PeteMc

You've got the processing power, so in addition to the light, why not have a "GEAR GEAR GEAR" warning. It could plug into the audio panel, have BT or the box could be big enough for a speaker and a small amp (which would be needed to make it loud enough). And I think you meant the audible alarm would go off when the gear light was OFF.

Wish it looked like that up here in the PNW!

I had looked at that, but it was out of stock. Reached out to Feather Hood directly just to find out more about it and he told me that he's waiting on a new shipment and they should be available again soon. Early on in this discussion (which is also over on FB) I decided I was going back to a hood. Now I'm just zeroing in on which one I'm going to get. This is one option, sort of like the one that clips on a baseball cap visor too. It comes with a hard plastic visor, but sort of doubt I'd want to use it, but who knows.

When I first got my plane it still had the original factory side curtains!! Who knew... I guess I should have kept them!

I was thinking of adding their tech to all the windows in the plane. Figured it would do a really good job a simulating Actual conditions!!! Might be a little tough flying into one of the more busy airports line Block Is on a sunny Sat. morning in the summer.... Okay... I stole that thought from someone that actually posted a while ago in some forum that "oh, that would be a cool idea to add it to the windows!" without really thinking of the consequences.

You very well may be able to get yours rebuilt now. A couple of years ago I could not find a shop that had the parts or a replacement from any of the various parts vendors. I ended up getting a digital replacement from Aerospace Logic. No complaints about the unit, just like all digital displays it took a little getting used to. So if you can't find one and need to buy new, you're looking for one of their MF200K30 (vs the 60GPH version). One MAJOR NOTE with them, they did something really strange with the STC that you MUST use their transducer and it does NOT work with JPI (or prob. any other fuel totalizer). So if you have a JPI (or other) my mechanic made a field mod to add a really long fuel line and put in the original JPI transducer as well as Aero Logic's. (Really long so there was no turbulence between either transducer.) https://www.aerospacelogic.com/engine-instruments/manifold-pressure-and-fuel-flow/

I was looking at those. But I'm sort of leaning towards @GeeBee's Super Hood. I like the idea of slicing away at the right side to match up with the shape of the panel. Then I'd be able to see across the whole panel at a glace. Should make it easier to set at watch the power.

I like that. I had something that looked similar that actually attached to the headset band and then you could just flip it up or down. Actually modified it a bit (e.g. cut out part of the right side) so I could see the full panel and not have to turn my head as much. It was pretty easy to just sit in the plane and keep cutting back a little bit at a time so I could see what I needed and not really see out the right side window. Should be able to do that with this hood too. ADDED: I like Sporty's, and did check their price. But there's a whapping shipping fee that brought it up to $42. Checked Amazon and although the base price is $8 more, I don't pay shipping (well, don't pay per item ).

That's the one I'm having problems with. After some other discussions on FB I'm wondering if it is the black that is giving me the issue. The old true "hood" that actually clipped to my headsets was away from my eyes and allowed in a lot of light, even though it was also black. The first pair of Foggles I used were the frosted ones. So maybe it is just time to get used to them, or that black unrealistic black void is messing with me. Or... thinking a bit more. Also it may be messing with my progressive glasses as it's blocking the top part. So I'm looking through parts of my Rx that I don't usually when I'm flying.

So I'm curious what people like to use for Hoods/Foggles with noise cancelling headsets? This year I got some new "clip on" Foggles and now realize they disorient me. I first thought it was because I had done such little hood work and not really any actual either so I was rusty... But I mean I was REALLY rusty/bad. Then ended up doing some actual on our long XC and was primed to flip on the AP, but I had no problems at all. So what's your favorite? I really don't want to go back to the traditional Foggles now that I'm used to my NC headsets. But will if there's no other good option. I've read about the Feather Hood and thinking of trying that.

That's why the cover manufacturers always say to keep it VERY snug. And I get the potential for dirt damage, and it does matter where you are, but I was on a ramp for years with no issues from my cover.

Following up on what @Eric J said.... After my interior was done I noticed these giant holes in the floor by the center console. Talked to my mechanic and he said they were just covered up by the old carpet that had probably just been installed closer to the center and covered them. So do check for openings and maybe worn/thin carpet where fumes are coming through from the engine compartment.

My plane had had a prop strike before I bought it and the required tear-down. They had the shop pretty much do an overhaul and tried to sell it as XXX SMO, but the logs didn't have the signoff. So I ended up getting a good deal. But at around 1700hrs I had an issue with a piston pin plug. Sure, I could have delt with the one cylinder, but figured with that time, even with the earlier work, I was not sure if I was going to be tossing money into the engine. Current engine is at 1500hrs and still going strong. I did have one cylinder burn a hole in the side around 1100hrs, so replaced it. But otherwise no issues and hope to get to or beyond TBO. The one thing that may change that is how long it currently takes to get an engine. I'm going to be watching closely to see if the parts and shop availability gets better or not. But as I get closer to TBO I may just get on the list to either have my engine rebuilt to get a factory reman. Then when my date comes do I'll make the change. The other option is to suddenly have an issue and just then start the waiting period for the engine I know I'm going to need in the not to distant future.

I always used my cover not for the paint, but to cover the windows and keep the sun from shining into the cabin. Helps with the heat in the summer, but also help prevent cumulative sun fading year-round when you're parked outside.

Assuming this wasn't for me since I'm the one that said you could confirm the Waypoints with current charts in the EFB for enroute navigation. Also just said that you an use your EFB and the NAV part of the GTN (or other) if you were not pulling up XXX VOR and putting into the Route as a Waypoint. (At least not without confirming the Wpt is still correct.)

There is no "Database" per se if you're using VORs. But you still have to have current charts and "data" with the correct frequencies, etc. So as long as you have current paper charts or a current EFB, you're good to go. The Current Database in question in this discussion has to do with GPS/GNSS navigation. So you could not add the DNW VOR to the Route in your GPS if you did not first confirm the location. But you could be in NAV mode and dial in 117.2 and follow the OBS needles to navigate to/from the VOR. Make sense?

You must compare ALL Waypoints. Not just the Airports. So every single Intersection, VOR, whatever in your entire Route must be checked. And before you say you filed "Direct" to the Airport. Remember they can reroute you and put you on an Airway with mega Wpts.

Sure they are. Same as the paper charts. The "Do Not Navigate" means you can't look at the little airplane on the iPad and shoot an Approach. Even following the Magenta line while in cruise is technically a no-no. You use the APPROVED panel equipment to navigate and look at FF (or whatever) like you would look at your paper charts. Difference is your "finger" (the little plane) magically moves to where you are on the chart. You don't have to keep folding the map and figure out where you are.

On any iPad running FF or G Pilot your best bet for extending the battery life in flight is to first CLOSE all other Apps. iPadOS is pretty good about suspending Apps, but some still eat up power. Next BIG TIME item is to reduce the screen brightness when in cruise. You don't have to go so low that you can't see it, but for every bit you reduce the brightness you can save battery life AND keep the iPad cooler. (And you can also just turn off the screen too when in cruise to really save the battery and for cooling.)

Much easier now with EFBs... Pick any Wpt on your Route in your EFB that has CURRENT charts and Tap on it to get the Lat/Long. Then pull that Wpt up in your panel GPS and confirm it is still in the same place. You've now confirmed that ONE Wpt in your Expired Database is still in the correct place according to a valid/current source. Repeat the process with ALL of the other Wpts in your Route. Then hope you don't get a reroute along the way with a bunch of complex Airways...

Garmin still let's you verify each waypoint if you're using an expired DB. But as you said, it would be a royal pain to do.

It's been quite a while since I've flow a plane with a carbureted engine. Was it an ol' wives tail or reality that you shouldn't really use "wide open" but crack the throttle back just a bit so the butterfly valve added a little turbulence to the airflow for better mixture? I remember the discussion way back when, but then stopped flying anything with a carburetor.

"Huckleberry" is not usually something I hear from someone down in southern CA...

I got one from Amazon a few years ago that I'm happy with. White, Red or Green light with multiple settings. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08975WM6Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&th=1

Not a Mooney, but I just saw a news story about a CubCrafters (CC11) setting down on the highway in Cupertino, CA. Remember to be very carful if you talk to reports if you do have an off field landing. You hear the reporter saying "...and asked the airport to fill the plane up with fuel." Then they cut to the pilot that says "We don't know what happened, if that happened or it didn't, but clearly I had an engine out." Sure **sounds** like he's saying he didn't check the tanks before takeoff. Maybe he didn't, but if he did and it was some other issue, he now still has to fight the uphill battle after it appears he said on the news that he didn't check the tanks.