Houman

Wow, who would have thought a simple question would create this much huppla on the forum... I know my POH says to retract flaps only after exiting the runway and taxing, but I was just curious about the other Mooney pilotes here and their standard modus operandi... I still follow the POH, but I might try it once or twice with my instructor if he agrees to see how short I can stop. I will of course ask him to slap me hard if I try to reach the gear instead of the flaps, although the gear is much higer in the dash and requires 2 actions ( pull out and push up )... Thanks !!!

I was not able to import, but input of data took only couple of minutes and I was able to reproduce the CG envelope and use it. The only missing part is that if you actually build a route that has the fuel calculation, it doesn't automatically take that info in W&B, maybe something they can add on in later releases. Great work Foreflight !!!

Thanks, I have already contacted Rocket Engineering, and waiting for their response, hard to believe that they can't respond on a sunday night I was hoping some of the rocket owners might have the info instead. Thanks !

Hi, I'm setting up the new W&B Profile in Foreflight ( great addition ), and am now wondering. I have entered my new empty weight (2294.59) and new Moment (99856.00), and I also used the figures on page 6-7 for the loading computing ( non STC POH ). I do get the exact Weight and C.G enveloppe chart in ForeFlight as I do at page 7-9 of the Rocket supplement, but when trying different weight and combinations, I seem to be more often forward of the enveloppe, unless I put baggage or rear passangers... Here is what I have originally : No 1 & 2 Seats FWD POS ( Sta 34.0 ) Max 400 LBS No 1 & 2 Seats AFT POS ( Sta 39.0 ) Max 400 LBS Fuel ( Sta 48.59 ) Max 360 LBS No 3 & 4 Seats ( Sta 70.7 ) Max 450 LBS Baggage ( Sta 95.5 ) Max 110 LBS Hat Rack ( Sta 119 ) Max 10 LBS... That got me wondering, should I use these figures from the original none Rocket STC POH, page 6-7 for the loading graph info, I don't seem to find the same graph in the Rocket STC. If not mistaken, with the Rocket STC, the batteries were moved aft to balance a bit more the heavier 305 engine, so wondering if the station information on the non STC POH is still usable, if not, where can I find the new information, it's not in the STC Rocket POH... Thanks !!!

Now I'm pissed, I actually could use the missles from time to time in the patern to get rid of those pesky slow C172 trainers, but I guess mine did'nt come standard with it :) ha ha !!!

Exactly what my Mooney instructor told me last time, now only if I can find the magazine refill location ha ha ...

Well, I got Centuray 41 autopilot, and the disconnect seems to be on the left hand side, same as my push to talk, so these buttons on the right hand are not those... Any other suggestions ? Thanks !

I just attached the pictures...

Hi, I have 3 push buttons on the right hand of the left yoke (pic) that no ones seems to know what is there for. I know it's not the speed brakes, nor mic, nor autopilot disconnect, nor trim since those are on the left hand of the left yoke. here are couple of pictures, if anyone can tell me what they are used for, I would appreciate it much, as they are not identified, nor my partner owner or mechanic knows what the heck they are. thanks... Sorry, the pictures are now attached...

Just wondering, I'm practicing my pattern training for my newly purchased M20K rocket and after touch down, I erect the speed breakes and break with the peddals, but keep the flaps extended to 33 as it was during finale. In my prioir experience with C172 and Beech Sundowner C23, usually I retract the flaps after touchdown to make the tire breaking more efficient. I have to say the placement of the flaps switch in the Mooney is something to get used to during touchdown, but should'nt be too bad, just wondering if you rocket owners just use the tire breaks and speed brakes to slow down or retract the flaps once terra ferma is felts... Thanks !!!

Hi David, I would love to see a picture of that. The mecanic that did my Rocket's pre-buy inspection was telling me that the hangar tempeature is not so good for the engine, since it keeps the humidity, so maybe your solution might be one that could help get rid of it...

thanks to all, I had a stupid question, if the engine is hot, it is recommanded to open the cowl flaps and cowl oil door, would it also make sense to twist the oil stick cover a bit to open it and let the heat inside of the engine escape from there. Not necessarly remove the oil dip stick, but just open it a bit, would I be in danger of getting hot oil on my hand or face ( since the engine is off, there should'nt be any oil pressure, right ) ? Just wondering if it is worth it, I would'nt remove the whole stick in fear of getting dirt or dust in the engine, but wondering ?

As promissed after saving my behind with the proper hot start procedure, I have made a 100$ donation, thanks for the great work maintaing this site !!!

Thanks David, I tried this and it worked, actually my instructor found the procedure on an old pas on Mooneyspace, the POH was worth nothing, I will be donating tomorrow to Mooneyspace.com, it saved my behind not being stuck middle of nowwhere.. Thanks to all !!!

Hi, doing a training flight today with about 7 or 8 stops, stuck at my 4th Start and The Rocket Is refusing to Start, engine is really really hot, so taking it easy and letting it cool down, but my instructor that has experience on this engine (Navaho twin) and others, says he never had this much trouble. any good hot starting technique, do you guys use the low or high boost while starting hot ? thanks...

As a Canadian I can tell you that YMMV, not all FBO's are that bad, but not all of them are great. We obviously and unfortunetly don't have the same GA budget for FBO and all, so some of the places are a bit old, but the people are usually nice. I guess those that you encounter are the exception... At least the flying club were nice !!!

Wow, so sad to hear, I almost bought an L model with a Porch engine but my mechanic strongly advised me not to do so, since the engine was produced in low numbers and parts are hard to find. Bounced landings are not fun especially on hot scorching days, I remember my scariest time as a student-pilot was when I had about 25h or 30h flight time and doing solo pattern practice on a very hot day at about 1 pm, took me 3 times to get my landings right, the 2 prior balked landings were rough and thank god the school's C172 forgives much more than our speed birds !!! My thoughts are with the family, it's rough to have specially 2 family members in the same accident, hope the injured person gets better soon !

Hi, I'm about to do the whole drain and calibrate procedure on my newly purchased M20K Rocket using an 11" Fuel Hawk and I was wondering if someone had done this before on a K model and would be willing to share it. I would use it as my starting point and just go from there... Thanks !!!

And the usual 4 machine guns that use to come with the P51, although they must be pretty heavy with all the bullets. I would guess that would make a nice traffic clean up tool once in the pattern lol ( just kidding )...

Hi, On today's flight, my instructor and I noticed that we can't close the cowl flaps completely during flight, specially in cruise, the handel is always about 1/4 open, as such CHT is lower than normal. On ground, we are able to close them fully. It seemed during flight, we could'nt push hard enough to close the cowl flaps, although I would have tought that the air pressure against it in flight would make it easier to close. Am I missing something, maybe it's someting simple that we are missing. Thanks !!!

Hi Yves, I think the virtual aspect of it makes me a bit nervous. We all have lives outside of our airplane ( well according to my girlfriend I don't, but that's another subject lol ), anyway, I would hate to see a good partnership turn sour if some urgent repairs are needed and we need to turn the virtual into real money and it creates problems. I rather have the assurance money is there, place it in a high interest bank account or low interest fund that is accessible all time. Anyway, that is my way of thinking, but again, this is my 1st plane ownership, before this, I had always rented by hour or block of hours... Thanks !

Hi, My partner and I are setting up a per hour fee for the engine, prop, turbo in the Rocket partnership agreement, so that when overhaul time comes, we have the money already set aside. The way I'm calculating is TBO ( 1600h ) - ( current engine used time :160h) = 1440h left on the engine till tbo, the tbo is about $40K, with a margin of 100% for extra costs ( $80K total ) on the side for engine, prop and turbo overhaul and some unexpected repairs, that comes to about $55/h utilization. We are paying the base annual costs separately and in case of needed repair, use the 100% margin for repairs. Does that make sense, is it too much or not enough ? Thanks for any advise or opinion, sorry for so many questions in the forum, my 1st plane ownership and 1st mooney, hopefully soon I can contribute instead of just ask the questions...

I have the same situation on every flight on my old Beech sundowner, my 8 year old son slepts trough 3.5 h of turbulence while sitting in front seat the other day and my girlfriend had about 4 or 5 panic attacks because of the turbulence. I explained that this is what happens when we are suppose to leave at 7:00 am on a hot summer day, but end up leaving at 11:30 because she takes her time, and we got to the worst time for flying on hot summer days. Anyway hopefully it will be easer with the Mooney, now that I will have enough power and speed to go higher and not deal with the crap down below !!!

I'm buying the Ram Mount Yoke kit for Ipad Mini, but wondering if I should go with short, medium or long arm, those who have the Ram Yoke mount, can you please tell me which arm works best in a Mooney ? Thanks !

Thanks for the advise Carusoam I will check on the grease, the plane just came out of import, so maybe the mecanic did regrease it, I will ask him and do a ground test next time. I know I will make it up in air speed and also arm muscles, but after about 8 takeoffs and landings in less than 2h ( not touch and go, since not recommanded in the POH ), I can tell you that I was sweating hard and my left arm, hand and fingers were pretty tired, a faster trim would have helped alot. I guess I will get use to it, and it's not often that am I going to takeoff and land 8 times in 2 hours beside the insurance required instructor time now Thanks!!!