joepilotmooney

Thanks Rich. Do you feel it is airworthy flying with it like that, it seems not to me...?

20 years I've flown our J model and never felt an intermittent nose gear shimmy during taxi, like what an old Cessna does when I was a low time pilot! Anyone ever experience this? I thought I had a flat nose gear tire. I taxied back to the hangar instead of taking off and everything looked ok...thoughts??

No need for jacks to open the belly panel. Our J numerous times the flaps wouldn't come up on the ground, unless you gave them a little bump with your hand. Our mechanic cleaned the contacts eventually and no problems in several years.

Yes, agreed, the times I've landed x-wind with partial flaps have been problematic -- so always full flaps.

Myself I always use full flaps; you can land more slowly and reduce wear and tear on the airframe. It's also safer since you won't be carrying as much inertia at touchdown. I do like the idea of opening the cowl flaps prior to landing, might try that out.

Since we're talking heaters, I got my J back from annual and when I ferried it from Mpls. down here to FLA in March I noticed my heater was only putting out ambient air plus maybe 10 degrees or so. I had to put my down jacket on my lap and knees to keep warm. It has always been super hot air the last 20 years. What do you think my mechanics did down there?

Thanks yah I was thinking about that - I will see if the FBO can put me somewhere other than asphalt or cement.

I am in a spot in Sarasota FLA (SRQ) that will leave my Mooney parked with only chocks for maybe a year. This scares me. I am wondering if the people at the FBO here will let me put at least a few cement blocks on the ground with eyelets that I could use. If not, I am again, scared to do this. How scared would you guys be?

Actually, we are leaving Minneapolis permanently (TOO cold!!), will be in FL for a year probably temporary and then move up to Baltimore area or perhaps stay somewhere in Florida, for good. We'll see what happens. In any case I want my plane with me, so it may have to be hangar less for some period until I figure things out. I will say finding a hangar around these parts , especially around Mpls., finding affordable hangars is not too difficult. There are so many public use airports surrounding the Twin Cities, all with tons of privately owned and airport owned hangars, plus all the private and residential strips. And at Anoka airport where we are, people are building new hangars all the time. I am not sure why that is not happening in places out east and in Florida, I guess due to land costs and availability?

Yeah, I've kinda been resigned to the fact I will likely have to tie down and keep the canvas cover on it for a year, sans hangar. I will start poking around the few private fields outside Sarasota and see what I see though, good idea.

Folks: We are moving from to Sarasota, FL for a year, basically 2025 (possibly a few months longer) and I need to tie/down or hangar somewhere, anywhere! I am hoping some of you might have suggestions or leads on where to start. Appreciate any help...

Folks: We are moving from the Twin Cities to Sarasota for a year, basically 2025 (possibly a few months longer) and I need to tie/down or hangar somewhere, anywhere! I am hoping some of you might have suggestions or leads on where to start. Appreciate any help...

Have had 2 BasicMeds and my doc just laughed at the butthole part and said you're fine back there. I am very thankful for AOPA/EAA making BasicMed work for us. I hated doing the whole FAA thing every 2 years.

I am now having an issue with my landing light switch. The rocker switch breaker has popped three times, and turns off. When the switch is turned on, all the engine gauges jump up. I've seen on the site that that the gauge panel contacts may need to be cleaned, as there is some short back there. Or, is it maybe I have a bad switch? I think at annual in a few months I will deal with this. Any other suggestions?

I got to sit in the back of a 1982 J model the other day. I heard the very experienced pilot (in his 80's) tell my friend (who flies a Commander) in the right seat that he didn't use the fuel boost pump for landing. I fly a J and always have it on for landing, per manual. Has anyone heard of this procedure? I don't have a manual for the 1982 model but I can't believe it doesn't require the pump to be on...no?