milotron

@DualRatedFlyer In this picture, just to the left of the big black hose, there are two red pipe caps ( barely visible behind the carpet ). These are the ports from the NACA duct on the copilot side meant for the avionics blast cooling. I believe it is 5/8". I don't think this method of cooling is generally recommended any more due to the possible ingestion of wet air. I just pulled the stub of clear poly hose off that was on mine. I have an avionics blower and evidently when they installed it, just cut off the old hose leaving a jet of cool, wet air left to douse the copilots legs. It must have been like this for 20 years! I put a pipe cap on it and put my 120V power plug though it for the heater and dehumidifier as I am tied down outside. iain

hi, Anybody know what the 'normal' condition of the shock mounts under the KG-102 should be? I look at the ones in my 1981 K and the appear to be settled and bottomed out. If I lift the gyro assembly, there is more give in the mounts, but they settle back down again. I would think that these are worn out and not likely doing the gyro any good. Where can replacements be found? Anybody know part numbers? iain

Hey!

Wow. Great thread. I am 45 and evidently missed the boat compared to some of you. I am planning on retiring in 10 years but it is contingent on getting some corporate successorship in place and improving cash flow so I can actually pay out some dividends. No pension for me, so I need to make a big pile for myself and the wife. The plans are to keep the Mooney in the family and within those next ten years I should have all the major capital costs covered for a forever plane, including a fresh engine, paint, avionics, etc. Just don't tell the wife that plan! I'd love to increase my immersion in aviation once 'retired', either instructing or consulting in some fashion. My current business touches in aviation, but not to a satisfying depth. Lots of ideas though.

That I agree with. Mine is clearly brown, not as dark as that.

My M20K looks like that too, as did another 20K net to me. I lean it way out on the ground also. I think it is from take-off as the aiming of the exhaust pipe should aim the air flow away from the door during ground ops. Airflow during take off or descent would push it back to the gear doors. I just wipe it off. Being a turbo, not much I can do about the take off rich condition ( my fuel flow if at the book settings ); I lean it out during descent like @jlunseth does for the same reasons. iain

Was the purge rig posted elsewhere already? iain

What he said.^^ I did this yesterday on the ground, without the engine running. I had the ice light on to confirm it's operation and there was enough voltage drop on the system with that additional load that I could hear the pump slow down. I suspect with the engine running it should pressurize even more with the higher voltage. Mine was slow to saturate the vertical panels on the tail as well as one panel on each wing, but they eventually got wet. It is important to do it regularly. I liked a previous suggestion of running the pump monthly when you update the nav data. Brilliant! iain

Well, I am happy to be told that I am wrong, and now have an excuse to replace my OAT with an OAT/clock combo. My aircraft has been fitted like this for 20 years and nobody caught this?! It is most certainly IFR certified and lived in USA until four years ago. iain

I believe a wristwatch would suffice so far as being IFR legal. I have no fixed time piece at all in my plane. Only timer is on the ADF. iain

Hi @Marauder Did you end up making some youtube videos? I am about to redo my panels and would love to see the crack/warp repair techniques. Thanks, iain

Modest goals... CPL flight test. Multi endorsement. Repair interior plastic panels. Resist urge to spend many AMU on avionics upgrades. Fly across Canada with my son. iain

Thanks Vance, Not sure what ACS is...so assuming no, we don't do it. I agree with your thought on the gear down/flaps TO. The slow flight/stalls in my opinion are about simulating the departure/landing events so a similar configuration should not be an issue. In a 172 there are not many other options, so that kind of takes care of itself. iain

Thanks, you too! In the controlled space at my base, a distinct code from ATC is required just to take off for a local ( 50 miles or less ) flight. A flight plan needs to be filed if farther than that. Lots of radio work in my area! Farther up the island you can out in 1200 and do what you want, but not where I live. iain

We have a lot of controlled space in our area. The practice areas are defined airspaces for this purpose. Getting to uncontrolled space requires filing a flight plan ( greater than 50 miles ) and is doable, just more planning. The club does this for Multi training for similar reasons; a block of airspace over the ocean that is generally unused. I am flying a turbo, so different settings, and can make this work fine. Getting it slowed down in preparation for the slow work in a way that looks controlled and organized in the eyes of the flight tester is what I am after. I did the written test a year ago and have all of the ground work and flight times in, just down to final prep for the flight test. I was planning on doing it in a 172 as I was somewhat concerned about wear and tear on the plane ( I have to use the 172 for the spin portion anyways ) but would really rather hone these skills in my plane. iain

Hi, for the new year year I am committing to finishing my CPL. One of the biggest challenges that I have always had is getting the Mooney slowed down to slow flight speeds in level flight. Part of the issue I have had is the local practice area is fairly small: it works fine for a 172 at 90 kts but at 120 kts you cross it in about 1.5 minutes. I have typically resorted to dropping the gear for any kind of stall or slow flight work. Is this typical? How do you folks setup for this kind of airwork? My instructor is well versed in high wing C's and twins, less so for higher performing singles. Thanks iain

This link has both radios. I couldn't find one with just the 1090 equipment. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/144-2549250-4339569?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=stratux+1090 iain

Yes, the second USB SDR radio module as well as a corresponding antenna for it. The software will recognize it's presence automatically. iain

Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy the white Christmas most of this continent seems to be seeing. All the best in the new year. What a dedicated bunch we are! iain

I spoke with Hector to schedule mine for next year. They have raised the cost to $550 for 2018. Evidently the glareshields that get sent in are getting worse and worse... iain

Yeah, I cancelled on that day for health reasons, but that fog wasn't forecast. Fortunately I would have just flown over that ( destination was clear ). I wouldn't have even considered that. FOg has been causing a lot of issues here the last 2 weeks or so. Well below minimums, that even the heavies where grounded or sent to alternates. I thought it was interesting that the wx guy noted the accretion on his instruments!

I use a Stratux and foreflight in BC and get local traffic only when in the zone of another plane that has ADS-B. I don't have it yet. Since I don't have ADSB out, I don't get any towers so presume that is why I don't get weather or FIS (TIS? ) radar traffic also. I am not sure if it is a Canada thing or no ADS-B out thing to be honest. We are close to the border and pick up US signals easily. Do you have ADS-B out? Curious to see if others know more. Might prompt by transponder upgrade timeline. iain

Airflow is probably not as bad as it looks. The change was for intake icing, or so I have read. The 252 needs air for the intercooler also. The cooling flow is largely driven by differential air pressure across the upper and lower cowls and less so by available surface area of the opening. Look at the openings on the new Mooneys or Cirrusesses; small and circular but likely very carefully designed convergent nozzle/flow arrangements inside and out. Not a fluid dynamicist... iain

Do you have a cooling issue on the right side? The trophy mod also adds the large, infinitely adjustable single cowl flap opening for cooling which would help a lot too I would think. iain

Mildly off topic.. Interesting weather today. Beautiful clear with low, cold fog down low near the ocean. I ended up driving for other reasons, bur freezing fog was METARed as several local airports. The most recent one reports 1/4" rime ice on the weather instruments at the airfield! iain