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I went to my wife 9 months ago and said I was buying an ovation. I had done the logbook review, talked to the broker, and was going to submit an offer the next day on a ‘97 (I think) ovation 3. I had been talking about upgrading for a while and my wife had always said no. This time she just said not another Mooney. She didn’t find it to be comfortable. I’ll always be a mooniac, but I subscribe to the theory that the best plane for any mission is the one your wife likes. Wife and two little girls (3 and 6 weeks)- I need more space in the plane than would be feasible in an ovation. The goal was family plus bags ~600 miles in 3 hours. Not feasible in an ovation, but not far off in a turbo normalized A36. The Bo won’t make it in 3 hours, but at least it will be a comfortable ride. I brought the plane home and took my wife to see it. I showed her the rear cabin- she sat down and smiled at the space. Then she looked at the panel and said, “no glass? You’re going to redo that right?” So that’s the story of how I bought a Bonanza in May and why the bird is in the avionics shop right now.

I replaced all 3 tires and tubes, because they were worn out. Other than that, the only part we replaced was gascolator gaskets. My last annual was $7,000. I did all the labor on this one, the IA just followed up and inspected my work. I spent under $1500 total for the whole shebang. And, stuff actually got done. The folks who did my $7,000 annual did not do about half of the things they were supposed to.

Just a quick note to let everyone know Dr. Ron Dubin, @rocketmanMooney Summit cofounder, underwent back surgery today at UK. He is fine, and I’m sure he is recovering well without opioids. His slurred speech is normal....Get well my friend

What’s with all the negativity? Attacking another MSer? Attacking a product that other MSers use and support? Then follow it up with an opinion that isn’t in line with the people that have bought it... Some people feel a bitterness when something they want costs more than they can afford... I get this feeling all the time... leaving the the bitterness at home helps keep things interesting... Continuing the bitterness has people clicking the ignore button... Be a part of the community. Best regards, -a-

You could add a small annunciator light labeled 'Fuel Pump On'. A lot easier than moving the switch. Checklist usage also helps. When do you retract the flaps? That would be a good reminder- flaps up, pump off, flaps down, pump on.

All that and a Truetrac AP What else would a 54 year old airplane need?

I just completed a current pilot record for insurance renewal on my Baron. I flew 175 (actually 177.5) hours in the last 12 months, 38 hours in the last 90 days. Of that, 150 was in the Baron and 25 hours in single engine, mostly teaching and exercising a friend's P210. In the last 90 days, 36 of the 38 hours were in the Baron with two flight reviews in single engine, each an hour flight time thrown in. I was expecting about 150 hours last year so 175 hours is a nice surprise. I do have a non-equity partner in the Baron and his time will determine the insurance premium, unfortunately. He has about 25% of the hours I do and flies about 25% as much as I do. But . . . he pays half of the expenses. Oh, and my first flight in the Baron was January 15, 2018 so that 150 hours in the Baron is for a 10 month period, not a full year

Hello All, I'm new to the forum which is kind of silly since I've owned my J since 1987 and brought it to Australia in 2005 where I now live in Sydney. I had the great pleasure to meet and host Mike and Alice for part of their visit down under. It was terrific to have Mike at our Mooney safety program in Bathurst, NSW! I know many of us hope he will return soon. I'd like to make a sort of reverse offer to any experienced Mooney pilots that might want to come over to Australia and fly a nice J still on the N registry. It's fully ADS-B compliant with a low time Firewall Forward engine. The nice thing about having it N registered is that anyone with FAA ticket can fly here without any license conversion. My insurance is OK with an arrangement as long as certain min flight experience is met. Anyway, just thought I'd throw this out to keep in mind if you make the long trip over. Peter PS Photo from trip last Sunday to Mitta Mitta (near the Snowy Hydro project in the "Australian" Alps.

If he doesn't like Anthony, he is going to hate me.

I like emag. But surefly is nice. Meh - in a few years. This week my airplane is in the shop getting something I was kicking and screaming for 10 years ago - FINALLY I am getting airbag seatbelts. The new Amsafe STC - I am a first adopter - but no kidding it took 10 years to finally get this thing. So with that in mind - maybe I will get an emag or surefly in 10 years. If there is still avgas then.

Wow! That reply to one of THE most respected members of this community will get you no where around here. Obviously you're new around here and some ignorance can be excused. But an apology is in order to Anthony who as you might have noticed, is a Supporter of the site, has a positive rating of 5715 and over 20K responses. This might as well be Anthony's house. Or never mind, see you later. Maybe you can get your info elsewhere.

This is like telling the guy looking at a BMW on the lot... you know a 10 year old Corolla would be cheaper, and even cheaper to insure.

The first annual after I bought my plane was owner assisted. I thought that all the panel screws that had to be zizzed off were just part of the annual. Now I realize that most of those panels hadn't been removed in many years by the professionals that had maintained the plane. An owner has the luxury of working without the time pressure of a shop clock. All the time consumming little jobs can be done and done right by an owner. The IA can spend his time doing what he does best: inspecting. I'm presently doing my 20th owner assisted annual.

Just look for rain coming out of a Mooney when I am overhead. José

It is often one of the four screws at the end of the support brackets. They don't have quite as much sealing surface as the cover screws. You can usually do a quick fix by removing the screw, coating it with tank sealer or Permatex, and put it back in. Just be careful when taking the screw out and back in, so you don't push the nut plate down breaking the sealant between the support and the top of the tank.

But on the plus side, it makes it easier to ignore.

Put me down for 5 years.

I really can’t agree that the operating costs of the Bravo are all that high. I say that though with a caveat. That’s once you get it completely dialed in so far as all systems are concerned with everything operating rock solid where you want it. But then again that really applies to any new-used plane that is 15-50 years old. The reliability an dispatch rate of the Bravo has been great, and as mentioned above, it has a Lycoming that will make TBO with little problem if you fly it correctly which really isn’t that hard, and this certainly should be factored into the equation . Some might argue that burning 18 to 19 gallons an hour in cruise is high , but it really is reasonable when you consider the speed and therefore efficiency of the thing, being able to get up and over a lot of weather that you would otherwise have to circumnavigate, etc

It’s the same or maybe worse at almost any marina. Once-beautiful yachts are deteriorating, half-sunk, peeling varnish and weathered teak, hulls and decks begrimed with mildew, ratty rigging. I can only imagine what shape the motors or sails are in.. A gorgeous day might have one or two boats on the bay. A hundred others never leave the slip, or the driveway. I guess it was fun for a season or two. Keeping the dream alive, maybe. I have no room to talk... my once-good bicycle has hardLy been ridden in 20 years...ummm 35 years?

Campbell Field is a licensed, uncharted grass strip that's been in use since the 60's. Well maintained 1,700ish ft strip with obstacles both ends, and Campbell Field Restaurant is through the pasture gate and across the road. Great food and prices; we usually have 3 to 10 planes meet for breakfast on fair weather Sundays. It's about 21 miles NNW of the Birmingham, AL airport (KBHM). Coordinates are 33.844, -86.898. Don't just practice short fields, use it! Overhead view: Breakfast run parking:

Since Anthony will probably welcome you Peter, Ill fill in some of his questions for you. Peter is a world class cellist who instructs at the Sydney Conservatory whos hobbies not only include flying, but astrophotography. He has his own telescope at the Sydney Observatory and produced this masterpiece. His son Nicholas is following in his fathers footsteps and already is one of the best classical guitarist i have heard at 16. Did I mention his wife is a world class pianist? If anyone gets to Sydney, do look Peter up. A finer family cannot be found.

T51 in Fredericksburg, TX has a diner and hotel on the tarmac. The diner has an American menu along with Blue Bell ice cream soda fountain. I won't go as far to say that the food is the best I have ever had, but for a destination, and okay food, and mostly everyone in there is a pilot because the restaurant is right on the strip, it's a good place to go. The town of Fredericksburg is a tourist destination so it is worth the trip there. The Museum of the Pacific war is there and very much worth a walkthrough if you have never been.

I replaced the clock in our panel with the AV-20. So far I am very happy with it and paid the deposit for the AV30. I have not connected static and temperature probe. After installation is complete I will provide more information on the full range of functions.

That may be true for a knowledgeable buyer. We have one member here who has had great luck with minimal PPI’s, he sounds like the exception rather than the norm. I think the shop has a responsibility to discuss clearly what the owner’s expectations are, what the budget for the PPI is, and if those are unrealistic with the shop’s experience to clearly explain to the buyer. PPI’s going bad is sadly a daily occurrence. Clarence

I've had my eye on these since the first time I saw someone post a link to them. I actually like that it keeps the traditional look of the panel, not that the big glass panels aren't nice, but these bring functionality while keeping the nostalgia of the classic panel.