cnoe

I have to agree with Hank on this. I love taking the online courses and find several of them to be very informative but... Though a quick check of my hard-drive reveals that I've accumulated 38 of these "Safety Course Certificates" in the past 6 years I have not once completed a Wings Course Level. I keep taking the courses because I believe they make me a better pilot. Not a single pilot I've queried utilizes the Wings Program to satisfy the Flight Review requirement. And the only time I tried to get a CFI to validate our flight together on the Wings site he quit replying to my e-mail. I suspect that many CFIs don't know how it works either. The concept is great but it's much simpler to just pay a CFI for a couple hours time every other year.

Are you SURE that's how it works? If I recall correctly in the movie Fantastic Voyage oxygen levels were visually observed in the bloodstream from the port-holes of their submarine by miniaturized scientists (including Raquel Welch) and the tallies were radioed back to the full-size doctors waiting outside the body. I'd take Raquel's word over some IR transmission ratio mumbo-jumbo any day! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Please don't be dismayed. In spite of any dissenting opinions I'm sure that 99% of us understand that using a pulse-ox and supplemental oxygen is nearly always a good thing when flying our winged chariots. Those who don't heed the call are either too lazy or too uninspired (pun intended) to follow the advice. I'll admit that sometimes I fall into the lazy category myself, particularly on shorter or lower flights. Then again I always have O2 and an oximeter at-the-ready for flights approaching 10k, lower flights at night, and of course any time the pulse-ox dictates. Thanks for your input on this! And expect [mention=7104]Carusoam[/mention] to come along shortly with a thorough and informative summary of this (IMO) uncomplicated thread.[emoji846]

You can try both: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/sb-mooney-cwl-kit.php?clickkey=2235085 and https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/cowlingkits2.php?clickkey=2235085 but I can't comment on what you'll get with each. I bought the individual components (phillips SS) all from SkyBolt myself. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

http://moodyaero.com/moody_numbers.html

Can't wait for him to beat this record (previously set by a Bonanza). Fly safe, fly fast Pinky! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

P.S. I was perusing the latest AOPA magazine and realized their new sweepstakes 172 is covered in decals, even on the rudder. You might ping Paul Howe at Moody Aero-graphics for more insight on the legalities. https://blog.aopa.org/aopa/2017/03/02/painted-or-polished/?_ga=2.150355444.353891409.1495427508-1831704713.1486357878 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I've been discussing this with a few cohorts for a couple months now. My thoughts were to paint my plane with a white basecoat then add graphics as desired. Done well I can't imagine my IA having any issues with it. Keeping ailerons, elevators, and rudder free of decals might be a good idea for legal reasons but I think this could be done easily enough. So when do you want to get started on my plane [mention=15932]ragedracer1977[/mention]?[emoji846] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes, that tool lets you install the studs into the grommets. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That's gotta be fun, basically stealing planes (legally) for a living! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I do look forward to crossing your and Sandy's path again soon but it doesn't look like we'll be able to make it next weekend. Eli may have to resort to BasicMed if his weight goes up any more.[emoji846] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm sorry to say that in spite of his fondness for Mooneys Eli was actually looking for something even bigger than a long-body. Trying to keep it affordable he tried on the Piper M350 but even that didn't suit him. Eventually he settled on the Pilatus PC12 which he found quite accommodating and roomy. Sadly his dad cannot afford the fuel, not to mention the airframe. P.S. I found it interesting that in spite of Mooney earning certification of the new plane, this one (serial no. 0001) is still registered as an "experimental". Understandable though. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sorry I missed you guys today; but because of the marginal weather it seemed like the right thing to do. Instead Eli and I stayed closer to home making the 48nm flight to Houston Executive to check out the shiny new aeroplanes. Eli really liked the new Acclaim Ultra but even though today is his 5th birthday they wouldn't let him climb inside to get a feel for it.[emoji53] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I hope you're up to date on paying your plane note.[emoji15] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Tell that to King Louis XVI. [emoji846] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Another Freudian slip.[emoji846] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Took the Remos to ~14,500' once but had to terminate the climb due to shivering as we had the doors off. Had a SWA737 pass underneath us on approach to Houston Intercontinental. [emoji846] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Don, will you be there next Saturday as well? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Probably a good decision. It doesn't look terrible but not VFR for sure. Will likely be some convectivity in the afternoon. If meeting a bunch of crusty old Mooniacs is my only incentive I'll likely stay closer to home. I may buzz over to annoy the salesmen at the Aviation Expo (http://texasaircraftexpo.com).[emoji846] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Would love to help if possible but unsure about logistics/plans. I was supposed to be in the gulf tomorrow but we're blown out. Considering trip to mingle with the group but weather looks marginal between Houston and Dallas. Where's the pup headed, and who gets the privilege of transporting her next? She'd definitely be treated like a Princess at our house. PM me if you like. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Very cool. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I always carry oxygen as you never know when you'll need it. Will sometimes use O2 in the 8K-10K range as well since it reduces fatigue. I generally cruise at 3,500' - 15,000' depending on winds. Disregarding winds 7,500' - 9,500' is my preference. There's an old thread "time to climb" in which I made a climb to FL180 and was still making 305 fpm (flying light btw). When the pup is with me (often) I keep it below 10k if at all possible since he doesn't have a hood (yet). Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

As Clarence noted the fasteners along the horizontal seam are flush-style 2700 series and the ones running from the bottom of each side vertically across the cowling top are 4000 series and will include an appropriate grommet. The special pliers are in fact the tool needed to install the 4200 fastener into the grommet as well as getting the 2700s into un-worn cowling holes. The 2700s use a flat split-washer to retain the unit. You put the fastener in the hole and then bend (twist) the washer open to install on the inside of the cowling before straightening it out again to lay flat (easy to do with a couple of needle-nose pliers). With the 4000s you install the grommet through the cowling and then install a thin spring-steel c-clip around it inside the cowling (to retain the grommet). The fastener is then placed in the special pliers and its shank fully extended so that you can insert the fastener through the grommet at an angle. The fasteners cannot fall out of the grommet, but if your holes are worn the grommets (along with the fasteners) may fall out. The fastener length is determined by the thickness of all the materials it passes through, and also by the amount of wear to the hole. Ideally the center stud should remain flush with the body when installed. This may require you to use 2-4 different length fasteners. Trial and error works well for this. Also, with the 4000 series you may be able to add a (very) thin teflon washer between the grommet and the cowling to stop or at least reduce wear in the fiberglass cowling (and aluminum backing). Also, there's another awesome company in Leesburg, Florida called Skybolt Aeromotive that has a complete line of Camloc equivalent/compatible fasteners that are super helpful, affordable, and excellent quality. I replaced all my Camlocs a couple of years ago with the SS Skybolts and couldn't be more pleased. Check out WWW.skybolt.com for more info. I'll attach their catalog .pdf for your reading enjoyment. Before and after pics attached as well. catalog-skyboltproduct.pdf

Some of them have a collar (probably not the right word) that is a separate piece. It also helps immensely to have the special pliers to install these (not expensive). If nobody chimes in soon I'll send you more info when back at my office this afternoon. They fall out typically when the holes become enlarged due to wear. There is supposed to be a retainer on them that could be missing but it's common for them to have this issue. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

When you pull out the probe is there oil in the hole? And are you sure that $0.01 import vinyl but connector is making good contact? It's gotta be one of 3 things: Bad probe: you seem to have dis-proven this but it COULD be intermittent. Bad wiring: use an ohm-meter to check continuity between the probe contact and the gauge contact (simple). As noted earlier, a good engine ground is also required. Bad gauge: you seem to have dis-proven that too, but that too could be an intermittent problem. Mine quit registering a couple of months ago and it turned out to be a poor crimp on the ring terminal. That repair cost me about $0.25 (using a quality nylon-insulated ring terminal).