ragedracer1977

Awesome! I'll get in touch with you here in a few weeks. I'm headed to Hawaii for my wife and I's 15th anniversary on Tuesday, so I'll be out for a little while.

I've heard that from the KSDL tower many times between them and other pilots. I always wondered what it was. Looking on the chart, that makes a lot of sense. To be honest, my CFI was pretty 'scared' of violating Class B. Now, I'm sure he would fly that route, but he would discourage it when I was a student. I'll definitely have to try it sometime. Looks pretty quick.

On the other side, am I on the right track, performance wise? Will a normally aspirated M20 perform well at higher DA?

Sounds like chuck is the guy to reach out to!

Thanks! I have thought about the kiddos. The oldest is a female. And a small one at that. If she's ever over 120 or 130, I'd be surprised. That said, she'll likely be out of the house in less than 4 years. She's a very smart kid. She'll be off to college (another reason to get a XC plane so we can go visit!!) so that just leaves the youngest. Should be no problem hauling him around for a long time. I actually have 3 kids, but my oldest enlisted in the Marine Corps yesterday. He doesn't actually leave for boot camp until November, but I'm not buying a Cherokee Six or something just for a few months. I haven't been to Marana yet, but have made several flights to KMZJ (Pinal Airpark). Problem there is I'm paying hourly. The bravo transition eats up a lot of time. Which, I realize helps get my hours, but I can only afford so much every weekend, so KSDL-KFFZ-KPAN-KSDL works out the best for me. Thanks for your offer! I just really want to kick the tires and see if I'm as much in love in person as I am in my mind. It just seems to fit my mission perfectly. I'm not a little guy, which is my only concern. 5'11 and about 230. But getting lower. When I started my PPL training, I was 267 when I got my class 3 medical. The AME I saw (he's also a pilot) sort of kicked me in the ass about it and I took it to heart. I've gained 6 gallons of 100LL since I started.

Hello! I'm a new member (and new PPL) in the Phoenix area. I trained, and currently rent, out of KSDL. Passed my checkride back at the beginning of March. I currently have around 80 hours. Grew up flying in my Grandpa's Ercoupe (based at KPHX! Try and do that today, lol!) and then his Piper Cherokee 140. Spent many many hours just flying around with him. Finally got to a point in my life where I could justify doing this myself. I don't know why (but I'm guessing I'm the right place) but I'm in love with the Mooney. I've never even been close to one, just see them in the pattern or taxiing, but never have found out where they park. I feel like an M20F (or similar) meets my mission and budget. XC flying with my wife and 2 kids (14 and 8) as far as San Antonio, but primarily between the Phoenix area and Show Low, AZ (KSOW). We have a cabin up there that my parents and I own, but we rarely get there because it's a 5 hour drive. KSOW sits at 6415', and in the summer DA can run 9000' or more. A 172 with 4 of us is just not ideal, even under gross. The M20 line seems like it would appropriate for what I'm looking for, long term. I'm currently getting my complex endorsement in a 172RG and then my HP endorsement in a 182. I'm also moving forward with my instrument rating. Currently studying the ground stuff and building my XC hours. Which is a PAIN, since the closest 'far enough' field with somewhere to eat is 49 miles from KSDL. So I have to fly over to KFFZ, full stop taxi back, and then fly to KPAN for breakfast to make sure I get 50 miles+. Basically, I just want to introduce myself (thanks Craig for getting me set up!) and ask if what I'm thinking in my head matches reality. That, and maybe, there's a guy in the Phoenix area with a M20 that might be willing to let me look around a little bit and maybe let me split the cost of a ride around the pattern or something?