learned to fly helicopters. Age 50. Line flying is fun but need a new challenge. Moved over to the management side. Still get to fly, just not as often. Age 51. Hung up the helmet again after 11 years. Helicopters were fun, but the main job was taking more time. Age 55. Start lobbying the Minister of Finance about why we need a Mooney to travel to the cottage. Weekends are pretty precious now. Age 57. Minister of Finance approves my 252 purchase just to shut me up. Forgot how much fun it is flying little bug smashers. I am hooked again. Join Mooneyspace and start learning. Age 60. COVID hits and we go to 10% capacity. Parking airplanes, laying off pilots. I catch COVID on what turns out to be my last flight. Time to step aside. Age 61. I can fly my Mooney ANY TIME I WANT! This retirement gig is pretty good. Now if we could only travel..... Oh well. Tinkering with it is almost as much fun as flying it. Goals for the future? Age 62? Fly to Oshkosh, and anywhere else I like the look of. Age 70??? After years of trying, finally take the trophy at Oshkosh for best pimped out 252 after @gsxrpilot wins it 5 years in a row. Age 80??? Sell the Mooney and get a Champ for those calm summer evenings on a grass strip. Age 90??? Quit flying and start a novel new business delivering milk door to door by truck.

Who would you recommend? I’m located in Texas but would travel. At a minimum I’m looking to install a GFC500 and whatever needs to drive it. I’ve got a GTN650 so that’s a start. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Andrew, at this point I wouldn’t spend the money to upgrade the 200 along with the added monthly fees. If the 200 is stacked on top of the 430 you might find upgrading to a used 750 to be a viable option.

Thanks! We’re north of Houston, Lake Conroe area. Home field is KCXO. I’ll post some pics tomorrow.

PMc... where’ve ya bin....? To support the conversation... let’s look at the chart... One thing I have done in the past... was stop short of the lake at Gary, IN... got rental car, and drove into the city... I think, many of us would maintain altitude to cross the lake... and use Midway... with trains available into the city... Lets see what I missed, then we can adjust things... I included a leg from Pell City... Lets invite somebody from the neighborhood... to join the conversation... @exM20K Just found out... @Stetson20 may have the experience we are looking for in this thread... Best regards, -a-

People get all wrapped around the axle about damage history, and most of the time they shouldn’t. Don’t be afraid of what’s in the books, be afraid of what’s not. If it’s in the book, most likely it was done correctly by the right people and with correct parts. What you want to look for is evidence of structural work with no corresponding book entries, and often, very often the books entries won’t have any explanation of why. ‘You may see an entry of replaced propellor and in the engine book you may see that the prop flange was check with a dial indicator, so there was a prop strike, but no entry saying that. ‘I have an old 1946 C-140, there is an entry in the log book that says replaced right wing, now do you think that maybe it was ground looped, or maybe they just needed practice changing out wings? Almost all old airplanes have periods of low or no use, the owner gets old or maybe just disinterested and then one day finally gets tired of paying hanger rent or maybe wants a different toy and sells the airplane

Incidentally, if you ask the Google lady to do a search for "Mooney M20J Illustrated Parts Catalog", you should find a document that would be good to save a copy of

The case overhaul was $1500. The cylinders were $1900 each. Cam lifter and crank overhaul was $4500. Prop was $4500 (don't ask it will make me mad again) Governor was $1200 + another $500 for inspection by the same prop shop who made me mad) Fuel injection was $1800 for overhaul. Bearings, rod bolts, gaskets and Misc. was another couple of grand. And about 2000 hours of my labor. Oh there was another few hundred for NDT on the gears and accessory case. and a few hundred to re-plate all the hardware and fittings. I have a giant pile of receipts, I'm afraid to actually add them up.

After dealing with these issues, The Avidyne works adequately with the finest coax and perfect antennas. The KX-155 works better with old RG-58 and rusty antennas than the Avidyne with perfect parts. With the RG-400 and perfect antennas, the Kx-155 will far out perform the Avidyne.

Yes. It is a mortal sin to even have Cirrus thoughts.

For me it was just something I'd wanted to do for as far back as I can remember. The earliest I remember flying was about age 6 in my grandfather's Comanche 250. But I know from my parents, that'd I'd been flying countless times prior to that. There were a lot of pilots in my extended family, going back a few generations. I had a couple of great great uncles who learned to fly in the Curtiss Jenny, bought a couple of them and flew them back home to eastern Oregon from Ohio. But until my younger brother, none were pro pilots or military pilots. I started my working life as a teacher and have always considered myself an educator of some sort. So for me the goal has always been the CFI and then done.