JohnL

As of yesterday, we have sold all the available shares in the partnership. I'm excited to have a great group of guys moving forward. Thanks to everyone that inquired and who passed along information and recommendations! Happy flying....

Can you install the OR650E on an M20K? Do you need an STC?

Our partnership has a fully paid, $250 deductible insurance policy with two listed pilots. We have a prospective partner desiring to join, with 150hr PIC and no RG time. The current policy will not cover him, but a new policy with $2500 deductible will. We don't want to give up the $250 deductible policy, so we can't get him on the existing insurance. However, the new partner is willing to pay for a whole new policy to cover just him (with $2500 deductible). Is it OK to have two policies on the plane, one for us existing partners, and one for the new partner? What other solutions are out there to solve this problem?

My experience is that prospective partners are much more comfortable when you have a stable situation that they can evaluate. They want to see the airplane, the avionics, the engine time and when the next annual is due. They want to see the bills for the hanger and insurance and how much time everyone is actually flying. It's a lot easier for them to commit when all this is clear. That said, you are on your own getting to that point. You can buy exactly the airplane you want, which is exciting, but you have to pay for all the overhead on your own until you attract your partners. That is as expensive as buying your own airplane outright. I agree with the above post that the first year of ownership is more expensive. Partnerships can be very rewarding and in my case I think it's worth the overhead to get one started. However, it will likely be an investment of time and money well beyond just joining an existing partnership.

Update: We have 2 in the airplane now and are still looking for 2 more.

Carry all the bags you want Bob! Last month we flew from Austin, Tx into Ely MN with the two kids for 4 days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It was a 10 minute drive from Ely, so our outfitter had no problem coming out and picking us up at KELO. All my flying is for business so it was great to get the kids in the plane and have some fun. It was *tough* getting the canoe strapped to the top of the Mooney...

Thanks man! Very helpful.

Are the bulbs easily available? Part Number?

The plane is back from annual now and back in operation.

Airplane is just back from it's annual at Don Maxwell.

1035TT with 64 in a 81 M20K Rocket. Having a great time flying the Mooney with its speed and economy.

265 kts returning from Las Vegas back to Texas at FL210 in a Rocket two weeks ago. ( I checked flightaware.com ). Then I had to divert to KAQO to wait, then KAUS to land because weather was 200 and 1 1/4 at my home (KEDC). Shooting the KAUS ILS to minimums was one thing, but ATC asking me to fly at 130 down the ILS for spacing kept it interesting. (Autopilot flew). Actual ceiling turned out to be about 300 and plenty of runway to slow down. I had to go pickup the airplane the next day. It was actually a lot of fun...

I flew our prototype AR Smart Rifle to CES 2014 a few weeks ago. Had to fold down the back seat. http://tracking-point.com/labs/ar/

Does anyone know about or has anyone tried the Lasar "upgraded" truss? I guess it has reinforcements to help reduce over limit turn damage? http://www.lasar.com/parts/w/id/4/part_details.asp Also, I have seen a Mooney with an indicator and limit lines painted on the truss to show line guys how far they are from the turn limits. Who makes these? or was it DYI?

I'm very interested in formation training this year in Texas. I'll be looking for the schedule to be posted.

I am trying to understand the CDT gauge's value on a Rocket installation. The airplane has a TSIO-520-NB engine with dual intercoolers. My understanding is that this CDT measurement is of induction air temp after the turbo but before the intercoolers. Is that correct? I don't seem to have an induction air temp gauge post intercoolers, so CDT doesn't really tell me much unless I can calculate the delta T through the intercooler. The Rocket POH supplement does not list a CDT limit in the power plant limitations section, like in the M20K POH. Does this mean CDT is not required equipment post Rocket conversion?. I just added an Insight engine monitor that is certified to be the primary TIT gauge. Does this mean I can remove the TIT/CDT gauge?

The partnership is an LLC, so the $13,000 is really buying 1/4 of a company. The company owns the airplane as well as the note. Assets owned by the company (equity) are valued at $52,000. This is my second partnership to setup this way, the first being a A-36TC Bonanza 3 way partnership which I was in for many years. I sold that back to my other partners about a year before getting this Rocket. I did perform a PPI inspection with Don Maxwell and purchased N1158N at his recommendation.

chrisk is correct. Note is $627/mo. The plane is in a T hanger at KEDC. The FBO will pull the plane from the hanger, fuel and have it waiting for you under the covered ramp. Just preflight and fly. Currently I have the airplane by myself, so a 50-50 partnership is possible too.

I've got to get tires too. Not a sexy subject, but I'd still like to hear what the best option is for a M20K Rocket. When I bought my Mooney a few months ago, the PPI at Don Maxwell forecast the need for new tires at annual because of flat spots down to the cords (barely). I've been flying on them anyway with no problems (bad idea?). I haven't had to fly in rain yet...

My philosophy crossing fronts: Assuming you have a turbo, which you do Chris... The way to cross is up as high as you can go in clear air (daytime only). Then pick your way through. If you have red or yellow ahead and can't get above in clear air, then keep traversing until you find a hole. Don't be tempted to enter the clouds in bad weather because you lose your visibility and are left with only NexRad and/or stormscope. I will never (intentionally) fly through the red, only over or away from, and I have never popped a rivet! (wow!). Yellow generally scares me too. I have flown over tornado watch areas at FL250 with no white knuckles (except when thinking about losing an engine). PIREPS are your best information about tops and are very valuable when crossing fronts. Ask ATC for latest. Also, ATC will relay ride smoothness from other pilots, so ask as much as you need to until you are confident. I always try to follow someone else through if possible. Ask ATC about the routes others are taking. If the weather is bad at my destination I wait it out because I can't go over it and terminal operations in convective activity are too much for me. I used to be willing to go low under weather, but it's generally much harder both mentally and physically. Crossing fronts is always stressful for me, but I can generally be confident for the short time it takes to cross if I follow my own advice above.

What is the rule on tags? Do just the lap belts need them or do shoulder belts need them as well? Do your belts allow for the shoulder slotted slide on bracket? I assume they work on a 81 M20K?

I've been by two evenings last week to fuel. It's a blast to hang out with all the other pilots waiting. I talked with a M20C owner from Houston while waiting Thursday night. I saw the same pilot from AUS (Bergstrom) two nights in a row. He is going over 3 times a day with flight school aircraft from AUS. The line guys are also very cordial in spite of being worked to death! One guy insisted they come back and top my aux tanks after not waiting for them to settle.How could I argue with his insistence to take on more $1 avgas? It feels like a mini Oshkosh! Too bad about ending early, but they are taking it in the shorts. They said they are filling about 150-200 A/C a day!

1/4 81 Rocket partnership available. Plane is based at Austin Executive (EDC). $13k and $385/mo. $35/hr dry. Financing possible. Fly 200 kts

An interesting note for the discussion: according to my POH, the hot prop costs 6 mph airspeed. Wow! Has anyone done a before / after comparison when adding a hot prop and measured the drop in airspeed? Can I gain 6 mph by removing my hot prop? (I would not consider this) My experience with ice is that you can typically climb or descend to get out. Without a hot prop, the climb option becomes compromised.

Two pumps and then close the door... I'll give it a try. Thanks!