steingar

I saw an M20E that had been left in a barn for thirty years, it was going for teens on one of the airplane sale sights.

Did that once when a gyro was out for repair. Just re-charged the battery and it worked fine.

I transitioned form a Cherokee to a short bodies Mooney. If a ham-fisted pilot like me can do it, anyone can. A good idea would be to sit in one beforehand though. They are small inside and not for the portly.

Congrats, you will love your new to you airplane. Patience learning the J-bar, its a bit trickier than it looks. I love mine and am finally able to land it without drama (sometimes).

Returning from one of my Mooney shopping sorties I was trying to outrun a storm and landed with a sizable tailwind. Hey, the runway was long, my hangar is at the far side of it, and I could land my old Cherokee in anything. Doubt I'll be trying that in the Mooney any time soon.

You couldn't pay me to ride one of those things out.

We're on the exact same page here. I try to have it at 70 on short final, and I even succeed sometimes. When I don't, it floats. But I always hear that horn just before touchdown. Like I said, a few more landings and I'll probably have it down.

Yeah, I looked at that before and during learning the dang thing. Yeah, putting the bar up (gear down) was never much of a biggie, but putting it down (gear up) and getting it locked was a major PITA. That said, as I've written I think I have it quite well. Just have to develop the muscle memory. Having a CFI with me telling me what the locked position should look like (and what the unlocked position I had looked like) helped a lot. For anyone new to it I'd recommend gear swings on jack stands; I should have. But I got it within the 10 hours I had to do for the insurance, so its all good. And yes, I like the J-bar too. Like I said, just gotta get better at landing, which I intend to do Sat. if the wx cooperates.

Cool beans. We're neighbors! Love to see your Mooney! Are you based at OSU or TZR? The wx here can be good or bad. The fall and summer tend to be good, winter and spring not so much. Once I get used to landing the Mooney I'm going to learn to be an IFR pilot.

If he takes an Introductory Biology class I will likely be his instructor.

Don't I know it. On my first solo takeoff I went to put up the gear and ran into the sectional chart that had just fallen off the seat! Thankfully I think I've got the gear down, I think. Worked just fine with minimal effort last two times. I just have to get the landings into a better semblance of order. Just takes time, I'll get there. The Lucky Strike is a gorgeous ship and I will fly her everywhere.

Yeah, though sometimes with a resounding "crunch!". I'll get there eventually.

Not an issue if you come in on the numbers. Come in too fast and you'll float all the way to Canada.

A manual gear Mooney would make a horrible primary trainer in my own opinion. AFter about 3 or four gear swings my arm turns to jello. Not so good when learning to land.

Swinging the J-bar was never much of a problem. Latching it to the little thing on the floor was always my problem. I now have it done correctly, but my landings still stink, I feel I'm not ahead of the airplane and I'm certainly not flying it intuitively. I told Mrs. Steingar she wasn't getting a flight until I had it better dialed in.

I must add my own approbation. Looks wonderful. Glad to see folks doing right by their aircraft.

Thank you for all the replies. I wound up doing transition training down in Georgia, but I will have a bit more time to find a suitable CFI if and when I bring on some partners into the airplane.

So I thought I'd give an update. The Lucky Strike is now mine. Presents as clean as it did in the photos, very very nice Mooney. Flew my Cherokee down to Atlanta, took Mooney driver on a half hour flight and I think he fell in love. Did a pre buy with a local mechanic next day (not really what I wanted, but when running a trade you don't get everything you want) while his mechanic worked on my Cherokee. Quoth his mechanic, he'd never seen a cleaner Cherokee. The Mooney came out pretty well devoid of squawks as well. Very, very clean. Did my ten hours of dual down there (had some trouble finding a suitable CFI here). Had one hell of a time working the J-bar, locking it in place on the down swing was problematic at best and took awhile to "get". I just about melted in the heat, we northerners just aren't used to the incredible heat in Georgia. Funny story (I hope), after my first colonoscopy (dating myself) I swore I'd never drink Gatorade again. Those of you who've had the pleasure probably know of what I speak. When we landed at PDK after the first day's training the bottle of Gatorade in the machine looked SO inviting, I bought a 20oz bottle, drained it in a heartbeat and drained another 20oz of water besides. I guess I'm back to drinking Gatorade. I took quite a few hours and quite a few gear swings to get the J-bar. My other problem is after I'd done it 3 or 4 times my arm turned to jello. I guess no Young Eagles in my future. I did have the distinct please of following a Skyhawk in the pattern and having to swing wide because I was so much faster than him. Anyway, after the ten hours the CFI (Mike O'Neal out Skybound Aviation at PDK, I could not recommend him more) gave me my complex endorsement and I was off. Had a hell of a time in the mountains north of Atlanta, had to power down pretty dramatically to keep it slow enough to creep through all that. Problem with being a VFR pilot in a fast airplane, have to dodge wx at 155mph. After that though, up to 9.5K, set the autopilot to fly home and didn't have to do a damn other thing. 140kts at 8.3 gallons an hour. My landings still suck, but they're getting better and will get better more still. The Mooney isn't what I'd call easy to land, but I'll get there. Last hour of solo for the insurance tomorrow, and my first passenger (Mrs. Steingar) on Sunday. I am going to fly the wings off this thing. I LOVE Mooneys, such efficiency! I may not love it as much come annual time (thing has a LOT of scores) but might laze out and take it to a Mooney service center. We'll see. Thanks to Mooneyspace for lots and lots of wisdom during this process. With luck in time I'll be able to give some back.

Wanted an M20E but couldn't fine a good one in my price range. Congrats. Anything been done to seal the tanks?

There is at least one other M20E model at TZR, I saw it a couple weeks ago. I haven't seen any specific requirements for a CFI, but the guy I usually use doesn't fly them, and I don't know that many others. I just need someone sufficiently proficient to keep me from crashing the damn thing (and of course, can give me a complex sign off).

With any luck (and decent weather) I'm picking up a Mooney M20C in the environs of Atlanta this weekend. I've got a CFI who'll help me fly it back him to the land of the Buckeyes, Columbus Ohio. What I don't have is someone here who can continue my complex training. I need some dual time to make my insurer happy, and I'd rather not do it all down there. Anyone know a CFI in my area who knows Mooneys? I sure don't.

I'd recommend the mechanic you plan to use to take care of the airplane. What Don Maxwell says is airworthy won't amount to a hill of beans if your guy disagrees.

Hope so. Just working things out with the owner. Aircraft presents well in pictures. I will of course keep you all posted.

You and me both. Just remember, the water temperature in that lake is in the fifties. Hypothermia in around 30 minutes assuming you survive the ditching and get out. I still say go north around the UP or south and get a good view of Chicago. That said, I doubt you'll be exposed to a lake ditching as long as I would in my Cherokee, you're a lot faster. I've flown over the lake on the ay back, mostly to catch the tailwind. Either way, good flying and see you at the show!

Mrs. Steingar had this done a few years back. Make certain your backup is fully functional. You don't want to louse up the surgery.