Hector

Loved airplanes the first time I saw one. When I was 6 or 7 other kids where playing with toy cars and trucks, I had nothing but airplanes and aircraft carriers. Many a battle were fought in my back yard. When I was 8 my dad’s boss offered him and my older brother a ride in his piper 180 and I promptly pushed my brother out of the way. There was no way I was not going to fly that day. That was my introduction to GA and I couldn’t stop thinking about that flight for weeks. In high school I worked evenings and weekends to make enough money for flight lessons. Shortly after graduating from high school I got my PPL. Then it was off to college to study aeronautical engineering of course, but the plan was to graduate and go to the Air Force or Navy to fly jets. My nearsightedness killed that plan but I graduated with an aero engineering degree and got a job as a structures engineer working on A-7s. Not long after that I got my instrument rating and then came wife and kids and aviation activities slowed down a bit but never stopped. Flew rentals for many years and was part of a Navy flying club with access to T-34Bs for $50 an hour. Flew the hell out of those T-34s. Always loved Mooney’s and a colleague at work had one but was moving up to a twin so I became a Mooney owner. Now over a thousand hours in the old Mooney and I still look forward to the weekends to fly her. Grateful to have spent an entire career (32 years now) working on airplanes (F-18’s now) and looking forward to retirement soon so I can spent more time.....at the airport flying my Mooney. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

When I transition from pavement to grass or vice versa as OSH I never do so at 90 degrees or anywhere near that. I ease into it by getting one main on the grass (or pavement) and then slowly transitioning the other main (parallel entry). Yoke back as far as it will go and go SLOW. Remember rolling on grass is going to take a lot more more throttle (specially if wet) so the elevator will be more effective so keep the yoke on your chest the hole time you are taxing. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It’s now been officially confirmed by SnF that tickets sales have broken all previous records and they have dropped the daily attendance limit in order to accommodate the crowds. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The discounts I have seen before at the air shows is really more like buy a year and we’ll give you 13 months. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Last time I checked Rain-x contains alcohol which is known to cause crazing in acrylic material with prolonged use. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Have not used their hub system but just before I bought my C the previous owner had done an avionics upgrade and fas stack build the custom wire harness. He just told them all the boxes in the panel and where they were and they built a wire harness with all the correct connectors to tie it in all together. He installed all the new boxes and just plugged in the new wire harness and it all worked perfectly. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Wow!!! You would think someone would be yelling Hot Mike! Hot Mike! Instead of letting this bozo continue his story. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I don’t know. I helped install a TT on a piper and the installation was pretty darn simple and straight forward. Around 35 hours but I’m sure after you do it a few times you could get it down to 25 or so. Then I had the chance to fly behind it and I found it to be intuitive and simple.....and quite capable. Yes it is not certified below 700 but it flew the GPS approach hands free to the runway numbers with a stiff crosswind. That being said, there is a place for the TT I think. I would not choose to install it in anything more than a J model. But for a replacement for the older models it is quite reasonable since you are not likely to get back what you pay for a GFC500 on an E or even an F when you sell. BTW not having the trim servo on the piper was a non-issue, and I suspect it will be the same for any plane that didn’t come with a trim motor like most older Mooney’s, and ATC did not complain at all when I entered a course vice a heading in the TT. The TT was even very handy for an ILS approach as entering the final approach course as you centered the localizer made it an exercise in maintaining glide slope while letting TT fly the localizer final approach course regardless of cross wind conditions. All in all not a bad little AP for the money for older Mooney’s......if it ever comes to fruition. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It does not appear COVID will have an impact in attendance this year. My understanding is that ticket sales are WAY above normal. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Put me down for the up block Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What I do. After leveling off at the desired altitude and heading and making all final adjustments to mixture, etc, i watch the course heading in the GPS to see if I’m slowly drifting left or right with PC on. Then I adjust the roll/aileron trim as best as possible to maintain a fairly constant heading. It is not perfect as the PC is not intended to hold a heading, but you can get it dialed in pretty good with aileron trim so the drift left or right is minimal. I then engage my Accutrak if I want to fly hands off. You want to get the aileron trim dialed in correctly anyway before you engage Accutrack or it will be constantly adjusting for a left or right course drift. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Vendors will be present using the same hangars they have always used. My understanding is that they will be trying to limit/control the traffic inside the hangars and mask use will be mandatory inside the hangars. Been going to SnF for over 30 years now and I think I missed one show during that time. Also been going to OSH for the last 8 years in a row. OSH is definitely a bigger event with SnF about half the size but most of the vendors show up and you get to see the new toys and the forums are good. SnF is in my back yard so I have no excuse for not going and I enjoy it very much. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If you are going to do this in the future get a 6 inch random orbital polisher (Porter cable 7424XP). It’s really hard to remove all the oxidation by hand. If the paint is heavely oxidized then try a cutting compound first (Meguiars 105) then follow that with a polishing compound (Meguires 205), and then follow that by a good quality wax (Collinite 845). If you want to go the extra mile then clay bar the surfaces too. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I’m of the same mindset here. Same reason I don’t like any gust lock that clamps onto the flight control surfaces. People have died because we do forget and we do get distracted despite our best intentions. Single point failure. We lost a Mooney at my home field (KHEG) because of blocked fuel vents (mud dubbers inside a hanger) so I do recognize the importance of checking this but I think I’ll stick to thick safety wire. I was at the airport in my hanger when I heard the engine quit on takeoff and thankfully the two folks made it without serious injuries (landed around 100 yards past the end of the runway in the brush). Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Wow Seth!! Had no idea you were going through all of this. Just Speechless!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

67C here as well and I’m on the same boat. I have the Brittain AP and it is working well but no altitude hold. Been waiting on TT but God only knows if that will ever come to fruition. The only other used APs that I see every once in a while are the STEC. A BASIC STEC with altitude hold will work but I’ve heard to get the STC from the company for a used STEC is painful and expensive. If you buy a new one the cost is in the ballpark of the Garmin GFC500 which is also approved for the M20C. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would not be overly concerned about 6 weeks down in a hangar. I fly most weeks but my plane was down for 6 weeks for annual. Do I think my engine turned to dust during those 6 weeks? NO Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well....I may be interested in your cluster. My two fuel gages were not working great so I sent them to Air Parts of Lock Haven for overhaul. I was quoted $250 each and paid an extra $75 for expedite. Final bill was $1012 after they replaced the bezels at $150 each and I paid another $62 for overnight shipping to Florida. I was a bit annoyed that I was not informed about the the parts they replaced but water under the bridge and I just wanted ny fuel gauges back. They were shipped overnight last Thursday via FEDEX and no one knows where they are. FEDEX is looking for them and I have a case number opened but so far no luck. After paying $1000 for these damn gauges I may not ever see them again. I’m not even sure what recourse I have at the moment with Air Parts of Lock Haven or FEDEX. Regardless looks like I’m out two fuel gauges and my 67C is grounded until I come up with replacements. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I’ll be there. Got my two COVID shots already and will continue to exercise care but looking forward to it already. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I recall doing this at 7500 a couple of years ago and also recall around 3Kts difference. WOT at 2400 and 2500. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

https://my.flexmls.com/reneadownes/search/shared_links/4KYwK/listings/20200803173852884301000000?fbclid=IwAR394XwEhkad8WQ6K2eqlwOQVBJZaH_jcYb0VfbOJucga2FqXw2bvHSBw2g Friend sent me this the other day. Not far from where I live but outside my budget. It would be nice though. Huge house, huge hanger, lakeside, etc. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

128 Mooney hours Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

In 35 years of flying only once or twice was I really concerned I might not make it. In considerably less time than that on the water I’ve had more opportunities to ponder my continued existence [emoji23] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

1700 hours on a factory rebuilt for my 67C and I’m hoping it will make it to and past TBO. Engine still going strong. Skytec starter and alternator conversion was done 7 years ago and has been trouble free as well. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

In recognition that sometimes you just need a patch job, I once tried to start a list of folks people had used and would recommend for a patch job. It didn’t get much traction with folks instead insisting patching is not worth it. I think the point was missed that although I generally agree that once a tank starts leaking patching probably doesn’t pay off in the long run, circumstances can be very different and in some cases patching can make sense. My plane currently has a small seep at the top of the inboard forward spar cap. If I fill up I lose 2-3 gallons over several days and then it stops. I thought about trying to patch this up myself and have read Maxwells procedure on how to do it, but frankly if I knew of someone in Florida or Georgia that was good at this I just as soon let them do it. I wonder if there is an interest in getting such a list going again. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk