gsxrpilot

No, they were previously giving away only the SkyTrax100 with an IFD540 purchase. Evidently now it both the AXP322 and Skytrax100 with an IFD550 purchase.

A MacPro with HP all-in-one laser/scanner/copier. Just check the box to add pages. Spits out a single pdf file with as many pages as you like. While buying my 252, I asked for the logs a couple of times but never seemed to get them. At one point the owner asked me to call his secretary and she would send me photo copies. Once I got the secretary on the phone, she said no problem. She had maintained scanned copies of all the logs for years and could email me the files, fedex a memory stick, or whatever I liked. Over the course of the entire transaction I learned to just call the secretary and ask for whatever I needed. She had all the receipts, work orders, subscriptions, manuals, supplements, brochures, and everything that had been done to the plane while her boss owned it going back 19 years. All of it was scanned and available. When I went to pick up the plane and fly it home, she had everything boxed for me and ready to go. In the subsequent 3 or 4 months, I would occasionally get a FedEx package from her with misc. stuff for 252AD. Must be nice to have good help.

I can't participate in this poll. It's very unlucky to speak about a no-hitter while it's in progress.

Agreed... there was nothing malicious about the post. And I think it's better to say who the owner is rather than just say it's someone on MooneySpace. Calib18 wants to sell his Mooney and Sherman18 wants to buy it. He only posted here in an attempt to get validation for the purchase. It would actually be a positive thing if Calib18 logged on and saw this thread. We could all help him sell his Mooney.

I know you're not shopping for an engine monitor... but when you do only spend money on one of the following. 1. EI MVP-50 2. JPI EDM-900 3. IA G2

I'll agree with @Marauder and others that you've got the round gauges in the wrong holes. In the center stack, the audio panel should be at the top and will fit better than the GPS. The GPS might be too deep for that location. As other's have said, and IFD540 with AXP322 remote transponder is a really nice set up and what I've just put in my 252. In fact, if you'd get the IFD550, it has ARS built in that can backup the AI and then you can skip the G5. I know the G5 is a cool instrument and I just bought one myself. But if I can get the same safety/backup in the event of a vacuum failure without it, I would rather add more IFR capability in the form of an HSI. You can pick one up used for $1000 all day long. IFD550 GPS + AXP322 Transponder + HSI will give you a solid IFR panel and add a KX155 or 165 for a secondary nav/com.

And that's my point exactly. The Chinese already knew it was a losing proposition and purchased it anyway. It doesn't need to be profitable for them.

If this is true... "the 45k isn't worth me waisting all my time" then I'll give ya $35,000 right now and it's out of your way. But if the $45K IS important, then you're gonna have to send me some logs and let me get it over to a really Mooney mechanic who can actually fly it and check it out properly.

It's an EDM-900 mount and all we did was trim it down. The G5 is almost square and the 900 is rectangle. But yeah, it worked very well. I'm really happy with the way it will look with everything flush mounted once the panel gets painted.

Getting closer...

I'll agree with the general consensus on this thread that a solution such as a plethora of micro switches at all the various joints in the gear linkage, would cause more of a problem than it would solve. The design of the Mooney gear is such that all three wheels work together from a single actuation point. And therefore the situation where a single wheel hangs up while the other two extend, is exceedingly rare. It's of course a possibility, as you've demonstrated that it happened to you. But since we're not relying on three separate gear actuators, pumps, motors, etc, there isn't really any reason for three indicators. I'm just saying, I don't think this is enough of a problem to warrant the additional points of failure, maintenance, expense, and likely false positives by adding such indicators. As an example, the FAA was satisfied enough with the design of the manual gear, not to require any sort of backup extension/retraction system. Of course, shit happens, but I'd much rather keep the gear mechanism as it is today. Sorry... edited to add one additional point. In other airplanes such as the F33A I used to fly, individual gear motors/actuators/pumps eventually fail just from age and fatigue. And therefore all such planes could be expected to experience such a failure at some point in their lives. The type of failure you're describing with the bent rod, doesn't seem to be from normal wear & tear but rather from a mistake by maintenance at some point. Therefore this is not a situation that we all should expect as our planes age. Therefore there isn't the need for an additional system requiring maintenance to keep tabs on the maintenance of the other system.

I really think we all are mis-interpreting the Chinese interest in Mooney. But that's understandable as it's doubtful any of us are Chinese billionaires. I don't believe they have interest in, or need to make any profit from Mooney. There are laws that mandate investment in certain industries and verticals for the Chinese in various parts of China. Aviation is one of those verticals where the Chinese government mandates investment for business in a certain region of China. The young lady who owns Mooney doesn't need Mooney to make any money, and Mooney isn't big enough to ruin her financial empire. So she can, if she chooses, run it at a loss, but maintain it enough to show she's in the aviation industry and engaged in R&D. I'm speculating here as well... but I am involved in a fair amount of business in China.

Sorry, this all seems like a solution in search of a problem.

Exactly. Fuel can expand but will vent, will not cause tank to develop a leak.

This Friday or next Friday... hopefully. I think the panel pieces are going for paint today or tomorrow, then just reassembly when they get back. I think all the wiring is done.

If a marketing person needs advice from me, they're the wrong person for the job. I'd be willing to give advice to the person who hires/fires the marketing person. I'd let them know the message isn't getting through.

Sorry, but that instruction seems about as obvious as "push throttle forward to go." I can't imagine any pilot needs the POH to tell where to put the trim. Trim as required.

I AM though, envious of @donkaye's panel... and the airplane wrapped around it. But I know my limitations.

No truth to that what so ever. I keep the tanks full for convenience. There's been no credible reason or argument to the contrary.

If I was building a panel from scratch... I'd probably be going with the 750. But without major panel surgery, the IFD540 just makes much more sense. Garmin could have easily make the 750 fit in the 530 tray and still had the big screen. Just like the Aspen fits in a single 3" hole. I'd think they'd have sold a lot more of them.

Well done! And what a huge improvement to the plane.

I'm in the camp that would spend money on capability rather than redundancy/safety. (Worse case scenario, if everything goes to shit, I can fall back to partial panel skills and my iPad/iPhone running ForeFlight and get on the ground) So I wouldn't be replacing the AI. Rather I'd look for an HSI on the used market ($1000) And then address the WAAS GPS situation. An HSI/WAAS GPS/Autopilot is the best IFR combo anyway. I'd go 530W today unless I could get all the way to the IFD540. The IFD440 with IFD100 on iPad still doesn't give you IFR plates. IFD540 does and puts them on the IFD100 as well. Sell the 430 and the 296. Put your iPad on the yoke instead of the 296. Better yet... keep the 430 and ditch the old Narco. Put a 530W in the center stack above the 430. Move the stuff below the 430 over to the spot vacated by the Narco. A 530W/430 stack would be very capable, give you solid primary/secondary nav/coms. Add the HSI and you're done!

Purchase price + $5k emergency fund, 10% available during first year, and the ability to source funds equal to engine overhaul at any time.

Assuming you've got enough runway, I'd try a bit more speed and no flaps. When we fly formation, we have 6000 ft minimum and are over the numbers at 90 knots, power to idle and try to keep it flying but don't touch the throttle. New formation pilots report the smoothest landings ever. Take that experience and use the same technique with proper speed. It worked for me in a C.

I really think you're going about this exactly the right way. Keep an eye out on the Internet for planes as they come up for sale. Interrogate all of them and bring them here for the peanut gallery to beat up and weigh in on. The more planes you investigate, the better you'll know the market, which will likely lead to a better decision in the end.