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Showing content with the highest reputation on 02/20/2015 in all areas

  1. Some optimism - two years community college AAS degree in Engineering (scholarships for 100%), in-state at Virginia Tech for BSEE finishing in '99. Paid for by self working underground in a coal mine one summer then as an EE intern for Union Carbide next three summers. Total debt $6k. Full time offer from Carbide in '99 of $55k. Began USAF pilot training in 2000 - sooner than expected, due to needs of military. Finished in late '01. Debt gone by 2003. Several years of military (Air National Guard) flying. Now Delta and continued military. Life is good, for now. I only have a '65 C (and an RV-4) so it's obvious that I don't go for high-dollar planes. Tell your kids, like I tell my 4, to study hard and that they're never too young to work hard. Target a good degree, not some fluffy one that's worthless. And keep learning from the older ones around them. Live simply, be generous. The world has definitely changed, but a good life is not unachievable, for most of us. Just my 2 cents... Patrick
    4 points
  2. Hi Daver328, I won't make any claims or promises at this point. I'll have some real numbers when I start flying with the mod early this Summer. Price can't be set until I know what it costs me per kit in parts cost, then I can set a price. I'm aiming for as economical as I can due to the value of our airplanes. David
    2 points
  3. Reasonable thoughts - and if I'd had the Mooney first the RV would probably still be sitting in the back of someone else's hangar covered in dust. It's an interesting story perhaps I'll tell sometime if anyone cares to listen... My last RV "annual" cost me $100 with no squawks - great group of guys in the experimental world in my area S of Charlotte. Most love putting a another set of eyes on someone else's plane and the RV construction is quite simple when compared to a Mooney. As to my unique storage method - I figure if the Mooney wing can take the standees in that famous pic then the weight of my tail (40 or 50#) with some padded blankets and foam insulation in between won't hurt it any. It's kinda awkward to position it, so I probably won't be doing it in 40 more years, but it's working well for now, and will for the next 4 years until I retire from the Guard, hopefully. I briefly considered a lift overhead, but the engineer in me won out and out came a scale drawing of each plane and one of the hangar and that photo is the result. Patrick
    2 points
  4. Here's the one I mentioned and recently saw a discussion on. http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20121216X70057&key=1 Note the "inadequate assistance provided by FAA ATC personnel, and the inadequate recurrent training of FAA ATC personnel in recognizing and responding to in-flight emergency situations" as a significant contributing factor. The full narrative is long by with a lot of good lessons.
    2 points
  5. I thought I would start a separate thread to document the STC process for my Mooney cowling mod. I welcome questions as I show and detail the project. My intent is to update the look of the older Mooney cowlings, namely the C,E,F, & G models. Certainly performance gains would be nice and I hope to report any increases once I'm flight testing the prototype cowling on my 66 C. My cowling will incorporate round air inlets for the cylinder cooling air and carburetor air on the carbureted engines. I will be keeping the plenum system as I feel it's the most efficient system for cooling the cylinders. It will also include new baffling. Some of you may recognize the parts I'm using as coming from James Aircraft. They are fantastic to work with and have supported me with parts I need for my STC. This project is being done through my company called GDS Aero. I merged my other company (Vintage Airworks) into GDS at the end of 2104. No sense having 2 FAA quality systems to manage and 2 separate audits each year. On with the pictures: Here's a couple of pictures of the plenum and new baffling being made.
    1 point
  6. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/cpberry1/image.jpg2_zpsx7f7dghs.jpg See if this works better... And its more familiar stablemate... http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/cpberry1/image.jpg1_zps8kxcn4dj.jpg
    1 point
  7. Just a simple VFR machine I bought already built. It had 100 hours on it - an 800hr O-320 D2J with a wood fixed-pitch prop that I've since replaced with one by Craig Catto designed for cruise performance. I've painted it - will include a pic if I can. It is to commute from my home in NC to my military obligations in WV. Pure fun, and burns about 8.5 per hour for 200mph typical ground speeds at about 8,500. Total empty weight is 996 so that 160hp isn't really working too hard. I can understand keeping the Mooney - the 8's are nice but there's definitely more utility to be had in a 4-seater for most people. One of my more recent pics, but since I've checkered the rudder - blue and silver - matched the prop tips, and put a POW emblem on the vertical stab. No good pics on photobucket of all that though... Edit - that didn't work - just meant for the link to be in here...sorry guys Patrick
    1 point
  8. Nope. Land in Virginia. On the day of this flight, I remember noting the extent of the widespread low IMC conditions and how long they were there. It was one of those weather phenoms that was weird for this area. From Virginia south, the weather improved dramatically. Since this thread is about selecting a destination without an approach, how about selecting an airport with an approach that you have some degree of making it in? Considering the conditions, the prudent thing (always a hindsight) would have been to land further south, refuel and reassess the situation. Unfortunately, it usually requires one event to make you wise up to the risks we take flying single engine, single pilot IFR. Fortunately for me, I had that event early on and it formed a more conservative approach to taking on crappy weather.
    1 point
  9. Got my license in 1970. Got my engineering degree in 1971 and made $10.5K/ year (highest paid in the class). Bought my first airplane (used) in 2003! after all kids were out of college). It would have been different if the wife would fly with me but I am OK with they way things worked out.
    1 point
  10. Anthony you pretty much nailed it, I'm a CPA. And am astounded by the vast differences in salaries in most fields over the last ten yrs. seriously glad not to be coming out of college in this day and age along with the huge debt incurred and can't afford to leave home. In our days we could go to college work for money at the same time and basically be able to start out lives and get married etc...seems that ..that way is gone unless your lucky enough to have parents to foot the fees, our did not realize how important education was..many of our parents went to seventh or eight grade worked at the factory...all was good..
    1 point
  11. Tom really no..just wondering how the industry could free fall this fast..the last thing I want is another Tommy...I try to stay out of politics..keep friends longer that way....my voice is my private vote unfortunately...
    1 point
  12. Sorry guys I just had to leave to cry and throw up..
    1 point
  13. I'm sure Jolie and Mooney will cooperate to have a presence at all. I plan on going to Tullahoma and represent ambassadors if needed. BILL
    1 point
  14. [quotdescendinge=DXB" post="198098" timestamp="1424367774]Nice discussion to hear for a newbie, and interesting idea to turn carb heat off when rechecking GUMPS on short final, after having it full on during descent. My first practice go arounds in a Mooney recently went fine with turning it off, but in a real world late decision to go around when something goes bad near touchdown, having to deal with only throttle and regaining control could make a big difference. Probably a dumb question, but is there any risk of plug fouling from having carb heat on at descent power settings with rich mixture, or does that really only happen near idle (as I've already experienced during taxi x2)? Continuously enriching mixture with decreasing altitude seems like too much to me, so I imagine folks generally run pretty rich during descent, which is exacerbated if you use carb heat?
    1 point
  15. I lean aggressively any time I am at low power settings, like in the descent or while taxiing. Below 60% power you won't hurt anything. There are some discussions about the "Red Box" and leaning by Mike Busch you would probably find interesting. On final, I go to full rich and carb heat off, just in case of a go-around.
    1 point
  16. Wahhhhh! I want a wife! All the cool kids have one. Actually, my dearly beloved suggested flying lessons almost 40 years ago to the stir-crazy mother of infants as an excuse to take a morning off from time to time...brushed off protests of what was and what was not affordable, ("Psychiatry, now THAT is expensive," quoth he. "We can afford flying lessons.") He hadn't counted on Mooney ownership. He is the best right-seater anybody could ask for, reasonably familiar with the essentials, and totally cool, no matter how justifiably terrified the pilot is. Believe I will keep him around.
    1 point
  17. I"m going to try to get to the KANE one also.
    1 point
  18. Methinks you trifled with Don and he is not to be trifled with. If there was a "Mount Mooney" with heads on it, Don's would be next to Al's and Bill's.
    1 point
  19. Think about freedom... It comes with guidelines. Nobody is asking Timmy to go away. The viewpoint taken against the thread is it's inane use of violence, cuss words and sexism. Use some guidance. Long live spirited discussion. Down with veiled racisim, cussing, anti-religion view points. Is there support for racism here? Is there support for anti-religion here? Is there support for fowl language here?
    1 point
  20. I wonder if there are any two Mooneys alike?
    1 point
  21. You're all invited to my Concorde's 10th birthday in April.
    1 point
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