fire11

That’s awesome, gotta love a Mooney! How many hours of flying was it including all the sightseeing down there?

Wow, that's a bummer, I'd much rather to have looked at it at my home field on a pretty day than to have more pix! It still looks like a nice plane and a good value so I hope you'll upload them if you get a chance. There's a bunch of us here who'd like to have her.

Where did you take these pictures? Kind of looks like my home field, KIWS. I'd sure love to see it if you ever make it to Houston!

Thank you, looks nice! What are the times, total, SMOH and STOH? Do you have all the paperwork for the STCs? What about the log books? I'd love to see more pics as well.

Sounds great, can't wait to see it! An E would work perfectly for us and as an OU alum, wouldn't mind a trip back to Oklahoma.

I have to admit I tuned you out when I thought it was in Australia…Oklahoma? That's a different story! Can you share any more details or do you have other pictures?

I see it now, thank you!

I'd like to see details but the PDF file is not attached. Can you please post them so we can all see them?

Fantastic, thanks for the insight and recommendations! The wealth of knowledge found here is invaluable. I really want to join "the club" but just have to make sure the money's right given the high cost of entry.

I'm hearing Maxwell loud and clear and they were my first thought as well. As I've not heard back from them since the weekend, I'm wondering if anyone knows how much their inspections typically run and how long they typically take? I want a good pre-buy for an F with a "recent annual" so I can know whether I want anything to do with it. I know there's some damage in its history and want to make sure I know its health. Any thoughts? I don't want to cut corners but just haven't done this before and want to know what I'm in for.

I wish Peoria were a suburb of Houston, I'd love one exactly like her. You're a lucky man!

I've got my eye on an M20F and wonder where you guys would recommend doing a pre-buy inspection? What should I expect to pay and how long do they typically take? How do you typically work this out with the seller? I wouldn't buy a 50-year old plane without one and want to be sure I'm getting a fair deal and not something someone needs to unload. Any advice or recommendations for who to use or who to avoid? I've already contacted Maxwell but wonder if there are others I should contact also.

Beech makes a fine ship and he's obviously got cash for the dinosaur juice so I'm sure he'll be ok. I just can't imagine parting with such a fine bird, though...

I'd love to see details as well, good ones are hard to find!

Sure would be nice to see some pix!

Wow, that's quite an upgrade…nice work!

Really exciting!

I'm wondering if anyone can give me an idea what to expect annuals to run for a manual-gear M20C in good condition? After much counseling, I'm considering buying my own M20C and want to ensure I've budgeted enough for annuals and routine maintenance. I've gotten quotes on insurance and hangars but annuals and routine maintenance are harder to budget. I'd probably change my own oil and am not opposed to owner-assisted annuals…as long as I don't compromise on the quality of maintenance. Given we live in Houston, my gut instinct would be to just take it to Maxwell's for annuals. Any thoughts?

So I've listened carefully to the point many of you have made and am giving closer consideration to my own M20C. Would anyone publicly or privately (PM) share what you're paying for insurance and annuals on a manual gear C? I know it's hull-value dependent but don't know what's "reasonable" for rates. I don't yet have my instrument but I've got 550 TT, lots of 182 and 205 time and about 10 in complex with no losses so I should be easily insurable and would get my instrument soon. I'd get a good pre-buy to check ADs, corrosion and etc. but any other concerns?

You guys make interesting points. Ovations are sweet and the one dimondan shows would be beautiful but…I'm beginning to realize that I don't really like to share. Gsxrpilot, my wife and I loved your article about a trip to Albuquerque. We love ABQ and dream of weekend trips there. Your story got her excited about my hobby, thank you! We're very practical people and concerned about the cost but it's not all about money. A reasonably cared-for Mooney is a $10k/year proposition no matter how you slice it. Yes, arguing my earlier point, partnerships make it more affordable but how many partners get to take it home for Christmas? I can't imagine having $30k and a monthly payment tied up in something I can't use because one of the partners has scheduled some pattern work. It's hard for me to imagine but we're now looking at Cs, Es and Fs again. There's a beautiful B at IWS but I'm afraid the reduced useful load might be a problem. I know you're not going to put 4 people in a short-body Mooney for long but I'd like to know I could take Houston visitors around to see the sights for an hour. Ahhh, decisions! Thanks for all the insights!

This might well be the prettiest 201 I've ever seen! If cost is no object, he's not interested in a partnership. When it was for sale, I was dying to see this beauty but didn't want to be a "tire kicker" so I didn't bother him. MooneyPilot, I sympathize with your position and feel for you. Hope you decide to return to the sky soon, though!

Thank you, bonal…I totally agree. While I'd prefer having my bird all to myself, having 100% of the usual ownership costs would mean I couldn't fly it as much for the same total expense. Ramps are full of planes owned by people who underestimated the total cost of ownership and they tend to neglect maintenance and deteriorate quickly in to Houston's sun, rain and wind. While I'd prefer not to share, I'd rather fly than drive to visit family in LR, KC and OKC. Rental Cessnas and Cherokees were never very fast but they're still pretty expensive and not nearly as exciting as Mooneys. I'm hoping to find a good partnership until I'm confident I either need my ship's undivided attention or am confident I can maintain it the way so many so many of you do on this forum. I like to think that sharing the upkeep is a great way to take care of your bird!

I'm a life-long Mooney fan but can't justify my own. I'd love to find a partnership in a nice Mooney near Houston, KIWS would be preferred. I'd prefer a 201, 231 or even a 252 but am open to the older models. My family is small so I could get excited about a short-body C or E but need a decent IFR-capable bird. I considered the Rocket in Austin but can't justify it that far away. I'm tired of renting old Cessnas and Cherokees, anyone have a lead to share?