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This is for reference in case another person has to repair their switch. The switch used in Mooney part number 800364-509 or kit 940065-605 is: MicroSwitch (now Honeywell) V3-2451-D8 The only thing special about it is a low activation force of 15 grams. This part is obsolete but new old stock is currently available on Ebay for $22 each. The functional equivalent Honeywell switch is the V7-5F17-D8 It has the same electrical specs, activation force, and mounting. $4.44 each plus shipping from DigiKey. I splurged and bought two. NOTE: The switch is wired between the normally open and common contacts. The stall vane and switch assembly is simple as dirt and the microswitch is easily replaced by even a junior hanger elf. The current price from Mooney is over $500.

One year, three months, one nerve damaged left arm, one annual, one job, and many AMUs after I purchased N79338 I finally did my first ever solo flight (in any aircraft) in my own aircraft. I'd like to thank the mooneyspace community for the advice and discouragement (some encouragement too) that I got when I first came here wondering if such a thing as I have just done was possible. I can't say I would recommend going about things this way to anyone else, nor do I regret it! The year and three months and the twenty minutes of solo flying were both a heck of a ride! I'm terribly excited to finish my PPL and arrive at my next fly in from above the horizon!

Last annual, I had my Mx install an avionic master. Pretty little toggle you can see just right of the prop control(AVN) on this picture: On my last flight, I found out that, in turbulence, this toggle switch is pretty vulnerable... As I reached to change frequency on my IFD, my hand, with a mind of his own, went in a downward motion, shutting all my avionics... We're working on a solution for my next flight...

Nice looking layout. Only problem I see is that the prop on the V-tail appears to be moving ;-)

Somebody at the Mooney Summit IV will have the opportunity to take this home. Thanks L3!

Mine as well:

Looks like a sweet ship. Had I not already bought my aircraft I'd be all over this. Good luck with your sale. Almost had a job in Hawaii, but the Mrs. Nixed it. Kind of a fun story, actually.

Ever feel like nobody's listening to you? I usually only get this type of indifference from my wife...

$55 for a new one on EBAY

Yes that is at 2400 rpm, full takeoff power at full rich on our standard Eagle.

Yeah, didn't realize you were at 1700 rpm in the photos. As mentioned check full power fuel flow first.

Maybe soon they can get a Dynon D10 installed?

Bob, every time I see this picture I think to myself...man that is a clean panel. They did a great job!

Where's the roll pin would be my question!

I'm looking for a second-hand 4-place audio panel & intercom. I'd prefer one with marker beacons integrated such as the PMA6000/7000. A Garmin 340 would be excellent if its collecting dust. Budget is around $500, I can go higher if needed. PM me.

Mike, maybe so. I negotiated but did not shop other shops. I wanted to be somewhere where I could drop in and inspect, interfere. I was there about every week. I hope they made money and stay in business, I go back to them for Garmin updates, IFR certifications, and anything else I need. That was only part of the labor for my new panel. It included the scope of work I listed. The Aspen is flush mounted which is probably extra compared to some installs. Total work involved 227 man hours. Design and build new panel, Aspen, 750, GMA 340, GTX 327, GDL 88, JPI EDM 930. Twin Lakes Avionics had the plane 10 weeks and had one man pretty much on it full time. OTOH, I've had zero glitches, zero call backs after 3-1/2 years.

I keep these pictures handy to remind me of all the decision making that goes into solo XC flights. My first solo XC flight during PPL was in the Virginia summer. Weather was plus minus for convective activity, so I decided that I would hop out on the second of three legs to double check the weather radar. Sure enough between Farmville (FVX) and home (CHO) there was this little line of 'you shall not pass!" student pilot thunderstorms. I didn't feel at all comfortable circumnavigating cells as a not-even-wet certificate student pilot, and it appeared that Charlottesville was becoming surrounded by little cells, so I decided to wait it out a bit. And wait I did. The nice lady at the airport restaurant re-opened the kitchen and fed me a shrimp dinner. The airport manager let me use the old pickup to run into town. I got some fuel to say thank you for your hospitality. Still these cells kept popping up and washing out right between me and where I wanted to go. The weather radar would not budge. Daylight turned to night (I had not done night solo) and still cells. I had been calling the flight school to let them know what I was doing, they agreed with safety first, and I slept that night in the airport lounge (was the first but not the last time I'd do that). The next morning was the most gorgeous sunrise flight I can remember. Hot air balloons on downwind. Little areas of isolated fog to look down on along the James River. Gorgeous. It was my first foray into weather wimpiness that continues to this day. Have fun Sunday and stay safe! -Brad

Sounds like he is at a shop that is willing to be held responsible for their actions. There are indeed circumstances where a remote annunciator would be required by regulation. I am not going to comment on whether or not this particular instance requires one or not unless you want to bring the plane to my shop and let me make that determination. But, condemning the installer for following the installation instructions is not the right thing to do.

Totally Agree. I started out at a 141 school and from my experience all the dual XC's were way before my solos so I am equally as confused as to the course this school seems to be taking. Ill check my log book when I get home but I had done most of the stuff before soloing. I soloed once at the 141 then it unfortunately closed and I had to find another school. Had the better part of my 10 hours solo left which was done at the part 61 school and there was still some stuff I had to do dual to make them happy. Just some advice, going out on your first long distance solo is quite an experience (it was perhaps one of the most prolific experiences of my life to date). Along with all the glory comes a HUGE risk. You will be going away from your normal airspace to an airport you may have never been to both by air or land. I had to cross state lines as well as open water (in the Delaware bay) things I had never done before. You should ask your self some important questions like are you prepared to make an inflight weather decision if you are alone? Are you prepared to put the plane down on a 2000Ft. strip if you lose the engine and need to glide it down (I know you have the chute but that is still no excuse if there is a strip in gliding distance). Are you prepared to navigate if you lose all your GPS units? Are you comfortable with lost procedures? Are you prepared to divert to another field if need be? Are your paper backup sectionals up to date? The one other thing you should add to your prep time is check ride prep. I did at least 3 full on mock check rides with two different instructors before my main instructor would sign me off. If as many people are flying where you are as you have eluded to your DPE is going to give you a date at least 4-6 weeks out unless someone drops last minute. Most instructors wont call them until you are ready and then you have 4-6 weeks in which you need to stay ready. The PPL oral is no joke either, I neglected prep for that until later in my training which was a mistake. You should start looking over the PTS they can really ask you just about anything that they please. On any note still best of luck on Sunday! (I'm heading up to shoot some IFR approaches with a buddy which I have never seen done before, see you up there)

Congratulations !!! My first solo was almost exactly the same number of hours, and due to a medical issue as well. I have over 900 now..... And it keeps gettin better

49.5 hours. The first 8 were in a 152.

Allow me to be the first on MS to say it.... Congrats! Way to go Conrad! Solo flight in a Mooney is really cool. X-country in a Mooney is even better. Good luck getting to the finish line. Best regards, -a-

NotarPilot-- Try here https://youtu.be/xXvMS0prgXg for a video of last night's Webinar.

Especially if we can add that capability for $5k or less in another year or two...

Hey guys. I am excited to make an announcement to make to the community. I am just about complete with an eBook that I think you might find interesting. The Book is titled Engine Out Survival Tactics, and it is about how to safely recover from an engine loss event in your GA single. It is written from the Fighter Pilot perspective and parallels the ways in which we train for emergencies and engine loss in fighters, with how we can do that (better) in our GA singles. If you want to become an Advanced Pilot with regard to engine loss recoveries, glide ratios, Critical Action Procedures, and training for that unfortunate event, this is the book for you. CFIs, you can up your game with this training. I also have some guest speakers in the book who will detail their real-world engine loss events and what they learned! The book is not quite ready, but I ask you to check out my webpage (and sign up for info, newsletters, promos), and also my Facebook page and "like" my Facebook page. This will enable you to keep "up to date" on new developments and the final release for the book as well. The eBook will be available in most major eBook retailers hopefully in a few months. (Nook, Kindle, iPad). I am also looking into doing it as a print book as well. Thank you for your consideration and support. I believe this book has what it takes to take your engine loss training and knowledge to the next level!

Aside from what to do when the engine is out I would add how to asses engine health on the ground and in-flight. Many engine failures happens during takeoff (high power engine stress) were there is little altitude for pilot options, there is no ejection seat on Mooneys. José

I long for the days when programmers debugged their software themselves, instead of rushing to release it so that users could debug it for them . . .

great. another guy getting an aspen to make me feel like crap about my panel.

As I look down the order after we got done haggling this morning the Aspen portion ended up being $8755 installed. I'm sure he made it up on the other end somewhere. The whole upgrade is just north of $30k. I guess I should have my initials embroidered on the headrests because at this point I'll be keeping her for a longggg while.

Just got back from the avionics shop.. Aspen is doing some kind of promo this month because he said if we are doing it, we needed to do it this month. Went with STec 30 A/P with GPSS STec Electric Trim Kit JPI EDM 930 Garmin Remote Audio Panel Aspen Pro+ My avionics guy was extra nice and in a pretty good mood today..wonder why? Going to be long 4 week wait for the equipment to arrive. STec is currently 4 weeks order time..

One more comment. Paul at LASAR developed the the third gear door mod (that the factory used (copied?) ) on the 205. My 261 was the first to try Paul's mod, and as clever as it was, I doubt if it added more than a knot or two. I keep asking Paul if he could add the third door mod to my J, but the subject gets changed quickly to other matters. Perhaps the STC has expired, or maybe my mod was done on s field approval.

The older ones from 1977-1980 have a higher useful load. The later ones modified to have the higher gross weight also have similar useful loads, but at 160lbs higher weight. 1977s also have the 153 mph gear speed, it's retrofitted via a service letter. 1978 and later do have the more modern landing gear emergency extension, push pull engine controls as noted, and the annunciator panel, better fuel selector, and flush latch on the baggage door. 1979? got the vastly improved overhead ventilation system, but I retrofitted that. 1984 got split folding rear seats.

The most desirable year is the one you own.... Just guessing, -a-

I spent 2.5 mooney hours flying today, just to honor Bill Wheat on what would have been his 86th birthday. Blue skies and tailwinds, Bill. Thanks for being my copilot today.

Passing along a tip... Get a ND filter for your GoPro like this: http://www.amazon.com/PolarPro-Neutral-Density-Filter--GoPro/dp/B00GV8QO96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461810476&sr=8-1&keywords=nd+filter+gopro it gets rid of the prop lines when shooting through your prop. Here is an example of some video I took without the filter: And another video with the filter: you can see in the second video the prop blurs out with the filter.

Okay $400+ two burritos, one taco and guacamole on the side. José