DAVIDWH

Side curtains in a Mooney seems akin to putting diesel fuel in a Ferrari.

Delineated expenses well thought out, however, one important expense category is missing. The miscellaneous category could easily add another 20-30% to your calculations. The miscellaneous category is the one that is always lurking. . Best of luck

Before you GC your ADF you might want to research China's nanosecond flash bang strategy for disabling our GPS satellites. Been there three times and I can tell you their military is both capable and serious. On second thought, if that should happen, I suspect maintaining an ADF would not be too high on the priority list.

Let me get this right. After making a settlement agreement with the shop, you make a payment on your Amex card, then when the Amex statement arrives you file a protest and get Amex to reverse the payment? Thats a pretty dirty game in my opinion, really no better than the conduct of the shop who "may have ripped off" the OP. You're making an agreement with the shop with the full intention of backing out. You're as much as what it wrong with this industry as the shop involved. We have not heard the shop's side of the story yet, so its all speculation and heresy. Clarence, "A dirty game?" I do not see a victimized plane owner as being in the wrong at all. I see it as possibly attempting to correct a wrong.. What are your remedies? Talk, argue, be reasonable?? Good luck with that one, your aircraft will still not be released until, the bill is paid. Hire an attorney? That would be great if you like to pay legal fees and spend your time in court. And if you want to talk about a dirty game, yes, many shops are a dirty game and often act as a carnivorous predator on unsuspecting aircraft owners. I can cite several examples if you have the time, just from my own experience . If a mechanics lein is filed,(Good) that is when a compromise can be reached. The shop doesn't care about court time or paying legal fees either. A certain amount of trust is paramount on both sides, but when that trust is breached, they are not your friends and niceties (PC) in my opinion, should be over.

Sticky Wicket, However, concerning payment, I have found that after payment with American Express and then a written protest when monthly invoice is presented usually turns out very well for the card holder. I learned this with e-bay purchases. Presently, a disputed bill has never had to be paid. Am. Express seems to be biased toward the card holder. Just a thought. Sorry for the mess.

He is paying tie down fees?? Much cheaper just to leave in the ditch.

Radar altimeter calibrated in centimeters? Manic depressive off his lithium? Novice actor trying out against Corky Fornoff, for another James Bond movie? I saw the plane pass through the St. Louis arch, but this is a little much.

As JD Rockefeller replied at a party when asked about the cost of his yacht: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it". And with a tie down, where would you keep the golf cart?? Best,

Some years ago a female aerobatic pilot flew Mooney aerobatics at several air shows. (Her name escapes me) However, I do remember either a fuel pump mod or an oil pump mod (Or both), necessary for inverted flight. She eventually stopped flying the Mooney and moved on to a Siai Marchetti. Not sure if she is still flying or not. Where are those History buffs when you need them?

Looks to me like a laser antenna sighting mechanism to shoot down those dangerous airport drones while flying inverted. Whatever it is, it's above my pay grade.

As a former dilettante of dent removal: IE experience at Swain Auto body shop as a high school teenager, I believe you need to get behind a dent to pound it out. Thus, skin removal will be necessary in any case. Or, you could just "Good o boy it" with duct tape and give the insurance $$ to your wife for holiday shopping. Best, and sorry for your loss.

Ditto: Top of glare shield left of center post, snuggled in Velcro.

I am a little confused that moving a tiny gear lever up and down and occasionally moving a prop lever forward and back would constitute another rating. Maybe a ( hope and change ) FAA moment?? Now moving from a HP to a chop chop, I would definitely understand.

Sometimes I wonder all this techy is really necessary. Lindberg arrived on the coast of Ireland within three miles of his projected course using an earth inductor compass, a drift sight and a stop watch. That saying, I am a foreflight, stratus 2, GTN 750 enthusiast and never leave home without them.

Cranked engine, second gen to on, avionics sw. to on, EFIS toggle to on and no joy with EFIS. Only a four inch piece of black glass staring back at me. No ckt. breakers popped. Continued flight and upon return, pulled unit and checked for power and ground. All good. Copied serial # and began the phone work. Call # 1 to Tulsa: Was told "You might be out of luck". Call #2 to Minneapolis: "Was told "Well I am not sure let me call Honeywell and will get back to you". Call returned with a are you setting down ? Yes Honeywell can help us, but replacement cost is $19,000. Have checked the secondary market and there are a couple available in the 10 to 12 K range with no serviceable warranty. Oh my, what now? Call #3 to Southeast Aerospace, Melbourne Fla and was transferred to Ms. Jessica in sales." Well yes we do have one on shelf and yes we will warranty." And price is $7,500 with a repairable core. $9,500 if core cannot be repaired. What does that mean? Well if mini cathode ray tube and power supply are both defective, not cost effective to repair and we will ship core back to you with no core credit. Core credit is $2000. Hmn I understand there is an updated version that greatly improved reliability over my older unit. Yes that is true and we have only one of those units (ED-461) in stock for $500 more. Can you ship today? Of course, and what is your credit card #? Three days later unit arrived I installed,(slip and slide), worked perfectly and approx. 2 weeks later core was approved for $2000 rebate. Sometimes, you just need to keep talking. ( Neglected to mention the one advertised on E-Bay.) Answer to question posed in title above is yes. Best, DH

Just in from a reliable journalistic source: Diesel engine (445 hp) with revolutionary 5 speed transmission for those high altitude take offs. (No more fouled plugs) Back up electric power source with wing embedded solar panels and high tech ni cads. On board entertainment system with free porno channels. (Secretly coded for when wife is on board) Comes free with your choice of ANR headsets Enough said.

I looked at this when my engine went to Western Skyways for overhaul last year. I am at a long runway sea level port and rapid climbs to altitude not necessary here. After I found out no benefit in cruise speed I folded like Rhonda Rousey. However for those in need of a beast I might suggest the P210 Silver Eagle Rolls Royce equipped turbine. (Forgive me for mentioning the C word on a Mooney post) The 250B17 F2 Rolls engine climbs at 3000 ft. min., takes off in 600ft. and lands in 500 ft. (Its called reverse thrust) Fuel burn is acceptable and engine weight is reduced from 487 lbs to a mere 212 lbs. Now if only those Brits could reduce the cost a bit. (Not likely) Best, DH

Not sure about Max operating speed. I have deployed at red line with no issues. (Ice and snow another issue) Also on the low end, Yes, it is apparently quite safe to depart the runway with brakes deployed. Now, where did I put that check list??

You guys are quick to reach conclusions here. Not at all sure that is a Mooney. Ie. no straight tail to confirm origin from Kerrville.

Friend of mine used to fly DC-6 cargo into Haiti from Miami. Bureaucracy was untenable and clearance could take hours until he put a black cat in the cargo hold. After that he kept getting the quote "Everything OK". "Everything OK" and clearance was reduced to a matter of minuets. You can't make this up.

Did you say prop strike? There must be a story there somewhere??

Was at Smithsonian Aerospace yesterday. Wright Bros. authentic replica on display. Looked airworthy to me, including the launch catapult. Spirit of St. Louis, about 88 yrs. old, looked a bit shaky, but sure Lindy could have it air born in a couple weeks. As they say, It just depends.

Bling, bling. Too much like my wife's jewelry box.

Noticed my ailerons are not level with wing tips on ground, but in cruise, when turning loose of controls, she flys straight and straighter. Was advised probably a control rod issue that should just be left alone. Go figure.