mike_elliott

Solid ^^

The hartwell 5000 latch can wear on the holes the spring axel uses for location, and when it does, the latch can pop open easily. Ask me how I know. Fix is new latch, and for only $47 USD, you can secure a new one sans rivets and labor.

did you go flying in a Bonanza recently?

The Mooney Summit XI dates and venue have been finalized for 2026! Mark your calanders, as it promises to be even better than this years Summit. Great to see everyone again and meet the next gen of Mooney owners. Registration will be announced here on Facebook on X and on www.mooneysummit.com

There was a pro photographer there filming everything. I’m sure the pics will appear soon. it was the best Summit yet! Alex Gertsen and his team really did a fantastic job. I took a pic mid day Friday of some of the people in the hangar

John, if it is determined you need one, LASAR was kind enough to donate one to the Mooney Summit Silent auction. At first glance, it appears it was not bid on and would be available. @toto is correct, your spring breaks, your next purchase is a ferry prop rental and some belly skins. (opps, my bad the 84 J is the year they put on the nicer one piece belly skin) What your really asking is it necessary to change out a part that isnt broke (yet) and of course the answer is It depends. The SB was put out for a reason, as these lil guys do break and do have a life of having their little tangs pulled on. If you decide to go for it, let me or Alex know and we can get it to you. Congrats on winning the Mooney Mover Tug! Another unsold item is a JPI Fuel scan 450 and a John Liskey custom painting of your aircraft. if anyone would like to purchase these great donations to the Mooney Summit to aid downed Mooney Pilots families, let me know, I know a guy who knows a guy and can get them to you.

I wonder if Don maxwell ended up with the wood spar also that was sitting on the floor of the delivery hangar @Dmax??

This was Mooneys in Kerrville. I tried to buy the new one they had not unboxed yet but was not able to come to terms with Albert. It’s been a few years ago —up

They actually had 2, initially they had 5. Three were sold off as soon as Jerry Chen left, another was never unboxed. I tried to purchase that one for Mooney Pros, install it at a Clearwater flight school, but couldn’t get Albert Li to recognize the economic sense of not storing it any longer. I eventually lost interest in this pursuit. I’ll ask don what he sank into the one he has, as my 32k didn’t move the boxes this way

Better than that, I put new Ultra owners into a spin to get out of. As a point of transition training, I do the impossible turn at altitude, 270 deg, 45 deg back, 3 sec “oh $h!t” factor before turning 800’ seems doable by most. Use 1k for real life. Announce “leaving kill zone “ after passing thru 1k AGL, transition to cruise climb, run cruise climb checklist, enjoy your trip

Grant. I’ll make sure you have an audience with Brett to express your concerns on Friday if you decide to attend. We all want an easy path for GA, especially Brett, and he does carry a big stick

Thank you for sharing this detailed heads-up about the recent changes at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) airports—it's always helpful to hear perspectives from fellow pilots and tenants to stay informed. As someone involved with the Mooney Summit, I appreciate the opportunity to provide some additional context, especially since our event is approaching on September 12-13, 2025, at Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) and Tampa International Airport. We value the GA community and want to ensure everyone has a positive experience, so I'll address a few of the key points Grant raised in a constructive way. First, regarding the new requirements for outside mechanics and service providers to carry $1 million in liability insurance and name the airport as an additional insured: This is becoming a standard practice at many airports across the country, including those managed by various authorities, to help protect public infrastructure, other users, and the broader aviation ecosystem. It's a measure aimed at ensuring accountability and safety in shared spaces. For the Mooney Summit specifically, we're proud that Mooney Summit, Inc. already meets these requirements through our event liability coverage. Importantly, our focus is solely on education, seminars, and fostering fellowship among Mooney owners and enthusiasts—we're not performing any aircraft maintenance or repairs. This keeps things straightforward and compliant, allowing us to concentrate on what we do best: building connections and sharing knowledge in a supportive environment. On the topic of fuel prices, it's true that avgas tends to run higher at airports in larger metro areas like those under HCAA compared to more outlying fields— this is a common trend driven by factors such as higher operational costs, demand, and location premiums. For instance, self-serve prices at places like Zephyrhills Municipal (KZPH) are often more competitive, as you've noted. However, for attendees flying into KTPF for the Summit, the convenience of being right in the heart of Tampa can outweigh the difference, especially when factoring in alternatives like Uber or ground transport from farther afield (which could easily exceed any fuel savings). To make it even more accessible, our host FBO at KTPF, Atlas Aviation, has generously offered a special fuel discount for Summit participants. This gesture reflects their commitment to supporting GA events and helping keep costs manageable for visitors. Finally, concerning the challenges for mobile mechanics like your trusted contact in renting hangar space to establish a dedicated shop: I completely understand how frustrating it can be when growth opportunities feel limited, and it's disappointing to hear about the difficulties in expanding on-field services. We can't dive into the specifics publicly here on the MooneySpace forum out of respect for ongoing discussions and policies, but Grant, if you (or anyone else) decide to register and attend the Summit, I'd be more than happy to personally introduce you to the appropriate contacts who could explore reasonable options for hangar availability or shop setup. Our event is a great networking opportunity, and we're all about facilitating positive outcomes for the community. Overall, while I recognize the valid frustrations with some aspects of airport management and FBO operations, the Mooney Summit is designed to celebrate the joy of flying and better the breed of Mooney pilots in a welcoming setting. Hillsboro County Aviation Authority, KTPF and Atlas Aviation have been fantastic partners, creating an atmosphere that's pro-GA and focused on education rather than maintenance hurdles. We'd love to see you there—registration is open at www.MooneySummit.com, and it's a fantastic chance to connect, learn, and perhaps even address some of these broader concerns in person. Fly and be safe

isnt this a month later Oct 15th now?

yes