Robert C.

Update: VIP Avionics determined that the brushes in the pitch servo had worn and that the dust from the wear was causing it to glitch and the alt hold and vs to be inop. They see no relationship to the sticky trim so that is a separate issue. Am glad to hear the trim isn't causing the A/P problem Robert

Looks great! Let's hope for "no hurricane (threats) this time around.

Sorry I checked in so late...I'm Danbury based and knew the MSC is no longer there. Reliant Air is my FBO and the shop maintains, and does annuals, on at least 3 Mooneys, including my Ovation, a J and an older one. I am happy to recommend them. If you are still looking for someone I suggest you give them a call (203-743-5100) and ask for Steve Disorbo who is the Head of Maintenance there. Feel free to mention my name (although I'm small fry and I'm sure that won't get you special treatment ) Robert

Hi Marauder, As I recall the vs light is steady. Yes, autotrim is installed and has worked fine (until recently at any rate). Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'll share all tehse with my mechanic and the avionics shop. Robert

Hi Gang, Am puzzling something through and hope you might have some ideas. Last year i had a few flights where the trim was sticky. Quick tug on the trim wheel would loosen it and after that the electric trim would handle i againt. Had my AP look at it during the annual but he didn't see anything wrong and couldn't replicate it on the ground. On subsequent flights I had a few more incidents like that. Then while shooting approaches with my CFI in December I had what felt like a "runaway trim" event. I did some test flying afterwards and concluded that the Alt Capture mode and the Vertical Speed mode on the STEC are no longer working as advertised. I go through the altitude....the trim starts working to get the nose down/up....and works till full trim deflection without STEC then capturing the correct vs or alt hold. I'm wondering if the sticky trim has burned out the autopilot servos or something like that. So I'm dropping off my Ovation at an avionics shop (VIP Avionics at KHFD) on Tuesday to have them take a look at it and see what they can find. Am also thinking of calling my AP and asking him what else he can do (relubing the jackscrew?). The 100hr/annual list specifies inspection of the empennage trim system but doesn't say anything about opening it up and looking for hardened grease so that may not have been done at the annual. Any thoughts on what questions to ask the avionics shop and my AP? Thanks in advance. Robert

mine are labeled: GDU 10XX. I would have thought that if the SD cards came with the aircraft you have the right ones. I have read but cannot confirm that you do need the Garmin ones and cannot use a store bought one. Did you buy the data for the Safe Taxi and FliteCharts as part of the PilotPak? And download it unto the SD cards? Also, remember that the Jeppessen and NACO charts are different. If you have the Jeppessen then there needs be a separate program installed that Jeppessen sells for something like $10k as I recall. I prefer the NACO format and deactivated the Jepp mod on my G1000. Hope that helps Robert

+1 for retreads. Had them put on at my last annual and am very pleased with the way they hold up (and the 50% less costly price tag ).

From my checklist: ENGINE STARTING (AFM) Mike Bush’s Engine Start Advice NORMAL START NORMAL START 1. Throttle – Full Open · Flip on the battery, alternator and mag switch; 2. Mixture – Full FWD · Mixture and prop to full-forward; 3. Boost Pump - Low ON · Advance the throttle a bit; then 4. Throttle – Idle (two half-turns for idle RPM of 600 – 800) · Crank while priming with the electric fuel pump. 5. Starter Switch – Turn and Push to Start · Release the starter and prime switches immediately... 6. Boost Pump - Low OFF HOT START HOT START 1. Throttle – Full Open · Throttle full open 2. Mixture – Idle Cut Off · Mixture Idle Cut-Off 3. Boost Pump - High for 5 seconds or Low for 15 seconds · Electric fuel pump on "high" (or "prime") for 30 seconds. 4. Throttle – Idle (two half-turns for idle RPM of 600 – 800) · Advance the mixture to full rich, 5. Mixture – Full Forward · Retard the throttle, and 6. Starter Switch – Turn and Push to Start · Crank the engine, using no prime or just a touch. WARM ENGINE START 1. Throttle –1/2” to 1” COLD START 2. Mixture – Full Forward · Throttle Wide Open 3. Low Boost Pump – ON (to clear fuel vapors) · Mixture Full FWD 4. Low Boost Pump – OFF · Prime switch until the fuel flow gauge stabilizes, then 5. Starter Switch – Turn and Push WITHIN 1-2 SECONDS · Retard the throttle and 6. Throttle – IDLE 600-700 rpm · Crank the engine. FLOODED ENGINE START · Boost Pump Off 1. Throttle –1/2 Open 2. Mixture – Idle Cut Off If the engine catches and then dies, the fuel has been consumed. 3. Boost Pump – Low - ON 8-10 seconds then OFF If you have difficulty starting the engine, remember this rule-of-thumb: if the engine is hot, you've probably flooded it; if the engine is cold, you've probably not primed it enough. Also, don't crank the engine for more than about 15 seconds without giving the starter a rest so it can cool off. Starter motors are not rated for continuous duty operation! 4. Starter Switch – Turn and Push to Start 5. Mixture – Slowly Advance 6. Throttle – IDLE 600-700 COLD START 1. Throttle – Full Open 2. Mixture – Full FWD 3. Boost Pump - Low ON 4. Throttle – Idle (two half-turns for idle RPM of 600 - 800) 5. Starter Switch – Turn and Push to Start 6. Boost Pump - Low OFF

My control unit is inside the center post next to the footwell for the passenger seat.

Hi Russ, can't to my plane to check but as I recall its about half way between the wheel doors and the wing tip. Can't quite judge from your picture whether it's the same panel or not. i'm guessing it's more the angle than how far out on the wing. Also, when calibrating in flight I had no problem setting Vso but at first couldn't get the upper value to calibrate. I was trying to set it to about 110kts as flap up speed but that was just too slow for it to stick. When I calibrated it at ~125kts it worked fine. Good luck! Robert

Sadly, the email David received and quoted (Jan 28 I think) is the latest news. the website is verbatim what Stacey Ellis wrote here over a year ago. I.e., an old and never updated post to the website.

De-Ice or anti-Ice? For de-icing I recently read (think in AOPA magazine but not sure anymore) to use a mix of 80% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol - any drugstore) and 20% water. Put it in a spray bottle and had it with me 2 weeks ago when we had snow residue and frost on the wings and tail. Sprayed, wiped and clean wings Works like a charm and no worries about how it interacts with paint or leaves a residue. Robert

Well done, congratulations! Feels good, doesn't it

Thanks Craig, I re-upped. Robert

Awesome! Thanks Mike

Did she fill out the ESTA form on line? The visa waiver program requires Europeans flying in commercially to have done that beforehand. Might be that it only works that way for commercial flights, but might also be required or make it easier when entering via Canada by car or GA aircraft. Robert

SPECIAL MESSAGE: GOES-13 Sounder IR data is not available. All products from GOES-13 (GOES-East) Sounder IR data have been halted and distribution has been stopped. Engineers are investigating the problem. per.... http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/atmosphere/soundings/sfov/skewt/ http://www.skewt.aero/# shows graphs that fit my "out the window" look, but that may just be modeling. not sure. Guess we'll have to wait. Robert

Yep, its a good one. I go back and forth between this LMFSS site and Fltplan.com. The latter has the advantage of a syncing iPad app. The feature I like most of LMFSS is the timeline/route weather predictor that Don described. Very helpful for planning longer flights. Robert

Thank you Anthony and Mike, Great to see everyone and to begin putting faces to names and call signs Not a bad looking flight line either Robert

Russ, be sure to tell the shop to set the probe at 40 degrees (probably the most acute they can get it), otherwise you'll find yourself doing a wasted calibration flight and making several calls to Alpha Systems (who are helpful but often busy). Not sure how to designate the panel, but mine is on the right wing and a bit over the halfway mark towards the wing tip. The little box was put inside the cover on the left side of the right footwell. Good luck. Robert .

I have the Alphasystems "Classic" mounted horizontally on the front edge of the glare shield just left of the center post - just like Danb. Always there in my peripheral vision. If I remember I'll take a picture on Saturday when I go to the airport.

Gregg effectively described my setup (G1000 and iPad with Foreflight and FltPlan Go). I have a Stratus 1 in my flight bag so have the weather backup that way but not the AHRS of course. Foreflight is around $150/year as I recall and FltPlan Go is free. Do you have the WAAS capable G1000? Robert

I put it in the calendar :)

Good point, had forgotten about that...clunky as it is it does give you the info. Thanks for reminding me

SkewT plots will have to be the solution if they don't incorporate the Tops/Clg info on other charts/pages. There are several but https://skewt.meteor.com/ is the one I use the most. Robert