manoflamancha

I bought a Brompton folding bicycle for travel and it works great. It folds to a large suitcase size that will fit into even a Mooney!

While I could afford a more expensive car like a Ferrari, having a fast fun plane like a Mooney is way better option! Especially when a trip to Vegas or Catalina takes less than 4 hours round trip!

Thanks! Sure, hit me up when your M20E is back from annual and we can go fly for a hamburger run. I've been wanting to head to Catalina to check it out. I've flown 201J and 252 Mooneys but like longer bodied models so eventually thats the one I am looking for as prices are pretty good now for a previous 400K aircraft.

If you fly by yourself or just with a friend get a Mooney 201J these are best overall bang for performance buck. If you have a wife and kids get a Bonanza A36 or Cessna 210. That's what I'd do.

First congrats on passing your checkride! My advice is to go fly in one of each type. Bonanzas are great for useful load and Mooney have better speed but more suited for 1-2 people.

To make long story short, I had to spend more time moving back to San Diego and work then to shop for a plane. Second, since I am buying a home this year, the funds must go to the home first and plane second. Long term, I do plan to get one. Hopefully prices drop on used Ovation or Bravo so a good one comes up.

Cool yeah I am working on my instrument rating there. Had two lessons so far and plan to eventually buy a plane once I have the instrument rating. Since Mooneys fly high and fast, it is critical to have that IR ticket. I like the long body Mooney like Ovation and Bravos.

Sweet plane and this is similar to what I am looking to buy in the future. Shame I don't have a spare 100K lying around at the moment but a new gig should fund my future aviation addiction. And I know the right man to get me checked out in one!

I bought one a few years ago for cheap and it was signed autographed even by Larry Ball himself! Good to know its valuable. I wish someone would write an updated version to include newer Mooney like Ovation, Acclaim and Bravo as well as detail mods like Rocket and Missile and a buyer guide.

Hi all, I just moved to San Diego and looking to meet fellow Mooney pilot owners. Right now I am working on my instrument rating at KMYF and would be great to connect and share expenses flying Mooney aircraft. I am saving up for a late model 252, Bravo or first gen Ovation as my dream aircraft in few years.

True if I had a business earning 20MM a year and had clients in another state then a new Mooney Ovation would be worthwhile. Unfortunately I do not. However, with that said, I can afford to buy and maintain a nice Mooney M20F or an older 201J and still have funds left over for hangar, insurance, avgas and maintenance. Most of the time it is just myself and another pilot friend so no need to spend 600K plus on new one when a good used one costs 500K less. Still compared to a new Cessna Corvallis or Cirrus, the new Ovation is 200K less expensive. I was speaking to a Cirrus and Cessna rep and they quoted me close to 900K for a new plane. The Ovation does not have a chute but in my view a better aircraft.

I had chance to sit in a brand new 2015 Mooney Ovation and loved the brand new kid globe leather interior and avionics. Very comfortable but a 650k new price versus a 200k price for a late model 2005 Ovation would be hard to stomach unless I won the powerball lottery. I'm curious on what the new price tag will be for the new Mooney M10J. Anyway I'll keep shopping for something in my budget.

Ah that's clever idea to have an LLC just for the aircraft and lease it to my business for block time. Then I can also charter it to other pilots when not in use.

Thanks guys, My business is mostly in Vegas and I plan to keep primary residence in Nevada with a small office in California. What about training costs to obtain ratings and maintain currency is that allowed as a business expense deduction? My business is non aviation but requires meeting clients in both states.

Hi fellow Mooniacs, I'm starting a business where I will visit clients in California and Nevada and a fast Mooney would greatly help me on business travel versus paying frequent commercial tickets. I'm looking at a Mooney 252 or Bravo for the mission due to the mountain terrain. How would I maximize the tax deductions for business usage in terms of purchase and acquisition costs and for fuel, hangar and MX fees? I plan to fly weekly from Sacramento to Vegas and stay at an apartment in both locations.

I'm finishing my instrument and commercial ratings this year and then CFI and want to do some freelance flying work eventually.

I do like my Russian vodka and women lol

Da those Russian cosmonauts must be Mooney fans!

Find a Mooney Service center to do the prebuy or A&P with Mooney experience.

I'd rather have a fast used turboprop with extended warranty than a new plane.

Agree I fly for fun and it's relaxing compared to driving. For trips farther than 1000nm each way like international flights, I travel business class commercial so that I can eat drink and relax. I've known pilots who fly their Mooney from Europe to the USA and back but that's a long trip in a small plane.

Not bad compared to how long it would take to drive the same distance I wonder if a Bravo or Rocket could do the trip in 12-15 hours?

Parker, How long did it take you to fly the 201J from FL to CA?

You can easily find a nice M20F or C model for that price range.

Ouch I'd rather buy a used Bravo or Acclaim and invest the difference.