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Sandman993

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Everything posted by Sandman993

  1. Some of the bay boats in my area are quick...105mph kind of quick. It’s the same old game of “one up” the other doods... let’s see who’s willing to spend the most. They certainly get a speed fix. All while on the “test driver” “we have no idea” research program... in other words, no training just drop the hammer and see! life is funny... in my area, it’s drive up in your $90,000 pickup with your $120,000 bay boat, get your speed fix (scare the hell out of yourself and crew) and then, go fishing. I always wonder what that cost them when/if their wives find out how much they spent. Oh well, anyone know of a good airplane forum? I somehow landed on the boat forum.
  2. Yeah...600hp outboard! Bet that caught the competition off guard just a little. Can’t wait for one of these to appear. 450R power is around already... Verado is a supercharged engine designed by Porsche for Mercury. I don’t know who helped them with this monster. that old German former ball bearing manufacturer once fired the coke machine vendor for leaning on the machine as old man kiekhaefer (Mercury founder) walked by. He was a tyrant/perfectionist. “But sir! I just service the coke machine!” as far as I know, no other manufacturer has been allowed to with a world championship competition...not one. Yamaha, evinrude etc... fact check me here... I haven’t looked in a decade.
  3. You make an excellent point...radios are a peculiar component. One thing for sure, you won’t get anything close to what you have tied up in your panel at sale. for me, it’s just flying my ship around until I get tired of doing it or they take my keys away. So, if the ffa will get off their asses, I could have what they promised several years ago... a safer airplane. And for the same amount the experimental fleet pays.
  4. All those things you state is what I have now with the exception of altitude hold. I can live with that. firstly, you need to know the TT can do a precision approach... just not certified for same. So before you brand the TT as special Olympics of autopilots... check it out. im an old pilot... I could buy 15 garmin autopilots if I wanted to. I became disenchanted when they said $4995 back around 2015... back then, they left out the incessant change orders to complete the job and take you way over 20k to do so. It’s a matter of principle for me. I’m trying to let go of principles so I can be more like the young folks... just taking a lot longer than I thought. I’m not going to use a single engine platform for hard imc... never thought that was a brainy thing to do once I got past the 300hr invincible, me pilot phase...if you want to fly like that, be my guest.
  5. I’m a mercury marine dealer... the parts chain was broken during the covid period. A lot of peripheral parts are made in China and other places. Some if not all folks need a pass on performance where parts gathering is concerned. Plus Wisconsin seems to be on crack and doesn’t want to open. That’s where my product comes from. somewhere along the line, our political class has sold us out to foreign interests for their own enrichment. Before you punch... I mean both sides. So a lot of stuff is from overseas. good luck getting this all straightened out. FFA doesn’t make parts, they just make paper and excuses IMO. “You know the thing”.
  6. Really? You’ve had one done for 15-16 thousand?? I’ve heard of quotes that low, but never came across one. 15k would arouse some folks to look at garmin. As I have stated before several times, if you want to get full performance from the gfc 500, you MUST purchase and install a second g5. Period. The last time I looked (summer 2019) a full trick pony gfc install with the g3x touch and trim was over $30,000!!! You could get back to 23-25k if you would settle for the two g-5’s. Oh! Don’t forget the sales tax of an additional 8.5%. if I could get an estimate under signed contract for gfc 500 install for 15k... I’d ask someone to hand me a pen.
  7. TT was saying 40-50hrs labor back before they went dark. The notion that components are all in the main unit should reduce install substantially. Should be around $10k if they come to fruition before the 7% annual inflation since 2008 compounds too many times. while you are correct, we don’t have an actual retail example...I can’t imagine it coming close to the extra expenses like 2) G5’s for instance.
  8. Smokin fast! Moving along at a blistering pace. Good thing, I heard those Mooney guys were going to auction Andy off to a piper drivers aero club... pretty sure they were cross dressers.
  9. They prolly ran out of reports and reporters and decided to recycle an old article. They didn’t think anyone would notice. I for one was completely fooled.
  10. I appreciate they speak to the safety notion of digital autopilots. Not sure I appreciate how they swoon over garmin... and it’s always amazing how everyone manages to leave out the true cost in order to make it sound so reasonable. Maybe they think pilots are as mind weak as the common sheeple (Covid BS). Heck, maybe they can pick off a few at the edges... the low hanging fruit, as it were. haha... and the poor cousin tru trak... I’m still cheering for them albeit I believe tt should NOT have crawled into bed with BK. Andrew’s tee says “please don’t get none in my hair”
  11. Nah... sounds like exaggeration and hopium. and we heard the “ paperwork is turned in and we waitin on the FFA “ line at least three more times after that! Lol
  12. I never said the gfc500 wasn’t a nice way to get around. It’s just sad they had to break it down to so many expensive parts. Back in 2016-17 they were leaking info about the new digital ap that was going to cost 5,000 amu, it was going to revolutionize the new age of autopilots. They finally bring it to market and it costs roughly 25k plus tax. I’m no mathematical genus, but isn’t that a 5x increase? In the meantime, other companies can build a self contained unit to retail at $5,000 plus 4 to 5k more for installation. Of course we now know what climbing in bed with Bk can do... it’ll leave you ruffed up, like a Bangkok hooker on Monday morning after the navy left town. before I’ll spend another 25k+ along with a 6 or 8 month wait, pigs will fly. Especially after the $5,000 initial promise. I would have bit on $10,000 fly out.
  13. With the autopilot priced around 7k and the 100hrs at labor rate of $100 per hr... you forgot the $10,000 for the acquisition and installation of 2 G5’s... yes, I know you can operate the gfc500 with one g5, but one g5 will leave you wanting. The full capability of the autopilot will only work with 2. Suffice it to say, you’ll buy your airplane again.
  14. At least no one will steal your ship right now.
  15. I doubt that E85 or even E15 will ever be used in aviation fuel. I would be surprised. There’s a myriad of issues. I’m in the boat business, we make a nice living on fuel systems trying to endure the E15. We see around 1500 boats per year and I reckon around 20% are fuel related. Firstly, it attracts water, secondly, it’s shelf life is limited. Aircraft, like boats are known for extended periods of non use. Unless they have some magic I don’t know about, to extend life span, I can’t see that working out. And what about the lead? How they gonna work that out? as for the high compression pistons in this airplane, I enjoy a little more output about anywhere, but it comes in handy at higher altitudes. Along with the power flow exhaust system, the little engine works well in this configuration. Sips gas. My best buddy has a c182 and I can take off behind him, reach 12,000’ before he can... not by much, but...and then, I’m off to the races, in another few minutes, I’m in another zip code. Granted, a 182 isn’t a racehorse, but it climbs pretty well and it’s a fuel gobbler. You gotta pay for all that cabin space and parasite drag. He always complains about the lack of shoulder room... but he admits the Mooney is an efficient platform. When we fly to dinner together, and the ship gets in stride, I’ll look over at him with a grin and I usually get the nod. He calls it the magical Mooney. talk about hi jacking a thread... sorry.
  16. I always use my real name when we’re talking super models unless one gets pregnant... then it’s back to my old New Jersey alter ego.
  17. Haha... the better question is, how often do you fly over gross? I took this chick up one time... she was overly gross. I told her my name was Anthony from up northeast way.
  18. Switchbox control folks treated me exactly like I treat my customers. I was having issues with the SIM card, so switchbox folks suggested I return it via UPS for them to check it out. Of course, UPS managed to deliver it, but to the wrong address. Switchbox replaced it at cost and now I’m back up and running. having the ability to heat an engine in advance saves a lot of those 15 minute warm ups. Starting a cold engine below 40f is taboo. thanks switchbox, appreciate the help. they have a plan that’s $25 every 3 months that allows you 500 texts per month. My hangar mates are all planning on getting heaters installed.
  19. I’m told the av gas dries out the gaskets. It’s not the lead... there are old pilots round here that say av gas will eventually screw up the carb gaskets and or o rings. They even older than I am. I did recently rebuild part of my tug carb... it developed a mystery leak and yes, I use av gas.
  20. Sound like something to try before I pull the carb apart. dunno what draining the gas would do... it’s probably 70/30 av gas
  21. It was in the low 60’s... I’ve only seen pictures of snow. Just kidding, it snowed here briefly about 5 yrs ago. I choked the puddin out of this thing. That’s why I pulled the spark plug... figured I drowned it. Seems to have good compression too. It probably doesn’t have 3hrs ttsn. I’ll get into it and come back with a report. Was certain someone else would have had this encounter. I was going to take notes and write as fast as I can.
  22. Yessir... fuel vent to on, pump bulb, power on at the panel and the little knob next to the pull rope to on. Have started it a couple dozen times just to cycle it and typically run a fan or whatever for 15 to 30 minutes. I checked for spark- ok pulled plug, it looks great but dry. After a dozen pulls with the choke, you’d think it would be soaked. was thinking perhaps the av gas may have damaged the diaphragm. Was hoping someone would have encountered this issue. The pump gas we buy has a short life span and I’m always afraid of it in components that don’t get used daily.
  23. I too purchased a sportsman generator for away trips, to warm up a bit on a cold ramp where electricity wasn’t available. Typically, I run it once a month at the hangar just to keep it, well, runnable. somehow, it’s stopped fueling and I can’t get it going. Full disclosure, I put av gas in it. Anyone have an idea what I can do to to get it going again? The bulb pumps up fine. The spark plug fires but is dry. I was hoping someone else may have run into this and could offer a solution. thanks in advance
  24. I think it’s the steel barrels in the cylinders with aluminum pistons rubbing against them. Mike Bush says it’s almost criminal to start an aircraft engine below 40f.
  25. I’m considering patching a tank... I spoke to Carl at Houston tank and he’s booked til next September.

    do you have time to give me some words of wisdom on taking this on? Or if you absolutely don’t recommend it?

    Not scared of work. I own a fiberglass boat repair facility, can be pretty handy when I have to.

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