RocketAviator

Man all I can say is this is one tough crowd... so I want to tread lightly here. While it may confound some here on this thread, I would be willing to purchase one of the $355 or so AOA models types that is being offered, especially if it helps meet the purchase point quantity. And yet another confounding element I say ever so quietly is I would seriously consider installing it just to see the difference side by side to my Alpha unit! May be a bit off the topic of this thread (which may be greatly welcomed or NOT) but I am getting ready for retirement (soon hopefully) so today I started thinking about another airplane besides my Mooney... maybe or most likely an Experimental just for fun flying. Which by the way I don't do in my Mooney Rocket, it is a mission specific, get in and go somewhere fast plane. Other than that and training I dont just fly it for fun. I usually fly somewhere between 100 and 300 hrs a year depending on my work schedule. I expect 2014 to be closer to the 300 mark at this point. By 2015 I hope to be able to hang the full time work side of things up and spend some time doing some things I would like to do... So with all that babbling my thought is this would be cheap to check out at less than $400. Just as an FYI I have seen on the internet a very low cost option utilizing a simple differential manometer (which the technology that Alpha effectively utilizes) that can be built with things i have in my factory for less than $100! Not near as nice a unit but effective none the less. They show that It can be done with a probe or two holes.... so I they say! Not promoting just stating what I ran across when I was learning about and investigating AOA's. Fly Safe Rocket On,

Oh by the way me and several others want to know if you had to use that "essential flight equipment" that you took with you on the adventure when you got home....? You know the foreign thing I am talking about A, the one with about the 1 Meter wooden shaft (Yvesg does the metric thing you know) with a handle on one end and the somewhat worn aluminum high capacity element on the other end...?

Yvesg, Glad your trip was successful and safe. Also thanks for including and staying with us as part of your adventure, my wife and I enjoyed meeting and our time with you two and hope to see you and Diane again (maybe something like Oshkosh...). I am looking forward to some formation flying with you guys!! Great report, Stay in touch Lacee

Dave, Same for me, in selecting Denver. I don't recall who it was but I had a short exchange and conversation with another Mooneyspace individual who was considering MAPA and mountain flying. Denver would be my pick IF, and I plan to find out if the MAPA is going to offer any Mountain Flying specific and for me Mountain Wave. If memory severs me correctly I believe it was one of the guys involved with the formation flying. Since I often fly in and around mountains including the Rockies. I often fly over the southern end of the Rockies around the Sangre de Cristo mountains where it is widely known that Serious and Deadly Mountain Wave action has occurred. In all the years and all the mountain flying (never down low and never up a canyon type of flying) I am not sure I have experienced or more likely recognized a mountain wave and identified it as such. And with all the mountain flying I have done the absence of that understanding concerns me greatly. I have always had a turbocharged aircraft and never just go fly just to poking around in the sky, when I fly I fly to get from point A to point B quickly, or for training so I am quite sure I have experienced a mountain wave and that is why it is even more disconcerting to me is I did not recognize that I had!! Now my wife and I enjoy Country Music and we have been to Branson a few times and my bet is that is where she would vote for!.... shhhhhh We just wont tell her....

I am so envious.... is that ok to be so envious? Well I am and what a journey indeed! Wish I had the nerve to try an adventure like 201er did!! Well done!

I try hard not to jump on some of these ruthless bandwagons especially after the Grace I was shown.... but as somewhat far less than minor fortune teller I see a 44709 in the pilots future.... Just saying... but I hope not!

It is official I am finally in receipt of a Certified Letter stating: “that reexamination of your ability to exercise the privileges of your Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land Certificate with an Instrument Airplane Rating conducted on December 10, 2013 was satisfactory……” I am thankful to have this matter closed and behind me, but more than that I wanted to thank everyone who provided a wealth of great recommendations and especially my thanks going out to those that provided kind support! Fly Safe, Rocket On

Will let you know, I try to get there once or more a month and plan to be there as much as possible over the summer. Maybe we can trade out a Citabria for a Rocket ride... I am looking into spin training with with one of our local designated examiners.who has a Citabria

Kerry, I am fully convinced that distractions of any type but specifically from an instructor can have great consequences especially if the instructor does not catch the error, thankfully they usually do as was your case. Just goes to show how easy it is to get distracted. I have established some strict written & verbally reviewed rules for my cockpit and ALL occupants prior to take off that include a firm and significant discussion with the instructor specifically on distractions by the instructor. Fly safe, glad yours worked out ok and hope it was a great lesson, Lacee

Was it N10146L? I dont know who owns that plane or who was in the crash but my prayers are with the two that died family. I see it in some photos. Here is one photo of N10146L that I found.

Anyone else notice MY loose screw in this photo... after I saw this I climbed under my ol bucket of bolts and checked and tightened everything I could find!!

Luke, While I can not offer any transition training nor instruction and I have no experience with any Mooney other than my Rocket and over 800 hrs in my Saratoga, I plan to be at our lake house in Granbury this weekend and I would be glad to take you up for a Mooney Rocket ride if we can work out the details. You may want to consider Dave Marten 1980 231.... I understand it is a sweat well taken care of bird. I have no dog in this race I just know Dave to be a good guy from the Mooneyspace and Oshkosh Mooney formation flying and has been a great support to me... PM me if interested. Let me know, Lacee Wait I take that back... DO NOT purchase Dave's 231, I need him to keep it until he can train me for the Mooney Formation Flight into 2014 Oshkosh LOL!!!! Ok just kidding I feel sure it is a great and well maintained plane..!

Wow upside down formation flight.... now that is hard to top! Look like you guys are having a great time.

I dont have a GoPro but let me see what I can come up with this weekend. Maybe get a buddy to ride alone and phone video the AOA during a landing. No promises but I will surly try and see what I can come up with.

We'll after reading Erik's / aviatoreb post I am completely embarrassed, but to answer your question I am sure it is due to my shortcomings from not transitioning to the AOA and holding on to my old school training, and I do trust it! I heard Mike Bush say on one of his LOP videos we supposedly have a great tendency to fall back on what we learned first. Like Erik I like and hear Getting Slow.... Then Too Slow on every landing. I know I am still landing faster than I have to..my bad, no excuse as I have the right equipment on board, just the I/O in the pilot seat that has the issue! Erik has unknowingly created a challenge for me to use my AOA... Heck that is a big deal for me for instance even with a full glass panel I continually find myself looking at the steam gauge ASI and ALT... Thanks Erik / aviatoreb This is a great site, I never log on I don't learn something or get great thought provoking issues to ponder! Fly safe Rocket On

You got it, will try tomorrow but for sure on Saturday.

Don I had the Alpha unit installed in my Rocket this past April. I don't use it as much as I thought I would I do use it as a double check. About 2k installed and I choose the heated prob option. Can send photos if you like.

Have a friend with fields unit in his 210 and has completely quit using his because he is afraid of electrical fire that he heard about.. I have not heard of any & fields said it was a no issue just turn the pump off... not a good response from fields in my opinion

I have the electric Fields version in my Rocket, it does not always shut off the pump automatically as it is supposed to I spoke to Fields he said I could use if like it is or send it in & he would change out the pressure switch for a few hundred bucks.... I do like the quite and now that I have one I would do it again but maybe the manual pump unit

I sure did with a short 3hr round trip to take grandkids home after holidays...

Here is a shot of my Rocket breather tube.. Let us know what you find out. Bt the way what is the black hose zip tied to your breather tube?

Had the pleasure to have our new Mooney friends Yves and his wife Diane stay with us for a night along their trip from eastren Canada to southern CA... While they were unloading their luggage I spotted a most foreign object.. Can you find it in the picture... Yves and Diane were quick to explain this was an essential flight tool of which I don't think I had ever considered before.... Great to meet and share some time with our new Mooney friends. Happy New Years to all Fly safe Rocket On!

Thank you sir

auto - pilot / hand held. He has the Ipad mounted on the right side of his panel and when the issue happened he was unable / unwilling to take his attention off flying to see / try to get the IPad back in operation.

He does and that is part of the problem. He has had some problems with it and does not have an autopilot so when it goes a miss it causes him great grief and potentially an unsafe flight condition.