Skates97

Plus, while they may have your information via ADS-B even when squawking 1200, having a code lets them know that you hopefully are on frequency with them where they can talk to you.

I would step into any of those models if you can find one that fits your price range, is equipped the way you want it, and passes a pre-buy inspection. I had 58.6 hours total, all in Cherokee's, when I bought and started flying my Mooney.

When my dad looks at just the information on my tablet compared to what he had in the 80's flying HC-130's around Alaska he is amazed.

I was thinking the exact same thing. With the screen, no harm done. I will say that the initial feeling in my gut when I pulled the screen and that fell out of it was not good... Initial relief when my AP/IA said his engine shop told him that is not an actual part of the engine followed up by Rob identifying it.

The flight school had a sign above the toilet that read "If you experience low flow or manifold pressure please stand closer to the toilet."

I had something similar happen a little over a year ago. Both mains were locked up on touchdown and came to a screeching halt with the parking brake stuck on, could not move the knob/cable. My parking brake cable had always been difficult to move, but I thought that was the way it worked. I think that the cable just finally froze up. It should slide nice and easy. Ended up lubing the cable and it is smooth and easy to adjust now. In addition to the normal GUMPS I always push on the parking brake knob as well to make sure it is off now before landing.

I just did this yesterday. I had all the inspection panels out for annual and it would have been easy to run the new wire if it weren't for someone putting in some butt connectors sometime in the past, that required removing the tail cone to get to it. Other than that it was fairly easy, I used electrical tape to attach the new wire to the old wire and carefully pulled it through. I overlapped it by about 3-4 inches (didn't want them pulling apart) and tried to wrap the tape tight so it would fit through the grommets. Turned out that the wire didn't slip at all when pulling through. Once inside the empennage I was able to reach everything. I ran this shielded 20ga 3 wire (power/strobe/sync)and a separate 18ga single wire for the ground. I have Aveo's on the wings and a Wheelen on the tail. They have a different sync pattern (I'm sure not an issue if you have all Wheelen) so it had them all jacked up because every time the wings would blink the tail would try to and vice versa. I just disconnected the tail from the sync and they look great. I actually like it with the tail not synced, I think it provides greater visibility because of the different rates of flashing. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/edmotefzel.php

No flying today, but getting closer to wrapping up the annual. A couple evenings at the hangar, a 14 hour day there yesterday, and about 8 hours today. Not all of it is annual related but quite a bit of "while it's all apart..." AP/IA was there for a good part of yesterday and I'll be meeting him Tuesday to swing the gear and check the pre-loads. Biggest addition was finishing up the lights today. Ran new wires from the wingtips and the tail. Installed the new Aveo Galactica's that I won at the Mooney Summit Silent Auction (Thank you Mooney Summit!) and a Wheelen Orion on the tail. I did have them all synced, but the Wheelen flashes at a different rate then the Aveo's so they just were all wonky. However with the wings synced and the tail on its own I think it will have added visibility and I won't have a distraction of the wings not being together. Still up to do before buttoning it all back up is installing the electric step from Rob (@takair) and getting rid of the vacuum step in preparation for yanking the whole vacuum system when the AV-30 is certified.

That could be, I had a small leak from it about six months ago and had my mechanic change it out. Had him replace it with this one. Has a cap that seals it off in addition to the actual valve. Only catch is to not lose the adapter to drain it with but that just stays in my small tool box that I keep in the plane. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/saf_airF62.php

Very small, here's it next to a dime for comparison.

I have heard of that happening with that plastic ring. I always make sure it's not still on the bottle before I pour the oil in.

O360 A1D Pulled the oil screen during annual today and found this small ring in it. Very light metal with a small break/gap in the ring. Sent the pick to my AP/IA who sent it to his engine shop and they said this engine doesn't have that part in it. Possible it's been just floating in the pan since overhaul 1700 hours ago? I don't pull the screen in oil changes but this is the third time during annual and first time I've found anything.

Tom, very cool video, would love to have seen the take off. Watching the video with you starting up in the dark and just hearing the sound, if I didn't know what your plane looks like I would have thought it was a much bigger plane. Still, even knowing what your plane looks like, just listening to it and then seeing the lights come on my thought was "that's a ton of engine for that airframe." That thought was followed immediately by "That's awesome!" I seem to recall years (decades) ago joking about the A-7 and the big intake on it, that they took the biggest engine they could find and built a small plane around it. That also crossed my mind watching the video. Truly an amazing plane you have built.

I haven't tried that. The most consistent has been "seven eight (pause) eight seven eight" but sometimes it is just a struggle.

ATC has trouble with mine all the time, 78878. Too many 7's and 8's. Prior to having ADSB out there were a couple of times where after the 3rd or 4th try to get it right with them including pausing "78...878" and saying "seven double eight seven eight" that I have given up and just taken the squawk code and moved on without further trying to correct the tail number.

All good, took a look at the logbook last night, both 91.413 and 91.411 performed.

They also finally updated the app so that you could direct donations from purchases made in the app. Previously you had to put it in your cart if shopping on your phone, and then open a browser on your phone and go to the smile.amazon page to complete the purchase. In the app click the three bars at the top left and then scroll down to "Settings." Under settings tap on "AmazonSmile" and set "Mooney Summit Inc" as your charity. All purchases through the app will now contribute to the Mooney Summit.

Thanks, when flying the pattern, whether it is a regular pattern or entering on a base leg it's never been a concern for me. It's the long straight in which I have been trying to dial in some things. Based at KFUL for the past year a long straight in is fairly normal coming from the east. The airspace stretches out about 7 miles to the east of the airport and the typical spot to call up tower is near the water treatment plant which is about 9 miles to the east and almost always results in a "Make straight in runway 24" response from tower.

When you are asked to "Keep your speed up," what speed do you fly and until how far out. Let's assume you are on a straight in approach. On a straight in, by five miles I like to have my gear out (120 mph) and be slowing down even more. There have been a couple of occasions where I have kept the gear tucked up until about 2-3 miles but I find that then I end up coming in high from trying to slow down to gear speed and my landings while passable are less than stellar. So, what is your SOP when told to "Keep your speed up?"

Thanks, I'm trying to just go off memory and assuming it was just the 91.413 because I had told him it was a VFR bird. He did know that it was a fresh install of a 335 because he went through all the setups on the transponder with me to make sure they were all correct. He's done quite a few of these with everyone that is getting ADS-B compliant. I'll have to go back and look at the logbook entry he gave me to see exactly what it says.

Yes, local guy who's whole business is just travelling around doing those checks. The plane is not IFR so only had 91.413 done.

I suppose we won't know, just like we don't know why you chose "her" instead of "he." Back on topic, I agree there shouldn't be an "I'm first" mentality in the air. I am reminded of the conversation I had with Alan when he was out this way asking what is wrong with the driver's on the freeways here in CA. I'm constantly amazed by the number of times someone feels the need to squeeze in before me just to get off at the exit when there is 20 car lengths of empty road behind me. I think sometimes that carries through into operations in the air. I appreciate when ATC tries to work me in. A few times back flying into Mesa Gateway (KIWA) we were told to enter a left base for 30L which then changed to asking us to make straight for the numbers. He was trying to get us on the ground before an Airbus that was coming in. We went straight for the numbers and didn't straighten out to runway heading until at the displaced threshold and we were easily out of the way for the Airbus. As we taxied into the FBO he was exiting the runway. My biggest takeaway from this whole discussion is a reminder that when at a towered field the tower can ask me to go around anytime. I think I have gotten complacent thinking that while yes, I may need to go around, it would be something I decided to do, not something the tower may tell me to do. The only time someone else has told me to go around was when I was doing my CFI did during my PPL training, the DPE on my checkride, and a CFI when having a flight review.

Ok, now you're taking the fun out of my feeble attempt at a joke. And out of curiosity, do only women practice touch and go's, or if you practice them that makes you a woman? (asking for a friend)

Hold on.... This is sounding an awful lot like a touch and go, which I have heard rumors on MS that it is either 'no big deal' or 'dangerous and leads to accidents'.

My wife has wanted a new refrigerator for the last couple of years. Every time it looks like we'll buy one I spend the money on the plane... She refers to different things that have been done on the plane by what they took the place of, "that's the bathroom remodel, that's the refrigerator, etc..." My answer is "You can't fly the fridge to see the grandchildren."