patriot3300

First Log Entries.

Please PM me and I will happily discuss, Thanks!

For sure and I will doing most of it from home so the overhead will be much lower than at the airport, I do need a wing and see that BAS always seems to have one which is Great. Hopefully one will surface in the Mid Atlantic area by the time I truly need it:) I attached a pic of the plane on a better day before the fall to help illustrate why I bought it, Best Mods are the 201 style Tips and Windshield also has an updated panel configuration cowl closure, gap seals and decent interior.

Hi Flyer, I agree 100% and It will be so sweet flying this thing cross country at triple the average speed I made towing it home !!! Cheers, Stuart

Hi Nick, I had no desire to cut the wing and tried to find a party willing to do the repairs but none were willing to do so.I had to remove the entire airplane and cutting was the only way to get it all gone. Basically, this airplane has everything I wanted, and the price was right. The experience was positive for me overall. It would have cost me 25k had I paid another party to do this. Now I am fully versed in the process and can hopefully help others needing to transport the same way. Stuart

Hello Mooniacs! After Many frustrating months I recovered the Mooney I bought back in November 2024 and got her home Today Saturday Sept 6th. Having gotten quotes from multiple transport companies I decided to do the job myself. I needed to unbolt the wing for a 3k drive not separate the tailcone as is commonly done these days for short hauls. Starting off from Dinwiddie Virginia Last Thursday at 0400 I made the first overnight in Lincoln NE around 1300 miles. Day 2 was Lincoln to Ontario Oregon and around 1100 miles. Day three was a pleasure with only about 600 miles to cover arriving in Auburn Washington at Noon on Saturday. The inbound trip was only completed this quickly because I had previously airlined out and purchased the trailer for the return ahead of time. In addition all the flight controls and tail were removed the same weekend as the trailer was purchased back in February so that was a good head start. Previously I was heading out to Washington Memorial day weekend and hit a dear in WV so that was a big setback! Virtually all the work was done by myself other than loading the trailer and some tool holding in order to unbolt and unscrew the floor. Of course this took much preplanning and multiple Jacks etc to accomplish but worked out quite well considering very limit help. Departing Tuesday night loaded for bear and constantly mountain climbing It took 3.5 days to get home. This required 5 or 6 gas stops daily along with cargo checks and was not nearly as carefree understandably towing a heavy trailer. Unfortunately I did have to section the wing and My prior invitations to have someone adopt it/repair found no takers.The aircraft fell off jacks prior to me buying it and had a large wound in both wings from that event. I will have the fuselage at my home shop hopefully completing the panel(needs extensive work as It’s basically empty)Along with extensive cleaning/inspection etc. I hope to chronicle the work here and It’s going to be an 18-24 month timeframe most likely In the meantime I need a wing so If anyone has a decent one gathering dust please PM me. Thanks for reading my short summary of what’s already been a 10 month journey. Im looking forward to the Process of returning this excellent airplane to the sky! Cheers, Stuart

Here is the Updated Procedure Indeed “Quite different than the old” As Hank pointed out….

Great points ! I would never suggest anyone “Lift” an aircraft using the propeller or the engine mount either. The tailweight in the pic is similar to the one I use. Its pinned to the tail before jacking and as the nose-wheel leaves the ground takes up the weight and hopefully prevents any potential damage.

Wisdom from Mooney….AMM

Yes,I can verify the correct Jackpoints were in the wing when I evaluated the aircraft. My understanding is the tailweight let go overcoming the jackpoints falling forward. Don’t know the tailweight setup used at the time but doubt it’s one like I own being full of concrete and pinned to the tail! Stuart

From flying Magazine Magic Mooney 201 PIA BERGQVIST Updated Nov 11, 2021 9:32 AM EST LoPresti also fitted the M20J with new sculpted wingtips in 1981, although no speed improvement was seen with this modification. However, Wheat said the square wingtip design of prior M20 models produced turbulence at the outboard 10 to 12 inches of the ailerons. LoPresti’s wingtip design made a “noticeable improvement in the handling” by making the airflow over the ailerons smoother, which reduced the control wheel loads and created a faster roll rate, Wheat said. I Think this sums it up very well ! The tips improve handling and look dynamite doing so Stuart

Here is the 65C for comparison. Obviously the aileron is deflected(Sorry) Hopefully it will allow a reasonable comparison nevertheless. Stuart

I appreciate your Effort in doing so,It’s possible that The Drawing was filed when the 337 was submitted to the FAA. In my case I have the 337 and STC but no Drawing. If you’d like the complete record of Documents submitted to the Feds for your Aircrafts life just fill out the form here and wait a while.(assuming you didn’t already know) https://aircraft.faa.gov/e.gov/ND/ Stuart

Thanks Hank, If you happen to have the installation drawing referenced in the STC I’d love to have a copy Stuart

Here is the STC that I “believe” is for these tips Does anyone have the installation drawing referenced in the STC? Is the fence shown on my pic (65 C model) installed on everyone’s C with these tips? Stuart

I was not able to complete the disassembly over the weekend due to horrible weather and airline delays. I also do not wish to destroy this wing if anyone is willing to repair it. This is the totally of the damage. Please Pm me if you are up to the repair. I will be going back no later than The end of March to complete the disassembly and absolutely will section the wing at that time if none are able to repair. Cheers Stuart

That is correct. The repairs needed are replacement of both wing skins.

Thanks All the options have been thoroughly researched. I am taking her apart to haul inside an enclosed trailer. Fuselage will stay in one piece with tail unbolted. Cheers Stuart

Sorry to say this is the situation I expected....... Supporter 18 Location: Redding CA Base: O85 Posted yesterday at 09:44 AM Hi all, my new to me 1979 J- model (serial 0905) has an STC (SA7609SW) for Texas Composites, Inc wingtips that was installed in 1995. Both of the lenses covering the lights are cracked, one just around the screw holes which will be manageable for some time, the other is cracked right down the middle and needs replacement. I can't find these and believe they are likely a slightly different shape than the LASAR tips or other tips that came from factory on later J models. They do not have recognition lights. Anyone else out there have these wingtips and had success finding lenses? I contacted a 3D printing company about scanning and printing new lenses, but they want $2500 just for the scan. I might as well get new wingtips. I tried tracking the company Texas Composites, Inc but the larger corporation that bought them out doesn't respond to me. Donovan

I’ll be moving to Virginia in a couple years and am hoping to get an idea of some good airports to base my Mooney. I was thinking the Petersburg or Chester area but really I’d just like to be within 2 hours driving of Williamsburg, but not right in Williamsburg (daughter will be going to college there, and she probably won’t want us right there…) so I’m pretty open to any ideas. Hopefully I can get a hangar before I move. Any ideas? For close but not on top of Williamsburg proximity W96 is the Ticket IMHO. My Cherokee Is Based at KPTB which is a decent airport and more/better hangars than W96. KFCI/Chester is busier and more expensive than either one with lots of corporate aviation in the mix. My daughter Graduated From W&M Law about 5 years ago and claimed She would never return to Dinwiddie County (She moved back about 2 years ago) I was born in and have lived in the Richmond area my entire Life and the southside of Richmond for about 18years. Cheers Stuart

Glad to help! Give them a call(I believe this is the same company) And let us all know the STCs current status assuming this is in Fact the STC holder. Stuart Southwest Texas Aviation Inc. Office: 737-206-3887 parts@swta.net

Hi Hank, I “think” The one I sent is the same as yours if you see this. Thanks, Stuart

Hi,I’m afraid this STC is no longer supported but here is the Front Page. Lasar also had an option but not sure if it’s the same STC and also seems to no longer be available. Stuart

Yes, they were installed in 1992 Under the STC. I am sorry but I don’t know the exact scenario on the fall. Only that they were installing tires.

Hello All, I have purchased a project C Model and Plan to either Cut the wing for transport or strip and leave if someone can repair this. Wing is near Seattle WA. There are holes in both wings lower skins next to the jack points and the upper also has a hole on the right wing. The wing has 6500 hours on it and is not perfect but appears to not have any additional damage(the 201 tips will be removed) so that may cause some additional issues. Also there would be Some cost perhaps 500.00 dollars? for the BARE WING Meaning No Flaps/ailerons pushrods landing gear etc. The work will occur this SAT-SUN so I need to know asap and THIS will be an option IF I have time to Strip the wing over the weekend otherwise it will be cut. Please PM Me IF SERIOUS and I will see what I can do. Plane sold for 76k a little over a year ago and was in annual when the fall took place. Thank you, Stuart