gsxrpilot

Hmmmmm... got me thinking. When 6XM got sold for scrap and parted out.. I wonder how much they got for the @DonMuncy style visors I'd fabricated and installed? No STC or 337 involved.

As I replied to your post on FB... over 50 Mooneys in a conga line every year. This year might be 60. The group includes everything from M20C with the lightest weight on the nose gear, to Rockets, Bravos, Acclaims with lots of weight out front. No one ever has a problem taxiing in the grass. I've only flown in three times in a C and looking forward to arriving in a 252 this year. It's good to play it safe, which means keep the yoke in your lap and make sure you've dialed in full up trim. Otherwise, no big deal. I use three nylon cutting boards to park on in the soft grass. They're smaller and lighter than the plywood boards I've seen. But either will work.

I'll probably get flamed for this... but I say no. I went from a C to a 252 and didn't notice anything that was dangerously different. I'd just get in and go fly that F.

This was in an email from Don.

Double check on this... It once was in the $20K range. But according to a few sources, it's been discontinued and isn't available anymore. I suggest checking with Don Maxwell, SWTA, or another MSP that's done them to be sure.

Or this way and you don't need the blinky light.

You're doing the right thing moving to an F to get the electric gear. $25K spent on an M20C for gear would be a terrible investment as it might lower the value of the C. You should get some good interest in that C.

What?? And ruin a perfectly good C?

Here's my $0.02. I'd not swap anything out of the C. They way it sits, you've got a very valuable C and it should fetch a nice price. A C with WAAS and ADSB is rare and therefore desirable. Make a deal with Chase at AvionicsSource to swap your non-Waas 430 for an IFD440. There will be some cash involved but you can also get an ADSB transponder in the deal as well. You'll get top dollar for your C and you'll have a new and modern GPS in the F.

I have a set of FlyTies that I like a lot. But for my money the best solution is just to rent from the ground crew at Oshkosh. It's the boy scouts or some similar group benefitting and I think the tie downs are $25 for the week.

If I could have one thing from my M20C on my 252... it would be that manual gear.

Sorry to derail the thread.... the whole reason was to cut down on heat in the cockpit. It works well. Unfortunately the windshield is still bare and allowing too much heat in.

I've got a set I could sell you, but I won't be home for another couple of weeks... and I'd have to find them.

I'd bet the limitation on gear extension speed is due to the potential violence of the J-bar and the amount of force it could bring when unlatched at higher speeds. I don't believe you've damaged anything on the plane. But it could probably break an arm if one was in the way in the cockpit. When I flew a manual gear Mooney, which I loved, I'd always give a sharp tug on the johnson bar up or down just to ensure it was properly seated and not able to come loose.

Yep, then you've basically got the J. I used to fly an M20C with all the 201 mods including cowl, windshield, gap seals, wing tips, etc, etc, etc. It was faster than a lot of E's out there. It's pretty cool that all those mods are available for the older Mooneys. An F with all the J improvements... what's not to like about that!

Yep, my SOP is to raise the flaps at touchdown and before brakes every time. I'm glad that unlike a Bo, the flap switch and gear switch are not next to each other.

When I'm board on long cross countries I'll try to anticipate the next freq. I'll look it up on ForeFlight, check the IFD's freq listd, listen to other's getting the hand off, refer to prior experience, etc. Otherwise, just enter them as they come. The problem I had was getting the number jumbled up in my head after reading them back followed by my N number. I found that repeating the freq in a different format solved that problem for me. If given "...on One Two Three decimal One Five" I'll respond "Twenty Three Fifteen". For some reason that solves it in my dyslexic head.

I've come to really enjoying the usefulness of the speed brakes in my 252. I'm sure I could fly in a more disciplined and precise manner and wouldn't need them. But they are nice to have and I use them. I've always been pretty comfortable with crosswind landings in my Mooneys, but in strong crosswinds, I don't use flaps. I just feel like I have more control authority without flaps for landing and that feels better in a stiff or gusty crosswind. On this trip to Canada, we added another variable to the mix and that is gravel runways. So now I'm thinking of my higher approach speeds and touchdown speeds without flaps but without the stopping power either with loose gravel under the tires. So I tried using the speed brakes on approach all the way to touchdown and not using flaps. I like the way it felt. It seemed like I was able to land a tad slower but without all the lift under the wing. I'll have to try it a few more times, but just anecdotal evidence based on how it felt and control authority was positive.

Yep sounds like some hangar fairies retrofitted a cessna rig into a 231.

You can send a message to @mooniac58.

On my recent trip to the great white north, where I found single runway airports and lots of wind not aligned to the runways, I discovered I liked the speed brakes for cross wind landings.

I can attest to @Skates97 window tinting procedure. I used it to tint the back windows in my 252. Love it.

I think I've got enough of your shirts with my 252 on them to wear one every day at Oshkosh... or at least that's the plan. Love them... keep it up.

I think GEM calls it EGT smoothing.

Jeff, I'm down the road in Austin but will be spending a considerable amount of time late August and September in Denton/North Dallas area. I'd be happy to give you a ride in my K although I probably wouldn't recommend it for your mission. But I can also talk through the differences of all the different models, pro/cons of each. The truth is anything C through J would fit your mission very well. It's all about how much you want to spend or how deep you want to get into it. The late model J's have the best back seat (fold down/removable) option. It's exactly the same as in my K. But there is a seat mod posted here on MooneySpace that will work for any of the earlier C - J models. I would recommend that whatever model you end up with, get one with a WAAS GPS and a good autopilot. Those are both surprisingly expensive upgrades but many planes out there already have them done. Expect to pay $0.25 or less, on the dollar at purchase time for those upgrades. Or buy a fixer upper and pay full price for the same thing. If you haven't already, get on the AllAmerican email list for advance info on the best Mooneys that come up for sale.