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This IFR Pilot’s Progression to Glass: I get a tablet & subscription. Instantly realize that’s way better than lugging around charts and plates. And they update themselves! Gleefully throw away the Jepp binders. Also get a portable GPS with an XM antenna. Carefully mount it on yoke. Wow! Graphic view of surroundings. Weather, winds aloft, lightning. Ground track, distances, ground speed, and I can “see” what’s ahead even in IMC. That’s transformational. Then I add a portable ADS-B with AHRS. Soon realize the tablet is now prime reference for weather, traffic, navigation. And I tend to use the attitude reference on tablet. Occasionally I sneak a peek at the old vacuum AI to confirm. I tell folks I still have steam gauges but I’m mostly using my glass— because the amount of information and the clarity of presentation they give are far superior. Next in disgust over intermittent audio in my C model one day I start ripping out stuff. I’m an EE, I can fix this.... All the avionics and all wiring go out. A used 530W snared from eBay goes in. Now I can fly RNAV LPV into my home ‘drome instead of the usually worthless VOR approach. The precision is astonishing—if I never see the runway at least the debris field will be down the centerline. Up to this point it’s been fairly inexpensive. Then I buy a plane that’s glass from left to right. As the motorcycle guys say, never look back.

Just checked the specs on the 930, wow. Didn’t realize it was a 900lb full fuel UL 330 knot screamer. That thing has some legs with a 60kt advantage over the pc12. It would look mighty nice next to the C in the hanger.

Hi, everyone! I'm a new Mooney owner -- I recently bought and ferried N201XG, a 1978 201, from its last owner in Texas to my base in Seattle. I decided to buy a plane back in September of last year and settled pretty quickly on an M20J. I did a little bit of looking at Bonanzas and Super Vikings but, as I'm sure you know, the M20 (and in particular the J model) had a really attractive mix of efficiency and speed and features. It also fit my mission profile pretty well, which was generally 0-2 passengers for quick flights within a 400nm radius. The fact that the M20 isn't immensely popular also appealed to me. I daily drove a Porsche 914 for years and I like something that's a little quirky and unusual. I was really methodical about selecting a 201, and have a spreadsheet filled with details on every M20J I found on the market in the last few months, organized by a scale of 1-3: "1" planes were exactly what I was looking for, "2" planes would do if I couldn't find a suitable "1" plane, and "3" planes you probably couldn't pay me to take. I did pricing workups on most and ended up with analyses of varying levels of 68 aircraft in all. N201XG was one of 8 aircraft I took a really close look at, and after spending a lot of time with remarkably patient and helpful selling broker, I bought the plane and moved it from its last base in Texas to its current home in Seattle. It turns out that N201XG spent 16 years in the Puget Sound area, from 1983 through 1999. Some of the maintenance logs show entries from Galvin Flying, the local flight school (and MSC before they got out of the repair business) where I met my insurance minimums in a rental M20J, N161MP. After that, N201XG spent 17 years in new England and 2 in Texas. This plane has a recently overhauled engine with the Firewall Forward 225hp STC, which was previously installed in the plane in 1987, then removed in 1999, before being reinstalled in 2017. It's an amazing plane and I've had a blast on local flights. I'm looking forward to expanding my radius as the weather warms and I work through the small list of remaining minor maintenance issues. Feels pretty neat to have an aircraft that has such a long history in my neighborhood.

This Acclaim driver only tops off fuel if traveling a long way, like Denver to Northern CA. I also keep the TKS tanks half-filled because I've never needed more than a gallon or two in the worst of the conditions that I've encountered. Other than that I rarely fill to more than 50 or 60 gallons. 60 gallons gets me comfortably from Petaluma to any other location on the West Coast, with plenty of reserves. Believe it or not, an Acclaim really can fly with less than full fuel and TKS!

Situational awareness. HSI + synthetic vision all in one place. No need to look anywhere else. Redundancy. 3 certified AI's in the panel, none rely on vacuum system. I certainly would not want to rely on a single vacuum AI like the old days. Reliability. In theory, it should be much better. Time will tell. So far, so good. It is true that this fancy panel cannot fly any approach a basic 430W cannot. But I need all the help I can get. Larry

A large-cabin bizjet loaded with fuel and a suicidal pilot could blow through a TFR so fast, the intercept pilots would still be putting on their g-suits when it hit the target. Thanks to the TFR system, target-central and prime-time are easy to figure out. Protecting Trump can be very difficult. Fixing the stupid TFR system is much tougher.

We bought the pilot USA for our two girls when they were 1 and 2-1/2. At that time we couldn’t get them to keep them on for any length of time. Now I need to use the pilot isolate feature on the intercom. They love hearing themselves. Only so many a cappella Disney songs I can take. The pilot USA headsets are no frills headsets. But they seem durable and I expect to keep them until an adult pair of ANRs will fit them. 10 years or so. My oldest is now 5, she loves her pink headsets. Cheers, Dan

A few more photos.

Flew N1084L to Troutdale, OR and left her with Greg at MSC Advanced Aircraft for annual. 1.4 hour flight with 25 knot headwind. Surface winds were light except at KTTD, 25 G 30 right down runway fortunately. Strange funnel effect down Columbia River gorge. My hangar neighbor picked me up in his RV 7-A. Not a comfortable fit for my 6’3” body. Cascade volcanoes in photos.

Drum Roll.... useful load is 830.74 -100 gals fuel -6 gals TKS fluid Leaves 175 lbs.. so you have to choose if you are going to take the wife, fuel, or TKS fluid. :@) Think I’ll just keep my J model

I'm putting my bets at 1100-1200 lbs of people.

Sometimes stupid people have a special protection...

Or take it one step further, don’t buy an airplane and have 2 vacation homes, with enough money left over to lease a very nice car. Trying to make financial sense of buying an airplane is a foolish exercise.

I doubt 4 more adults would’ve fit

If they had a Marauder girl up front CG wouldn't have been an issue!

The airlines bought glass because glass was cheaper to maintain. Until it retired NWA's old DC-9's a couple of years ago, Delta was flying them with steam gauges /A in the same skies as all the gee-whiz airplanes. I'm not convinced that those economies have been reached in the little airplane world. Marauder's panel is a thing of beauty and the gee-whiz effect is stunning, but my very basic steam gauge C with a G430W has exactly the same minimums. It's not until you get into the world of HUDs, Cat II/III, RNP that capability is expanded. I'll keep my old panel until stuff starts failing and take a look at cost/benefit at that time. A mechanical gyro overhaul is probably still a lot cheaper that a "flat rate repair" on glass.

"Over 5,000 possible threats." True by definition, but really 5,000 clueless pilots.

I did my 25 + this year and passed 300 flights since I started doing YE Flights (they just sent me a nice jacket too). I posted a story this last summer about an airport event I attended in Houghton MI. My local EAA Chapter works with two adjacent chapters sharing resources (Snoopy simulator and pedal planes). When I mentioned I was coming up, I asked them if they wanted me to bring my Mooney (so I could do YE Flights) or the Lancair, as an attraction. They said bring them both! So my hangar partner, Steve, flew the Mooney up and I flew up in the Lancair. Well, after he and I alternated flying YE's all day in the Mooney and were pretty tired, we were about to leave and I saw a group of girls sitting on the ramp waiting for their ride. All the pilots had left except two local ones, each flying 2 seaters. It was obvious these girls were going to wait a long time, or possible be sent home. Steve was just landing with the "last flight" of kids, and was planning to go to the fuel farm to fuel. I called him on the radio and told him 8 girls were waiting for a ride, would he do ONE more. I would take three of them in the prop-jet and the last two could go in the last two single seat planes still flying. He said yes and those girls were obviously happy after we got done. And.........like Alex says, they really take on to the YOUNG pilots. The young man in the photo bought his own plane, got his license, and has been accepted into the Air Force Academy. He had one year of high school left when this picture was taken! My Lancair can be seen behind the Ercoupe. Tom

I'd disagree. I'm the youngest volunteer pilot in my chapter and just 7 years ago I was one of the googly-eyed kids riding in an RV-6. The last event I flew, I'd say maybe 10% of the kids were grinning ear to ear, and one kid yelling to his parents he wants to be a pilot. I gave three parents the contact info to my local CFI (who was in the pattern and later chatted with the parents). It happens! Just gotta be positive. I don't want to be egotistical, but I think its very refreshing for kids to see someone like myself flying at such a young age. Gives them hope

It comes down to personal preference. For me, I started out as a steam guy. Heck, didn’t have a GPS either. When I made the decision to install the GPS, I could have easily stopped there. What triggered the first foray into the glass started as a question where to display the GPS output. My steam CDIs wouldn’t work so I began looking at the Garmin GI-106. For the cost, it was just a glorified CDI. The shop I was working with convinced me to look into an Aspen. As the Aspen PFD was being installed I started to research the MFD. I already was starting to use an iPad but the big difference was the lack of integration. Make a change on the GPS and it shows up on the Aspens. That has changed now with both the Avidyne and Garmin products capable of updating the iPad apps with a few button strokes. For me personally, I just like having ALL the information I need in front of me on certified boxes. I have had my iPad shut down unexpectedly and it certainly can’t drive a certified Nav signal with glideslope. My suggestion is find someone who has a glass panel system and spend some time flying with them. It may not be for you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

About three times the data feed in a compact area... Great detail for IFR traveling. 1/3 as useful if only Flying short VFR flights... If you like, you can calculate all the detail with an abacus... You decide. it isn't the same data in a different format. ya know? Keep in mind, the new digital APs are going to need a source of data, that probably isn't supplied by 50year old instruments. you sure you want to tell your spouse all this a year in advance? Might be a better plan to think through a whole upgrade plan before launching that conversation... -a-

Making arrangements for a rental car has not always been straightforward, particularly at the smaller airports. Arriving after hours Is often a dealbreaker for many FBO's. I would try to make arrangements online or by the standard call-in number. A simple rental frequently turned into a mess and I never knew if a car would actually be available when I arrived. NOT ANY MORE! I'm not trying to endorse any specific rental company.....I just happen to use Enterprise/National. I learned of a specific department Enterprise has dedicated to pilots. Talking to somebody who understands what an airport identifier is and what FBO stands for is really refreshing. Now when I call, I provide the airport identifier, date and approximate time I will arrive and the vehicle is there, ready to go-even after hours. When you're done, just park at the FBO and walk away. No paperwork to complete (before or after), no credit card issues etc.. The information is contained in your file. Additionally, the rental generates credits towards free future rentals. If the FBO already has rentals, they will work directly with them. There is no extra cost for this service and I typically receive discounts (5-10%) not available elsewhere. The Enterprise rental number is 877-421-3722 (Sorry, I don't know if Avis, Budget or any other rental agency has a similar service). Perhaps this tid-bit will make someones life a little easier-It helped me.

No these guys would have been better served with a Toyota Sienna.

Apparently 1 inch Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Zulu 3 works well for my 7 year old. Seems to maintain a good seal and be comfortable, even with oxygen. It has Bluetooth which links to his iPad so he can play Minecraft instead of kicking my seat when I’m trying to land. It works well unless he forgets to charge the iPad. In those cases the “pilot iso” feature is priceless.

A few months ago he visited Greenville to have dinner with a campaign doner and I literally could not leave work for over an hour because of it. I work right next to our international airport and so they closed all the roads into and out of the plant. All politics aside, that was BS!

Mooneys (Moonies?) are in short supply which I suspect is driving up pricing. Turbo long bodies are in short supply. I would look at market value of the Columbia/Cessna 400 and the SR22 turbo of the same era to look at market values. I'm not sure what year the FIKI SR22 was available, but I do know that the Columbia 400 isn't available with FIKI. The TTX is available FIKI. Directionally I would look at the 2008 at $395K as a full retail advertised price. It doesn't seem like a wildly overpriced number, but I also wouldn't look at that plane as a screaming deal either. I wouldn't be surprised if it sells quickly near the asking price given the limited supply. It's a fire breathing monster and if I had enough money that I didn't care I'd pull the trigger on that thing in a heartbeat. Most of my flying is solo and that combination of equipment is very special. Biggest issue is useful load- I would bet there is less than 300 lbs of useful load with full fuel and a full TKS tank. Looking at range and legal loads the SR22 or a TTX both with FIKI are going to be tough competition- and they certainly are competition for this plane.

Why do you need a new digital autopilot? there is a accutrak on here for sale with the valve that I would jump on. That's what I installed and I couldn't be happier. Tracks the magenta line like a champ.

I think it's different things for different people that are important. Short list More information right in front of you. Reliability of AHRS over vacuum, combined with "partial panel" backup including an attitude inducator, Typically larger attitude information, easier to read once you get used to it. We like new stuff.

I see the beginning of one problem... that multiplies rapidly... Somebody already let the first color screen in. Expect that a whole bunch of other color screens might arrive year after year. Ask Marauder, it happened recently to his long standing, nice Analog F.... Great photos! Best regards, -a-

I was going to be a smartass and say that is what a mag is, but I could see a mag (a magneto is just a generator) without points and an electronic rotor--that would be a happy medium. It looks like E-mag systems do this.

Something like that... when you get near the end, each next hour seems to take forever. Great if you have logged a few weeks doing all your annuals and other maintenance work. Your mechanic can probably show you that too... a bottle of wine to go with that Bottle of Jack... Best regards, -a-

Well, blarg. I know the pushrod has a z-bend with some room left (found the shuttle valve last time the cowl was off) so maybe there's enough space for my A&P to move it around a bit. Still scratching my head about where it could go, though. Under the yoke is the best I've come up with so far.

For me, glass makes IFR flying easier. All the data is in one area reducing the scan. There's also a lot less turning of knobs while shooting an approach in IMC. It might sound silly, but I really like the additional data that the Aspen provides such as Wind direction, velocity, and TAS. There's no question an HSI makes IFR flying easier. And it's even better when the desired GPS track including holds, waypoints, etc are overlayed on the HSI. I can also display multiple nav sources such as two different VOR needles on the same HSI. Then there is the reliability with the ability to remove the vacuum system to say nothing of reducing things spinning on very delicate bearings.

If Skywagons won't allow the plane to go to LASAR or TopGun for a pre-buy, I would not buy the plane.

Um, ya, I don’t HATE my job. I totally agree with you that regardless of $ if you hate what you are doing, life is too short. The other side of that coin is I have so many pursuits that I find fun that works gets in the way of pursuing them to the degree I would like. I hope that by saving for the future I have my health and can enjoy my “part-time” entertainment FULL-TIME answering to no one for my time, my schedule, my production. When many around you that you love are entering retirement and you are still “working for the man”, when you have the specter of a father that checked out only one year into his retirement you begin to think more and more about “when”...At least I do.

When I was at my last duty station, I had enough time in the military to retire. I sat down and wrote this list of all my options. (Obviously, B and beyond is "Retire and ...") A. Take the next assignment I am offered. B. Obtain venture capital, develop engine patents. C. Get my PhD in Dust Combustion. D. Become mercenary pilot. E. Teach JROTC in Pago Pago. F. Go fishing. G. Go hunting. H. Star as the pilot in the reality show "Air Faire America". I. Write Just War Theory book. J. Finish writing SciFi novel. K. Get my CFI-I and teach flying. L. Teach online. M. Become an ABIMU. (Angry Blogger In My Underwear.) N. Patent suppressor design, start suppressor company. O. Start laser machining business. P. Farm woody florals. Q. Build a Kit Plane. R. Build furniture. S. Train hunting dogs. T. Write historical book about American Indians. U. Fix all the crap wrong with the house. As it turned out, the next assignment offered was not desirable, mercenary pay started to fall, my wife said that if we move to Pago Pago she gets to retire, (While I am still working? BS!), and "Air Faire America" never got back to me about an interview, (I presume it was never made), so A, D, E, and H were out. I do F, G, M, and U as often as possible, but my main focus is on N and O. I also plan to do at least the first half of K using my GI Bill. I got my MEL ATP and SEL Comm ratings since retiring and will continue to add ratings. As my example shows, I would suggest you create your own list, (A might be to stay at your job), and decide what would be the most rewarding in the near- and long-term. Always have goals and plans!

When we spent our summers at our lake house, we had an acquaintance who would stop by our dock about once a week to chat. Each visit, he would tell us how many years, days, hours he had until he retired. I always thought it so sad that a person would spend his entire life at a job he hated. We only have one lifetime to learn to be happy.

Fun? I have always worked to Iive NOT lived to work. Good for those of you that are in a career/profession that you are passionate about and enjoy. For me, NEVER have I identified my “self” with my employment...

So I broke down and did the background check thing And the course. Didn’t take but a few minutes, the hardest part by far was finding my EAA membership number.

It was a dark and windy night... ok, it was a sunny and windy day on the coast. So I decided to go inland to a few new(to me) airports I had wanted to check out. I even brought along my video camera, which didn't get any useful audio, and stopped recording several times and needed to be restarted. I headed from Newport(KONP) to Sisters Eagle Airport(6K5) which has a camping area I wanted to see. Then I headed to Lake Billy Chinook State(5S5) which is really more of an airpark, but I did manage to get the camera working: Arrival and Departure from 5S5. Lake Billy Chinook State Airport Oregon Then I headed to Prineville(S39) where every plane in the area was apparently flying and breaking off the 45 a couple times for traffic I couldn't spot and realizing that there were 2 similar sounding red and white skywagons on frequency(at least I think there were, we have proper callsigns for a reason folks). I said screw it and continued to Bend(KBDN) where I had planned to get fuel. After I had worked out my whole 'left vs right' and 'east vs west' problem someone ended up on the runway with a flat. So I headed over to Albany(S12) to get fuel, and managed to actually land there. Then I headed back to Newport where the winds were favoring runway 02 at a sporting 060 18G24 or so(peak gusts were 26 I think) Arrival to Newport Municipal Airport, Oregon, Runway 02 If you look carefully in the video you can see my house, you can also see why I live where I do. Oh well, 3 hours, 2 new airports at least(and really the more interesting ones).

The weather finally got warm enough and schedules worked out for some basic testing. The ice heaving the threshold of the doors gave us a problem getting the hangar doors opened. Checked the usual suspects, got it started and did some extended ground runs and high speed taxi texts. Ran it for about an hour and nothing obvious showing in the data so far. With the snow falling now, I don’t expect it to be above 30 until late next week. Both tanks are still around half full, still loaded with 100LL, still no water in the sumps. Pumps seem to fine. So, really, no; no news.

Actually when I land at the "biggest airport" I usually reserve a rental at the terminal, since their rate is typically much lower than the same car, from the same company, at the FBO.

Definitely get over it and get back to flying the kids. It's not their fault and it's not your fault. You can be sure that ANYONE working or doing anything with kids these days has to go through this stuff. My wife is a child psychologist who works with Child Protective Services here in Texas. She was shocked it took EAA this long to get with the program. It is what it is and you shouldn't take it personally or be offended. The kids need to fly, so do it for the kids. Young Eagles is the only reason I pay my EAA dues every year.

The word "Retirement" is not in my vocabulary. It conjures up the image of being an unproductive person. Having said that, I haven't worked for anyone since 1975. I started buying houses when I was 26 thinking that in 25 years they would be mostly paid off. After buying a few I tried to talk my engineering cohorts into doing the same--unsuccessfully. (They're probably still having to go to a job they may not like). That time and many, many more years have passed, so I have the perspective of much of a lifetime. As Bob Brinker would say, I reached "Critical Mass" (not have to work at a job) by age 38. Getting started on an investment plan early in life works. Compounding works and inflation continues. Be frugal until you don't have to. Doing those things means that later in life you will not have to worry about whether you can keep your toys or have to give them up. It also means you can have all the toys you want, and do whatever you want. Planned properly, while others may have to work, you will have more income coming in than you would ever need without having to work at a job. I also got my Private at age 26, but it wasn't until I was 49 that I decided to devote the "time" part of my life to aviation, and what a ride it has been and continues to be. I chose to become an expert in one specific area of flying and that was the Mooney. As a result, I think I have more teaching time in Mooneys than anyone else in the Country, and have never had to go looking for students. Of course time was needed for that. And I have met and worked with so many great people, and feel I have helped most. So Retire? Never!

This thread is hitting pretty close to home...

took my first lesson a couple of months after forced retirement, been 6 years. I bought a plane 4 years ago that needed to be upgraded, was the 2nd lowest price J on the market. As my investments go, so does my upgrades. If market drops, I fly a little less and put off the upgrades. No pension, so I’m somewhat cautious. My estimated budget before purchasing was pretty close, I fly more than I thought I would. It’s been great. I was born to be retired, never for second regretted it.

Hello Fellow Mooniacs, As many of you know I am working tirelessly at NBAA to make sure that this shortening is a temporary one. Just to clarify a few of the items being discussed here: The runway is now a hard 3,500 feet with raised threshold lights at each end. While the pavement is still there, rolling beyond the threshold would be considered a runway excursion and will likely cause some damage to your landing gear. Here is the City's info graphic depicting the changes. Note the new taxiways to be used as the only new exit points off the runway. The Department of Justice is the arm of the government representing the FAA. The lawsuit is being heard in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The FAA exceeded it's statutory authority by the way the Agency handled the Settlement Agreement, NBAA's position is that we have a strong case and if we prevail in court the City of Santa Monica will have to restore the runway. Please see the following article for more details: https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airports/smo/nbaa-continues-legal-efforts-to-preserve-access-to-smo.php In the past one could exist the runway at any point, the recent project has also created new taxiways. They are currently only depicted on the Jepp chart. Please be sure to only exit at the designated taxiway areas. Noise abatement is also a concern. Since the runway was shortened, the noise monitors were not moved and aircraft will now be starting their takeoff roll approximately 735 feet closer to the sensor and thus be closer and louder over the monitor. Please let me know if you receive a warning or a violation. See this article for more info https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airports/smo/shortened-smo-runway-may-affect-airport-noise-readings.php and the City's website for noise abatement procedures for piston aircraft https://www.smgov.net/Departments/Airport/Pilots/Propeller_Aircraft_Procedures.aspx. SMO is a case of national importance - please consider supporting the Santa Monica Airport Association (SMAA), the organization working hard to fight the anti-airport groups and the City of Santa Monica, promote the airport and preserve its future. Keep in mind that the settlement agreement and the consent decree only say that after 2028 the fate of the airport is in the hands of City Council. SMAA is working hard to change its composition and to make sure that they vote with the benefit to all the citizens of the city in mind, not just the select local minority. Please visit www.santamonicaairport.info. They have a "National Supporter" category. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more info. --Alex

he's just grateful he didn't have to drive. Of course he may be embarrassed to be seen with that polka dot pillow.

My wife complains when I post pictures of her sleeping, leaning up against the door . . . .