air cooled dad

I’ve been on a five year waiting list for a hangar in Newnan for five years. I’ve moved from #22 to #20. Lol

Had an overhauled alternator installed in my plane during the last annual. Failed during climbout the other day. Pulled the brushes out and found the broken wire as seen in the picture. My mechanic states he has had more issues with overhauled parts over the last few years and encourages owners to just purchase new if they can. Have others here noticed less than desirable results with purchasing overhauled components vs new? The good news is this was an easy fix. Plus we didn’t have to remove the lower cowl and remove the alternator. 1975 F aerotech al-y 8520 60amp

My son and I flew an operation airdrop mission on Sunday. The boots on the ground say within three hours of landing our supplies will be with a family in need. The amount of trees down, homes destroyed and boats on land was quite a sight to see.

Good choice. I used to be based in New York. Flew the maddog shuttle runs for Delta. It would be entertaining to hear all the comments from atc while flying a Mooney there!!! Anything less than a small turboprop plane just gums up lga more than it normally is.

I miss my 993!!! Best car I’ve ever owned. The insurance payout after the crash bought my Mooney. Those air cooled cars sure went up in value!! I got lucky. Bought the car when they were cheap. Still trying to find a way to buy another. Almost pulled the trigger last year on a ‘97 993 targa that was almost an exact match to my plane. Still dreaming...

Grass strips usually take you to fun places!!!

Not sure if my ‘75F is the same as your J. My gear symptoms were EXACTLY like yours. Turns out my doughnuts were old, really old!!!!! Look at the numbers stamped on them to get a date. I replaced all my gear doughnuts and solved my problem. Jason

My Mooney likes to fly to the Gulf Coast. Does that count? Lol. It’s only 1:10 to Destin from my hangar. Jason

Well, since I’m a King I guess I did! Lol Jason King

I opened mine up and sprayed electrical contact cleaner everywhere. Works great now!!

Cruising around 9000’ on the way from Georgia to Michigan. Over the KaIamazoo airport I hit a big bump of turbulence just as the selector was traveling through the off position. I drop my notched pvc pipe used to switch tanks. One potato, two potato three...engine begins to die. Woke my wife up. She was mad. She got even more mad when I was laughing. Oops. ‘75F

Mooney representing at the Udvar-Hazy annex today. Jason

I was happy when the elevation at KORD changed from 666’. Jason

Got all this from a Delta captain I flew with. Info is a few years old. He rented a place on the beach. He and his son went diving every day and brought home fresh caught/speared food to cook up. Sorry for such a long post but I hope it helps. Jason Ambergris Caye, Belize Information From the US, you fly into Belize City International Airport. From there you take a commuter airline flight to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye (Key). There are two commuters that fly the route. Tropic and Mayan Airlines. I prefer Tropic; they fly good turboprop equipment (Cessna Caravans). It's a short 15 minute flight to San Pedro. From the airport in San Pedro some hotels will pick you up with a courtesy vehicle or it's only a $5.00 US taxi ride. Here is some useful information for getting there: Tropic - PM Belize City - BZESan Pedro - SPR Non Rev Deals: TACA – ZED fares + Jump Seat ( must call their dispatch in San Salvador Phone=011-503-3-399461) Res: 800-535-5780. Tropic – Airline Discount. Full fare ticket is $ 107.80trip (20% discount). Best to call and make reservation; tell them you'll pay at the airport in BZE. Be sure toget the record locator number. Res: 800-422-3435. Web: www.tropicair.com Email: reservations@tropicair.com Where to Stay: Decide how much room you need. If its two bedroom or more, you'll probably like the condo route the best. If you just want a hotel room then that will be cheaper. Here's what I recommend (all of these I have stayed in or have looked at personally): Condo's - Banyan Bay Villas: Best place in Belize. Real nice spacious 2 BR/2 Bath, Jacuzzi tub, full kitchen, good cable TV package, nice pool. Good location. Normal Rates are about $190 to $250 per night, but you should be able to get an airline discount. These condo's will easily sleep 6 (2 BR + 2 sleeper sofas. Call them direct at 866-352-1163 or local at 011-501-26- 3739. Web site: www.banyanbay.com.Email: info@banyanbay.com. The Palms: Nice 2BR/2Bath condo's. Great location, right next to Ramon's Village (good restaurant/night life) and close to town. All the basic stuff - pool, AC, full kitchen, laundry. Reasonable prices.Phone: 011-501-26-3322. E.-mail -" palms@btl.net". Web site -www.ambergris.com/palms Belize Yatch Club: Nice, mature resort, with a good location relative to town. One, two and three bedroom condo's available. One bedroom ($165.00 per night) sleeps four and the three bedroom ($300.00 per night) condo should sleep six. Phone - 01 1-501-26-2777. Email - bychotel@ btl.net. Web site - www.bychotel.com.bz. Royal Palm Inn Ltd: One bedroom condos. A little further out of town than most, but they are pretty much self-contained with a nice pool, bar, restaurant and dive shop. About $127.00 to $158.00 per night. Phone - 011-501-26-2148. Email – royalpalm@btl.net. Web site - www.bbelize.com/royalpalm.html. They also have a deal with the RCI timeshare outfit. If you have a timeshare somewhere this may be an option for a swap. Hotels – Victoria House: Best hotel on the island. A little far out of town, but still walkable, the hotel provides free bikes or you can rent golf carts. A real nice place, big rooms (for a third world resort), excellent service and food. Very quiet with the feel of your own private resort. I prefer the rooms over the dining room area. (atfirst I was concerned about the noise of being over the "dining room" area, but it's no factor). Nice ocean breeze with a large balcony area. There are also a couple two and three bedroom villas. These are real nice beach house type units with all the amenities of a condo (kitchen, TV, VCR). Airline discount.Should cost around $ 95-110.00 per night. 800-247-5159; 504-8650717. Ramon's Village: Nice location. Right next to down town. Some night life (bands at the bar on some nights). Not all the rooms are airconditioned so be sure to check. Could get hot if no ocean breeze plus its noisy with the bar hopin and the windows open. Good restaurant with verandah on the beach (good breakfast spot). About the sarne price as Victoria House with an airline discount. Phone: 800-624-4215. Coconuts Caribbean Hotel: Good location (about 10 min beach walk to town). Small room and pop type of place. Clean, AC, beach bar, and reasonable. Listed in the ASU Guide. Rates are around $65 to $95 per night. Usually run an off season (fall months) rate of about $55 per night. Phone - 01 1-501-26-3500. Fax 011-50125-3501.Email - coconuts @btl.net. SunBreeze Beach Hotel:Great location. Just across the street from the airport and right next to town. Good reputation as a good clean place to stay. If all all your looking for is a place to crash this is it. Phone: 1-800-688-0191 (501)-226-2191/2345. E-Mail - sunbreezehotel@sunbreeze.net . Web: http://www.sunbreeze.net/ Normally around $90 to $100 per night but they always run special deals so call for latest rates. SunBreeze Suites: Good location, north end of “downtown”. On beach near good dive shops. Phone: 800-820-1631 Email - sunbreezesuites@blt.net . Web – www.sunbreezesuites.com Local Transportation: Four basic options: 1. Taxi 2. Golf Carts 3. Bicycle 4. Walk Taxi: Cheap, quick, and reliable. Best way to find stuff. Take a taxi there and walk home. Standard fare is 10 BZE ($5 1 JS) one way anywhere. I Golf Cart: About $10-12 per hour. Daily/Weekly rates available. Expensive but good for a heavy grocery store run or a nice dinner outing. Carts Belize: 501-226-4084 Email: info@catsbelize.com Web: www.cartsbelize.com. Bicycle: Some hotels provide them free (Victoria House). Can be rented daily/weekly for reasonable bucks, if not available at the hotel/condo.Good idea if you plan on going to town a lot. Walk: Generally dependent on your location. Most hotels/condos are an easy 1520 min walk to town. Best plan is to walk along the beach (shorter distance and nice ocean breeze) and then cut one block over into town. There is unobstructed public access walking along the beach so the beach route to town is no problem. A good compromise is to taxi one way and walk the other. Where to Eat Food Stores There are a. couple supermarkets in town called the "Rocks". They have a good selection of booze and basic foods, prices OK. If you do the condo route, bring some staples (suitcase full-o-junk food/snacks). Go fishing on one of the first days you are there and then you'll have fresh fish for the week. If you don't fish, go to the fish market and buy it. All else can be bought at the "Rocks". The beverage distributors will deliver beer by the case to your door cheaper than you can buy at the "Rocks". There is also "The Bun Man" Fish Cooperative: There is a "fish coop" in town. Its on the far side of town next to the power plant. Ask directions or take a taxi (easiest way to find things -take a taxi one way then walk home). Fish Markets: There are also a couple of places on the west side of town (hay side) where the smaller fisherman sell off their catch. Much cheaper here (a little less than a buck a pound for fresh snapper!), but you have to do your own cleaning/filleting. Bring a good fillet knife or go to the coop. Restaurants Elvi's Kitchen: Great food, good prices. Somewhat unique with its tuxedo clad waiters, the sand floor, and the five banyan tree growing in the middle of the floor. Fido's: Good place for happy hour & snacks Real Cafe: This is a little restaurant next to Fido's. As you enter Fidos, go left, up the stairs and across the roofl Yeah, I know sounds funky but they have an outstaring Lobster or Conch salad for lunch. Little Italy: Good food and nice location on the beach. "Snapper Mediterranean" is to die for. The Reef:A locals kind of place. No amenities but good cheap food. Walk down Front Street (main drag in town, l block off beach). When you get to "Lopez' Drug Store" turn left, go one block, then right. Two or three buildings down on the left. Tropics Cafe & Bar: Nice beach bar and grill. Good place for a nice quick b'fast, lunch, or dinner. Just south of Banyan Bay Villas on the beach. Look for the large American, English, and Canadian flags. What to Do ??? Dive / Snorkel: Best diving and the second largest barrier reef behind Australia. Great diving inside (shallow) and just Outside the barrier reel. The reef is only 3/4 mile off shore so the boat rides are short. World class diving out on the Atolls. Somewhat deeper (60-130 ft) and a longer boat ride ( 1-2 hours ) but well worth it. Snorkeling is also world class. There is a marine preserve close to town that is great. Also, there is the "Shark-Ray" sandbar. Kind of like stingray city in the Cayman's but with the addition of sand sharks. Good fun. A good half day would be to do Hol Chan Marine Preserve and Shark-Ray Sandbar. Should cost around $ 25.00 per person. There are also day longsnorkel picnic trips where you snorkel, pick up conch, spear some snapper (or the guide will do it) then stop on a deserted beach and have a cookout. All you bring is the beer. Misc. Water Sports: Reef and Flats fishing, Deep Sea fishing, Night fishing. Sightseeing trips. Wave runners and Jet skis.Parasailing. Bird Watching. Manatee watching. These guys are the guides I use when I'm there: Amigos del Mar Dive Shop: On beach near Fido’s. Full service shop with in-shore and off-shore atoll trips. Two nice boats. Good Blue Hole trip. Good service with friendly divemasters. 501-226-2706. Email: info@amigosdivebelize.com. Web: www.amigosdivebelize.com. Ecologic Divers: On Beach, right next to Amigos Dive shop. Full service shop with single or two tank in-shore dives. Also has day tripsto atolls and Blue Hole. Good friendly service. 501-226-4118. Email: ecologicdivers@gmail.com Web: http://www.eocologicdivers.com Other Dive shops: http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/dive.html Other Stuff: Language: English Money:No need to change any. US and Belize Dollar used interchangeably. Rate is 2 Belize Dollars to one US. Most guides you book on your own, deal in cash. If you book through the hotel/condo or through one of the dive/travel shops in town you can either charge it to you room or all major credit cards accepted. Passports:Need one, no visa required. Ambergris Caye: Largest of the offshore keys. The only one with scheduled hourly air service. Most populated and largest tourist business. Only about 2000 indigenous folks live there full time. All streets are sand/dirt. Only a handful of motor vehicles. Most everyone uses bicycles or golf carts. Mostly, only the southern end of the island is inhabited, around the town of San Pedro, Caye Caulker: The only other large key with a tourist business. Much more rustic. Little to no AC in the hotels/restaurants. Periodic air service; most people get there by boat. People: Mayan Indian descent (not Black or Mexican). Mostly Catholic/Protestant religious people. Extremely nice; they like Americans and Tourists Without being religiousI patronizing. Other than Water: I don't have much experience with this stuff 'cause I'm booked on the beach/diving stuff but there are some good trips back in country for jungle safaris/hiking, river cave tubing, caving, and river trips to the Mayan Ruins. All this can lie hooked at any hotel. Also, there are day trips down to Caye Caulker. It's a smaller island just south of Ambergris Caye. Somewhat more "rustic" than Ambergris. Its a good half days entertainment to go down and have lunch, walk around town and then return. Several of the guides will do the trip or your hotel can hook the trip. Night Life: Not too much on the keys. A couple bars get hopin, once in a while. Most people make their own entertainment. After being out in the sun and suds all day; happy hour boat drinks and a belly full of good food takes its toll, so most folks crash early.

Front of the car was moved over 2 inches. Wrinkled all the way to the firewall as well. I didn’t want to keep a crooked cab. Georgia is a fair market value state. Insurance payout was at the top of this air cooled bubble. Can’t wait to get another though. Almost bought a beautiful blue Targa this summer. Too busy at the time. I love seeing all the cars hanging out in the hangars with our Mooney’s!! Old Vets. Big American muscle. German gems. Love this thread!!

My beautiful ‘96 993 cab got whacked by an SUV. The other drivers insurance bought me a Mooney. If any of you are selling a 993 Targa, I’m looking. Jason

Flew our Mooney up to the Rome Georgia airshow today. She sure got a lot of attention as a static display!! Blue Angels took OUR picture Lol. Only one other Mooney there, a beautiful E. I had a ton of work done this annual. She runs so much smoother now. A real pleasure to fly. New cylinder, GAMI’s, new gear pucks, new 40/1 gears. Only thing left on this bird will eventually be a tank reseal. Jason

Pirep on the climb out to Atlanta... Bases at 5000'. Light chop below. Smooth above the bases. Popcorn clouds scattered enough to find a smooth decent. Winds are from 240/5 surface through 13000'. Above 13000' the winds shift to 090/15 gradually increasing to 20kts by 20000'. Chatting with the ground controller, they are looking forward to seeing all the Mooney's! For those new to this airport, it's a black hole at night!!!!

This weeks layovers included VPS and ECP. Weather is excellent down here. Ocean is warm. Waves are almost nonexistent. Landed the mighty Maddog late last night and already saw a few Mooneys parked at the FBO. Mine should finally be done with her month long annual on Sunday. Too late to enjoy this years festivities. New cylinder, new lndg gear 40/1 gears, gear motor redone, new shock discs, Gami injectors, headrests and a few other items. Enjoy some beautiful flying and beach time!!

I'd buy a PBY Catalina. Turn her into a flying Winnebago.

Did you see my Mooney in the hangar at LaGrange?? My girl is in for an annual. Griffin is good. Sam over at Henry County is good too. http://www.onthebeamaviation.com/. Occasionally he's at LaGrange working on the local planes.

Glad your AOG worked out well. I had my first a couple weeks ago. Locked up brake as I taxied off the runaway. Blown tire on Mackinaw Island. No maintenance on the field. Flew jacks, a tire, tube and a mechanic in. Enjoyed lunch and a walk around town eating fudge and ice cream. Left at my scheduled time. Plane is in the hangar for her annual so I'll find out why the brake locked up at a relatively low speed. Loved the island. Can't wait to go back. I'll stay for a few days next time. Lots of helpful fbo's within a short flight at reasonable prices. Biggest thing I learned was bad cell reception can really hamper an AOG!!!!!! Jason

Thanks! Appreciate all the ideas. Mooney selfies will be posted soon. lol.

Ok. Just splurged for a GoPro Hero 5. Bought it for our upcoming trip to Hawaii. Snorkeling and other adventures. Now I'm wondering about mounting it on the Mooney. Suction cups seem kinda scary. Removing the tie down ring seems good. What are you all doing to keep $400 from flying off the aircraft. I'm sure the video of it falling would be cool if it was ever recovered!!! I've searched through a few threads but haven't found the "hey do this dummy!" thread yet. Thank for any ideas and suggestions. Jason