neilpilot

...but no mater the source, does ATC provide lightening data??

In general, I agree that ATC's weather avoidance assist has improved greatly. But remember that they are working with radar and ride reports, but unless I'm mistaken they do not have lightening data. I fly with XM and a stormscope. While I welcome ATC input I find that the stormscope input gives me a supplement that sometimes trumps what ATC supplies.

Agree you should keep your #2 com. As noted many times previously, a splitter hookup to one of your existing com antennae will greatly extend the range of your ICOM.

First try to confirm that the GS isn't out of service. Check the NOTAMS, ask another pilot to confirm operation or call the airport manager. At my base the ILS was without an operating GS for months, and it didn't appear in the NOTAMS for the first few days. Alternatively, is there another ILS nearby that you can fly?

Many of my years in the chemical industry were spent manufacturing chlorofluorocarbons, not Halon but similar compounds.

A common misconception.....Halon does not "displace the O2 ", but actually works by chemically reacting with the fire triangle to extinguish the fire.

I found the East River transition northbound, with a westbound turn for a low level pass of Central Park the highlight of my Hudson River tour.

Mr. Spencer was flying 2 passengers as a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight West.....https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/plane-crash-palo-alto-dead-one-airport-13203858.php

If you must GA to NYC area, there are many alternatives that MSers have discussed in the past. When I've GAed up for business in Manhattan, I've used KTEB. That's busy enough for me.

There's a different "reservation" required for VFR. "VFR RESERVATION INFO AVBL ON ATIS"

Actually parking is only $55 for each 8 hr period.

We are also doing our mag inspections this annual, at about 475 hours. I'd like to think I'm a "serious IFR pilot", but my backup for a vacuum pump failure is a Precise Flight standby vacuum system and a sTec60-2 autopilot that will maintain steady flight and coordinated decent without a vacuum source.

Agree. We are currently in for annual and will have the vacuum pump, which was placed in service in 2007, replaced. It's been in service for 1135 hours, so maybe it's on borrowed time?

This Mooney was bought by Brent Pressley as salvage after the 2016 incident, then sold to a third party, but now it's owned by Brent based on FAA registration data. http://www.avclaims.com/N201RD.htm

....and Messina's restaurant in that old terminal is very good.

I can give you one data point.... NTSB inspected my 64E with bladders about a month after recovery from a soybean field. They were surprised that the right wing didn't leak fuel after the main gear separated and punctured the underside of the wing.

It sometimes seems that 10% of the time my first call up is read back as Mooney5678Q. That would have been much simpler.

Hopefully not as PIC or a required crew member. https://www.leftseat.com/motion-sickness/

Larry, that very well be the case. However the KX-155 was manufactured with a gas discharge display. The LED display is a recent retrofit that Mark-Mooney is unlikely to have unless he's had a recent upgrade to his KX-155.

If Mooney-Mark decides he likes his KX155, he has the option of upgrading you existing radio with a new LED display and front facepiece.

If you act fast, Seattle Avionics still has an Oshkosh price on their Merlin. I've been using it for a year coupled to FlyQ, and it works great. Stratus-like performance at a fraction of the price. Currently the Merlin dual-channel battery-powered ADS-B, WAAS GPS, AHRS receiver is $199.99 + $14.95 US shipping and handling.

Spent the last 2 weeks of July parked on the ramp at KLRO, Mt. Pleasant SC. We had many strong storms, and in one case the runway was NOTAMed closed for 20 hours to repair lightening damage at the approach end of 35. When I left I didn't have a trace of water in either tank. I currently have standard o-rings installed, changed annually. My annual is coming up and I considered buying these O-rings.

If it's anything like the KX-155 gas discharge display, it will only get worse. Those who have been lucky had carefully removed their display and cleaned the contacts. However, this will only work in the minority. Usually that requires a new display. For the KX155 new original displays are almost impossible to find. BK does make a LED retrofit, but that will cost you >=$1k.

What if that "...if anything happens" happens a minute or so after you rotate, at about 6000' down that long runway you decided not to use? While you maybe "still positive you can set it down safely", that may not occur on the remaining 5000' that you left behind.

Alex, By now hopefully the many responses will give you a reason to reevaluate your position. Your post implies that the only event that might justify shoulder harnesses are a sudden failure during takeoff. You must realize that even an apparent perfect approach to a paved runway can vary suddenly and without warning turn into an incident involving head-to-panel impact. Also, those who only wear their harness on departure and arrival should consider the potential for a low probability event in cruise such as Dan’s in flight nap and consider wearing them during the entire flight. I only remove my harness briefly to change tanks or reach for something in the back seat.