Yooper Rocketman

I have the M20K/231 modified with the Rocket conversion (100 HP more). I don't have it with my dual G3X and GTN750 panel and really don't miss it. I never have any yaw issues but I do need to keep my right foot on the rudder during climb, since I have no rudder trim at all. I DID have a yaw servo in my Lancair Prop Jet IVPT, and disconnected it. Too many guys with the 750 HP Turbines would get dependent on the rudder auto trim and then get in the pattern after a long cross country, A/P disconnected, and would get uncoordinated and shift all the fuel out to the wingtip, resulting in a flame out. That's a lot less of an issue with the gas engine, since you switch tanks and it relights. Not the case with a turbine. A flame out in the pattern will be a dead stick landing. I find I am a lot better "coordinated flight" pilot as a result, which with the Mooney is not as much of an issue as the IVPT. Tom

I believe those three little dots on the top right of your post have an edit option. Now I know they do. This is an edit after my first reply!! Tom

My local airport (U.P. of Michigan) has the same limited lease contracts, but they've never exercised the option to NOT RENEW and take the land. In all reality, I could legally take my hangar off the airport if they did so, but it wouldn't be practical. There are hangars that have signed the same lease and are still here, with a reasonable yearly land lease, 50 years later. Also, I have NEVER seen a hangar sell for less that the selling owner paid for it. My area is pretty similar to yours and I think the price is lower that what my airport would get for a heated hangar your size. Considering all factors, I believe the price you stated would make it hard to get hurt. Tom Sullivan

On our last flight down to Spruce Creek we took a little trip from Port Orange (Daytona Beach area) down to Punta Gorda to visit with some friends. We departed a bit before sunset and captured this sunset over Tampa Bay that evening. Clearly one of the most colorful ones I've ever seen.

The GE Engineer that revealed to his "Executive Recruiter" (my friend), the one that brought him to GE, that GE had serious concerns about the design of the FCU leads me to believe (as well as a couple other "similar" documented failures) there was a known failure point in the FCU that was addressed with the GE Update. The fact you cannot get an original Walters FCU anymore, only the GE Updated one, speaks volumes about what I suspect was the issue. Tom

Yes, we have to do that!! Tom

First off, thanks for the compliment. I am not sure if the GE version has anything like that in it. There is a "Isol (Isolation)" feature, where you can operate the fuel control manually, but it must be rolled in before you flame out and it only works under certain circumstances (only about half the possible FCU Failure modes can be manually over ridden). Once the flame is gone, then there is a purging and cooling process that must be completed before a relight, clearly not something that can be done in 15-20 seconds, especially while close to the ground (where any loss of control from that distraction would be fatal). Tom

Yes, I’ve been flying it since the accident.

We'll get you some turbine time before too long!

Many of you have asked, or been polite and not asked, about my unfortunate engine failure at 500' on take-off, Xmas morning, 2021. I said I would not discuss anything on social media until the NTSB Investigation had been completed and, honestly, I was over the pain of the loss. It's time. I have posted an extensive story about that fateful day on the Lancair Live Forum, and the link is the first one below. That said, the good news is I started the massive undertaking of rebuilding the plane and the progress since the 11th of January has been nothing short of spectacular. Considering I have spent half my winter at my Florida home, going down for two weeks every month, and we've logged well over 600 man hours on the rebuild already, I'm very happy about the progress. I would consider documenting the entire process here again (like I did on the initial build) but time on the project trumps time on the computer posting everything on two forums. The second link below is my rebuild. The third link is for the Lancair IVPT I am finishing for another builder (with his help) and it is really close to final inspection. Thanks for the patience to all my past friends on this forum. The one picture attached is my last Med Flight before my unfortunate engine failure. This little guy LOVED my plane (300 knots, pressurized and a warm cabin in the winter really helped!!). It's so sad he was only with us 7 more months after that flight. Tom Sullivan https://www.lancairlive.com/viewtopic.php?t=183 https://lancairlive.com/viewtopic.php?t=177 https://www.lancairlive.com/viewtopic.php?t=189

All Sold Items removed and most prices dropped again. Selling hot on Ebay right now. Tom

If I am slow getting back to anyone, please email or text me directly. I am all elbows and nose into my Lancair IVPT rebuild, working crazy hours on it. I don't get on this site very often. Thanks Tom Sullivan Cell; nine zero six - 458 - six nine eight nine email; tom (at) uptruckcenter (dot) com

Sorry about the engine monitor and probes being sold by my staff last week while I was in Florida. It has been busy as heck for both my guys and me since I got back, and I wasn't notified.

KG 102A Directional Gyro P/N 060-0015. Good Working condition when removed. 60 Day Warranty and free shipping $250

KS 270A Trim Servo, P/N 065-0059-04. Removed in good working condition. 60 Day warranty and free shipping. Price dropped 4/15/24 $300