JohnB

I heard John tell that story as well and since then, I never put anything heavy in the hat rack compartment (usually towels, light boxes, papers, that wouldn't hurt much if it were to hit me in the head) Putting hats in there might be a good idea. YES!! I installed four tie down rings in the four corners on the floor of my baggage compartment that can hold more than 100 lbs each. I use them mostly for attaching a strap to a harness for animal/ dog transports so the dogs can rest comfortably on a bed in the baggage compartment and be secure. If I have lots of luggage or things back there, I can easily use the rings to secure straps to secure the items to the floor.

So sad to hear this, we once flew together at a P&P seminar, and his passion for aviation was unparalleled. Tailwinds and blue skies in your next great adventure Ted.

Great topic! I've pondered this question! I used to tap the brakes on takeoff when I remember, but it was not part of my absolute checklist. I started doing it much more once when I noted abnormal wear on the side of one of my main tires requiring a tire replacement. Mechanic checked it, turns out a part of the inner gear door assembly somehow got bent, and when the main tire retracted, it touched this piece, and the tire was stopped. The gear assembly was shaped back into position after changing the tire, so it probably won't happen again, but if I had made it a practice to stop my tires before they enter the doors, no tire destroying side wear would have happened. And @amillet I too mastered the slide rule back in the day! Like an E6B on steroids!

I used to have that issue years ago, but I too had the slick start booster installed and its essentially completely gone away as it gives you starting energy even if your air fuel mixture is not ideal. I've also recently started using a technique where after fully priming for a cold start (7+ seconds+), throttle slightly forward, mixture full cutoff and I bring in the mixture as the engine catches. Same with hot starts but less prime. Usually always starts on first or at most second try which I am hoping might help save battery life. With my Bravo, I get about 3 good tries to start with each battery, after that, voltage is MUCH less, so starting on the first or second try I find helpful.

@Pinecone,Great call on your equipment choices! I did almost the same upgrade, and installed an Aspen 1000 Pro with AoA and Synthetic Vision as my backup unit along with my Txi. While the Aspen unit works, most of the time, mine gets off calibration frequently and needs tweaking, the synthetic vision is not very good, and the built in AOA is difficult to setup up (I have both turned off) and likely not as reliable as the Alpha systems AOA you're getting, which is a great device. +1 on @donkaye's comment about adding the Landing Height system, it's a great addition, and is very useful in ALL landings especially night landings. While it can't guarantee all buttery landings, it helps the buttery landing percentage, and your passengers are very impressed.

I use a Big Larry flashlight that just clamps to the top of my baggage compartment. Out of the way, and the LED light is fantastic, lights up the entire plane, good for finding all of the little trinkets sometimes left in planes, and I can take it down and use it as a flashlight or emergency strobe if I wish. And there's no problem forgetting to turn it off (other than buying new AA batteries), but it's so bright, forgetting would be unlikely. NEBO Big Larry Work Light, 600 Lumen Flashlight with COB Work Light, Pocket Clip Magnetic Base for Hands-Free Lighting, Portable COB LED Dimmable Flashlight, Hazard Light-Red - Amazon.com

Not sure if its unusual, but I use my speed brakes frequently during an approach phase, particularly helpful in busy airspaces, in particular when: ATC wants you to keep best forward speed on an approach for traffic, which I can easily do, then use speed brakes to slow down around the FAF and then retract them once I am on usual approach speed prior to landing, while staying on glidepath/slope. When ATC gives you a descent from very high like 9k feet down to 1500 when you are less than 5 miles from the airport (happens a lot) Deploying speed brakes (and gear sometimes if its very high) allows me to make that altitude change without stress or shock cooling or by picking up excess speed.

I like using speed brakes after touchdown if I want that earlier turnoff. (As well as the slam dunks and best speed approach requests by ATC as @donkaye mentions) as after touchdown, I think I can slow down a lot faster with speed brakes deployed and a little back pressure on the yoke, and keep my feet off of the brake pedals as long as possible, as caliper brakes and tires are very expensive and drag is free! I try to save using foot controlled brakes until I get slow enough where speed brakes won't at all be effective, which I would think saves wear on tires and brake pads.

I was able to obtain an impressive 20 pound increase in the useful load on my M for ZERO cost. How? By getting rid of a bit of useless load by diet and exercise, climbs better, I felt better, all good!

Wow, just wow. very scary to listen to. The only time I would even remotely consider using an iPad to do an instrument approach would be if ALL of my on board navigation failed AND there were no VFR airports within my range AND I would absolutely be declaring an emergency to get all of the assistance possible even if my iPad was running perfectly. It is scary to think that some pilots are now only navigating using an ipad in IFR conditions. Listening to this, it's probably a very good idea to practice approaches with no iPad available to be familiar with all of the equipment on your plane without an iPad, so that one doesn't become unknowingly dependent on their iPad while flying IFR. That controller though deserves a medal for his patience and willingness to help. I am very glad this worked out without an accident.

Perfect! Just purchased, thanks!

OSUAV8TER, Rbp, Pinecone, having two batteries in my airplane, how do you charge both of them from a single battery minder? Picture if someone has wired this would be really helpful. Or do you need to have two battery minders and two connectors? Thanks!

+1 on that, I replaced my TIT probe with a JPI probe. They were very fast on shipping when I ordered one.

Donated! Those ads were super annoying, and I look forward to them going away on this great site.

Gps antenna is in the middle of my airplane, the stratus antenna was in the back of the airplane so it wasn’t positioning, but it was thought to be faulty shielding on the stratus antenna which caused the interference, as they sent me a new antenna and no interference.

Interesting topic. I had an Insight strikefinder, which worked perfectly, I "upgraded" to a WX-500 when I installed my glass panel, and have had problems, first inop intermittently, now inop most of the time, and have had it replaced with a reman unit with same problem. Seriously thinking about removing the WX-500 and going back to the trusty strikefinder which I still have, and get that new LED screen which sounds nice.

That worked! Thanks @Fly Boomer . @aviatoreb Here is the video of Stratus II with its antenna inhibiting GPS satellite signal to Garmin GNS 430W panel mounted unit. Stratus II inhibiting GPS satellite signal to GNS 430W

Sure happy to share video. Does anyone on the board here know how I can post a video here? Otherwise may just have to send it to you via email if you’re interested. After I sent the video , Sportys sent me a replacement stratus antenna and the interference went away. Theory was faulty shielding on the original stratus antenna.

Ok I was able to find the video of a Stratus II unit with Stratus antenna dramatically and nearly completely eliminating the satellite signal received by my on board GNS 430W unit. Before I posted this, both Garmin and Sporty's said this type of interference was NOT possible, which is unequivocally incorrect as the attached video shows. Unable to attach video, once I figure out how I did it last time, ill repost.

My issue was exactly my Stratus reducing then sometimes completely eliminating the satellite reception bars on my GNS 430. Happened to me first on a on a long flight when my GPS read "no gps signal, dead reckoning" and did not come back. Spent a few trips and over a few thousand at avionics shops with no repair of this intermittent problem. I decided to turn off my stratus and it never happened again. I called garmin and Sportys and they said that was not possible for a stratus to interfere with an onboard system. I tested it and got a great video of when I plugged in my stratus antenna, my 430 bars satellite reception dropped dramatically, some to 0. When I disconnected the stratus antenna, the bars came back up to normal. I posted a video here a long time ago, which I sent to Sporty's and Garmin, and they then realized this could happen. Ill try to see if I can find the video and re post it here,

You wouldn't happen to be using any portable GPS in your airplane would you? I had the exact same issue with using a Stratus which inhibited and intermittently completely eliminated my signal from my panel mounted GPS system a few years back that I discovered AFTER a few $ trips to the avionics shop where they found nothing wrong.

Bwwwahahah! Im not sure you'd want a manically depressed airplane, but sure would be a fun name!

Mine is Trillian! I dream someday of taking Zooey Deschanel for a ride which would make the name permanent forever!

You’re on the right track with getting Don Kaye to do your transition training. I had complex experience but no Bravo experience before I got mine. Note your insurance won’t let you fly it unless you have a number of hours flying it, for good reasons. You can get those hours in when you do your transition training. you might want to get a Bravo manual and start studying it, get some reading materials from Don which I’m sure he would gladly give you and rent some complex airplanes in the meantime. But a Mooney specific instructor to do your transition training is crucial to safe flying and Don is one of the best, if not the best at that.

That’s a great pirep, as I was thinking of going back to furnace creek one of these days, thanks!