Aerodon

Late models had them on the main bus

I have the CAD files for most Mooneys, can draw the rest. I can cut a panel for a whole lot less than the above. I use Nextel 'suede panel paint' and am looking around for a UV printer to print the labels and logo's straight onto the paint. The panel is an iterative process, there are only 1 or 2 types that I could confidently ship without a prototype. Then there is still quite a lot of work in removing the old instruments and installing the new ones. So when comparing quotes, be sure to understand what is included. Aerodon

By 'alarm' do you mean a tone sound or an aural alert? Such as 'check engine' or 'low fuel'. These are triggered by your OEM 'switches', and there should be an 'acknowledge button' somewhere to turn it off. I would guess if you are in turbulence, the low fuel could come on repeatedly? Aerodon

I see the XYZ output on Figure B-25 GI 275 in the installation manual. Pretty sure that will give your synchro output to stormscopes, traffic systems, RMI, FADC etc. And the GI-275 will display the output from the WX 500 Aerodon

I see the XYZ output on Figure B-25 GI 275 in the installation manual. Pretty sure that will give your synchro output to stormscopes, traffic systems, RMI, FADC etc. Aerodon

From another advert: "In 2004, the aircraft was modified with a Mooney M20R Ovation STC conversion ($120K) and everything "firewall forward” was replaced brand new! A factory-new Continental IO-550 (280HP) engine replaced its original Porche PFM 3200 (217HP) engine while the aircraft's interior, avionics, and instrument panel were all updated. N147MP was also recently repainted with an Ovation scheme ($10K)!" Aerodon

Canada has an Owner Maintenance Category for orphaned airplanes. Gives a lot of attitude for maintenance, but cannot be flown to the USA. Hard to convert back to Normal Category. My understanding is a lot of M20L's were converted either by the factory or Rocket Engineering? Don

A 4 seater is really a 2 seater, and a 6 seater is really a 4 seater. There is absolutely no point in having a nice fast plane that needs to stop every 3 hours. Give me the slowest plane that can do 5 hours to empty... And on the west coast you need to get your head around flying at 12,000 feet most of the time, mountain's, wind, turbulence, temperature, IFR routes etc. So you need to get to that altitude reasonably quickly - so either turbocharged, or lightly loaded normally aspirated 6 seater. For a 100 hour pilot I would recommend a really nice Cherokee 6 or fixed gear Saratoga. Your passengers will love the cabin space and rear doors. They probably won't know the difference between a fixed gear and retractible version. Make it a 3 to 5 year plan. Fly the crap out of it, get ratings, cross country experience etc. Learn the pro's and con's of aircraft ownership. Then trade up to your midlife plane. Finally get your 'forever' plane. I've owned a Seneca for 30 years now, in the process of trading down to a 252 with long range tanks. Could be persuaded on an early Mailbu too. (now there's a 6 seater that's really a 2 seater). Aerodon

I took a consultant along to help with an engineering assignment. He was very helpful and brought bags of equipment and made sure I saw it all, and he used several cameras taking pictures. He even offered me a granola bar on the flight back. I got a shock with his invoice, he had billed a daily rate for every single gadget he took along, even his Spot. And billed two by $25 for 'lunch' for the flight - his granola bar too. I paid about half, still several thousand short of the overall bill. He wrote to me several times and whined. I told him I was clear about the overall budget, he had professional obligation to understand his client and the budget and bill accordingly, or speak up. Eventually he asked what he should do with the outstanding balance. I just replied 'write it off' and never heard from him again. I later heard he had a reputation - he told another colleague he was in the area and could he come look at the project under construction. Then sent a bill for ferries, overnight accommodation, and a days time. We transferred a young engineer from San Diego to Vancouver. He asked if he could drive his car up and we said sure. He took a week, along with his girlfriend, stayed in a few very expensive hotels and had some really expensive meals. He submitted an expense claim of $5,000, and literally cried when it was rejected. Some people have no concept. Aerodon

Frank, I would leapfrog ahead to the GI275 in HSI mode. Even if you got a GPSS box at a low price, you are still sinking installation dollars into an obsolete device, and not adding any value to your plane. Then you need to find a location to install the switch. And you need to worry about the STC permission letter. Not saying its not there, but some manufacturers don't reissue th permission letter to subsequent buyers. A 275 installs fairly easily, and does not need remote boxes like the G5. Will provide a good upgrade path in the future. And from what I have read, it will have a very stable analog signal for your autopilot. Aerodon

The KAS297 is not a 1/2ATI so the off the shelf adaptors will not work. Send me an email on what you are trying to do, and I'll make up a plate next time I fire up my machine. Don supercub180@gmail.com

Samo, nice job with the overlay to accommodate the 275's. Garmin make a nice adaptor for the 275 to go into a KI525 hole, but I believe is it over $300, so x2 is a bit expensive. I tried a small overlay picking out the KI525 holes, but the 275 structure is in the way. The attached double is for an Archer that no longer had the bottom mounting holes, so I made a doubler to re-create the bottom right hole for the lower GI275. I can easy do a revision to make one similar to yours with 6 mounting holes 'outside' the structure of the GI 275' Aerodon

And this is another experiment. A blanking plate along with two 050 'inserts' to fill the hole left in the original panel to make it flush. Mooney panels are 0.100", and I don't have any 0.100 in stock. The three pieces can be riveted, screwed or bonded together after trim fitting and trimming. Note the little burr that still needs to be filed away. Aerodon

And this is to mount a 1/2 ATI instrument such as Shadin FF, KA572 DME, various GPS switches etc.

I found this neat Molex USB power adaptor for USB B & C. Brochure says for aviation and shows a commercial airplane. Maybe in the seats of a 737? Only $40, but connector needs special crimper.

This is a 'cover plate' to hide the old KI525 and 256 indicator holes. Still a work in progress, but a whole lot cheaper than the Garmin adaptor plates. Easy to adjust the outside bound to make it look professional, and to add mounting holes.

So this evenings work was catching up on a few basic pieces machined out of 0.050 2024T3. First are some antenna blanking plates for some removed antennas. I copied the footprint of the original antenna doubler, just machined the holes and outline to mount instead of the antenna. These are for Narco ADF, Strikefinder and KA60 DME. Trying to decide if it is worth installing nut plates (click bond) or riveted? Mounted on inside or outside?

The GFC500 autopilot controller is only about 2"-3" deep with connectors, so is ideal for the top of the stack.

Here's a panel that I made recently that worked out really well. (customers choice to reuse old labels). It is really nice to have the fight instruments in line with the control column, and we even managed to move the annunciators onto the mail panel too. Leaves more room on the centre radio rack and RHS radio rack has an older 496 or 696. I'm a big fan of 'less is more' so anything you can do to remote mount devices the better. Remote transponder, remote audio panel, WX500, remote DME etc, My next Mooney panel is going to even 'cleaner' - dual G5's, EDM900, GTN750, SL30, KR87, KFC autopilot. Remote stormscope, transponder, audio panel, DME (KN63), XM in (GDL69A) Aerodon

Ross, I have that template for my CNC machine, what do you want the outside line to look like and what thickness material? I'll cut and mail it for $25, you can trim if necessary and paint. Don supercub180@gmail.com

Macfarlane already make them. I have a set for my Seneca, I'll see if they fit my Mooney. https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/products/category/cargo-tie-downs/

Yes, I can cut and bend a panel for you this week, what instruments do you need to install? Dual G5 on the one attached. Aerodon, supercub180@gmail.com

I'll take it, thanks Aerodon

I would say that labor is too little. At $100/hr, that's 50 hours. I think might just cover installing the 4 servos, and that a realistic number is between 100-150 hours. Some of the variables are: 1) amount of old stuff to be removed 2) relocating radios to fit 3) modifying the panel to install the G5's A local shop is doing a 4 servo in an M20K, I'll report back later on the breakdown of install hours. Aerodon

I have a couple of Turtlepac tanks if anyone is interested? 60G and 160G. I'm looking for a 100G tank, but if I can't find one I'll use the 160G tank and partially fill. Planning to use them in a Seneca II. Bought a Piper Gross Weight Decrease 'kit'' for the trip to reduce the weight to 1999kg. Significant change in Canadian and European nav charges. Aerodon