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thomas1142

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Everything posted by thomas1142

  1. I’m considering installing a GMA 340, GTX 345 and a vertical compass card in my 1997 M20J. Current equipment includes a 530W, KT76A, KMA 24 and a whiskey compass. I have been quoted around $4k for install. Is this a fair price? New to the ownership game so I have no idea. Pic of panel to get an idea of what I currently have and what I’m trying to do.
  2. I have seen $1800 price for a new unit. Seems like new would be the way to go.
  3. Can you all explain “STC” to me. What requires an STC? If an avionics item is approved for your plane by the FAA, why is it necessary to pay for the factory approval paperwork. Hasn’t it been approved already? Seems like the proverbial circle jerk.
  4. Not sure I understand this STC business. I buy the unit from a private party, let’s say for $800, then I have to get an STC for the company for another $1200 before I have to pay $xxx.xx to install it. Did o get that right?
  5. I have the opportunity to purchase a GDC 31 for my 1997 M20J to provide GPSS. I have Garmin 530W and a KFC 150 auto pilot. I have asked my avionics guy if all these components will work together and get the desired result, but he seems to be a bit busy at the time. So I am throwing this out to this group for some help.
  6. Are you sure of the part number? Aircraftsprouce has it new for 336.
  7. +1 for US Aircraft Finance. They were real easy to deal with, nothing to complicated in the process.
  8. All flights were accomplished on less than 10 gph. On the tail wind flights it was truly amazing. 30 gal to Houston, about 35 to Virginia beach. Saw ground speeds of over 200mph.
  9. It has been almost a year since I bought it and the only thing it needs is a bulb for the beacon, which is on order. First grand kid came along at 42, we are now on number 9, at 60 years old. Blessings, all of them.
  10. Some of you know I had starting problems in my new to me M20J. Well all that has been taken care off, now my starts take no more than two to three blades. Back on topic. In the lat two months my wife and I made some trips that wouldn’t have been possible with out the Mooney. We took a friend to Sarasota Fl for a job interview. Forced stay for three days due to maintenance. I know, still not making my point. So I will start now. Plane fixed, left Sarasota for Savanah GA, dropped friend off, RTB to NW Florida. Trip time 5 hrs.....car time at least 15 hrs. Next trip was to Houston TX for the birth of our grandson. Flying time 4hrs there, 3.2hrs on the return. Round trip by car would have been 20 plus hours. Returned home for one day then flew to Virginia Beach to baby sit our granddaughter. Heck of a tail wind, flying time 4hrs, 5plus on return (heck of a head wind). One way trip to Virginia Beach is more than 14 hrs by car. Bottom line, without the Mooney these trips would either not have been possible or we would have spent more time on the road than in the visit.
  11. I have a 1997 M20J that could really benefit from a good paint job. Can you share the cost, please. Also what kind, and to what level, of body work was involved in the price?
  12. Thanks all for the suggestions. Looks like I’ll be getting a Tornado vacuum pump, a Artex 345 ELT during this annual. Considering a Garmin 345 transponder for ADSB in and out along with the AHRS capability. Going to hold off on a standby AI since my mechanic says I have the best available standby vacuum pump system, and the 345 will provide AHRS on a tablet. Have not settled on a graphic engine analyzer. An EDM 830 will require a panel mod since it won’t fit where the 700 is.
  13. Thanks Dan. I’ll be ordering one soon. I can’t remember the entire conversation, but was there a recommendation on which model?
  14. I have just been informed that I need a new vacuum pump and new ELT, and this is only day one of my annual. Any way, I have been considering some upgrades/additions to my panel. Here is what I am thinking... New graphicical engine monitor Backup AI ADSB compliant transponder. Let the suggestions fly, all are appreciated. Here’s a pic of my current panel Thanks Angelos
  15. This same issue plagued me like crazy; nice start when cold, maybe a bit long in cranking, but nice start. Once I shut down for an hour or so for lunch, or even at the fuel pump (with a little conversation) I could not start it for the life of me. It would finally start hours latter. I finally had maintenance look at it and found two items that impacted the issue. One was the timing was so messed up that the mechanic was supprized that it even started at all. The second item was related to the first, the mag “distributer cap” was so loose it was hard to set the timing. Finally had to have both mags rebuilt. Now the starts happen on one or two blades. Fantastic.
  16. Has anyone gone the Electroair route?
  17. My magnetos were rebuilt on 5-12-2016, and my mechanic now says they need to be rebuilt again. I have only put 150 hrs on them since that time, can they really go bad that fast. Also told the cost is around 1.2 AMUs to get both rebuilt, does this sound right?
  18. Paid 2 1/2 times that for the part from the factory. You lost me with that bit of info, I don’t know the difference and was stuck with the recommendation I received.
  19. This was my first experience with maintenance issues away from home field. To make the long story short, the problem was the Kissling Relay. The biggest issue I had during this experience was the lack, and total refusal, of Rectrix North FBO to provide any type of assistance. So this post will now turn into a pirep of that FBO. When I first experienced this issue it was 4:20 pm, 20 minutes past the quilting time of the maintenance man. They refused to call him back. The staff call their main FBO office also located on the field, Rectrix Aviation. The main mechanic said he was to busy to drive across the field. I asked for a power cart so I would not drain the battery trying to trouble shoot. I was told it was it was against company policy to provide power. I asked if they power carts, they did, but would not provide them to airplanes needing power, figure that out. I then contacted Dolphin Aviation, they were FANTASTIC. They coordinate with filed operations and towed me all the way across the field to their ramp area. It was now around 9:00 pm. They also had earlier provided the phone number and name of a mechanic. In the morning they towed the plane to the mechanic, when I called around 9:00 am he had already figured out the issue. Problem was that the part was ordered from the factory and would arrive the next day. It did and we were on our way in less than two hours. Sarasota Aviation was also very helpful in this issue. NEVER will I visit Rectrix North FBO. Dolphin Aviation did not charge anything for the tows they provided nor any ramp fees for the night. Dang part was very costly, a tad bit over 1 amu installed.
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