75_M20F

My exhaust was cracked too, it is off the engine and sent for overhaul. I guess the exhaust people might know the answer to that? I was told the price would be a max of $1,800 if it needed a total overhaul, but likely will come in under that.....

That was happening to my M20 F a few years back. It turned out to be the electric gear motor was worn out. Mechanic sent it out to be overhauled and it has been fine since.

What kind is it? Where did you get it? Time for me to invest in one after reading about this amazing miracle.

Kind of an arrogant rant isn't it? It is possible there is more to this universe then a human brain could comprehend. You have never been wrong? Why do you folks go out of your way to attack religion? I say live and let live.

Thanks for the information. I plan on early morning flying around the hills. I also have a GTN750 so I should be able to avoid Area 51 hopefully.....

Look up a YouTube video called "Cam Distress" by Mike Bush. That will pretty much answer all your questions.

Jim, Thanks. I think the southern route looks best from where I live in the south east. I played around with skyvector for a few min and came up with this route after ABQ...... I didn't plan the NC to ABQ yet as its not as terrain critical. ABQ V12 ZUN V12 INW V572 FRISY V572 FLG V291 PGS V562 LAS V105 HIDEN V135 BTY V105 OAL V105 YERIN V564 CHIME KRNO See any issues with it? Although I probably use Carson City Airport. Sounds more Mooney friendly.

Jim, Yes, thank you for the information. What kind of MEA are we looking at for the northern vs southern routes? (I am non turbo) The southern route, does that come up over Vegas then heads toward Reno? I am looking at it on skyvector.

Thinking of flying from the east coast (NC) out to the Reno Air Races this fall. Has anyone done the trip before? What route is best to get across the mountains? Which airport in the Reno area is best? I have a naturally aspirated 1975 M20F.. Any advice is appreciated.

I have acquired an original Mooney OEM 201 Spinner and bulkhead made by Globe (designed for the 201 with a Hartzell prop). I noticed (on the documentation) it is a retrofit kit with bulkhead stiffeners included. Did yours that had the problems have the stiffeners? I'm hoping to avoid the issues you had.

Yes, I am quite excited about it actually. Can't wait to fly my new and improved F model. It doesn't seem like a bad deal to me ($$) considering all the work that has gone into the design and build of the super 201 cowling. I located a 201 spinner that fits it as well.

I have the parts, thanks.

I second the Causey recommendation, they are a good option. 2A5 is the airport code. (336) 685-4423 They offer a pickup and dropoff service also.

If it is windy I land with them out. Cuts down on the floating when I just want to get the airplane on the runway.

John, Beautiful flying machine you have there! I would like to talk to you about your turbo STC. Which one is it? I am interested. Will it work with a Lopresti cowl? Mike

Acquired the part

Anyone here with an E or F model done the Lopresti cowl mod Thanks, Michael

I took down all the posts about my M20F I am considering selling. I think it would be better to wait until I have the new engine installed with the annual complete and go from there.

What is a "prebuy" exactly? Everyone is going to have a different definition. I had a "prebuy" done on my 1975 F model when I bought it and I have learned some valuable lessons from the experience. Essentially, a prebuy offers you no protection whatsoever. Maybe your shop spots something maybe they don't. No shop or mechanic is required to sign or endorse anything that guarantees anything at all in any way I had a "prebuy" done by a Mooney certified shop in the Atlanta area, he found a few minor squawks that were repaired. I paid the money and flew it home, turned out there was a crack in the engine mount discovered after I had it in annual the very next month. The engine had to come off and the mount sent off for repair. A very expensive fix (lots of labor), which was caught in a full annual by the way. The best protection is for the buyer to pay the base price of a full annual and the seller agrees to pay for all unairworthy items found (whether the annual is due or not). Now you have some concrete assurance and protection. The shop or mechanic has to sign your logbook certifying that the aircraft is airworthy and all AD's are current. They are putting their livelihood/mechanics licence on the line and that is about as much motivation as you are going to get. Make sure to use a different shop then the owner has been using. Also, the obvious fact that they are Mooney current goes without saying. If paying the the base cost of an annual is too much money for your budget, then you are probably not financially ready for aircraft ownership right now.

Causey Aviation - They are close. Chris is the lead mechanic there. Give them a call. Nice folks. Operation is based at 2A5 airport which is in Liberty NC. They are a former Mooney shop. I have used them for annuals and two avionics upgrades now. They have their own Mooney M20F as a company plane / vehicle. (I live near GSO) Address: 6120 Smithwood Rd, Liberty, NC 27298 Phone:(336) 685-4423 To expand upon the prebuy idea: What you really should consider doing is getting a full annual done on the plane instead of a "prebuy". You agree to buy the plane and pay the BASE price for the annual. The owner agrees to pay for any unairworthy items found. Now you have something that will help insure your not buying a disaster. The mechanic has no skin in the game with a prebuy and a prebuy is just minimal inspection at best, most prebuys are just checks for AD compliance and a compression check. Get the full annual done and the mechanic has to sign your logbook stating the plane is airworthy. And use a different shop/mechanic then the owner has been using. Will it cost a little more money? Sure, but it may save you from a nightmare too. Example: A prebuy is not going to catch corrosion of the tubular cage or some obscure spar corrosion or any number of things, but an annual will.

I have almost 900 hours for 2015. 25 in the M20F and the rest in the A320. Around 12,000 Total time so far.

There are some programs out there where you can buy a block of multiengine time in 50 hours blocks. Normally they pair you with another pilot and one acts as safety pilot while the other flys. I believe you are both able to log the time as PIC since one is under the hood. That is going to be the fastest, cheapest way of doing it short of getting it for free though an employer. Do a google search for multi engine time building. I found one showing $90.00 an hour rates (http://www.hlflight.com/time-building.html). I think it is in your best interest to ignore the advice from the poster above. Filling your logbook with fraudulent flight time can cost you your dream.

I have had mine treated with Corrosion X several times now. That seems to be the best defense along with a hangar. I also never wash it and avoid flying in the rain if possible. I want to get it painted this year so I have not had the corrosion x treatment the last two years.