Fly Boomer

I have also observed that some pilots exhibit similar behaviors in their cars on the streets -- they don't seem to obsess about staying centered in a lane.

Simple curve, chicane, whatever -- the objective is to maximize radius.

I knew you would come around.

You already have received good comments above, but I will add my opinion that it is unusual, if not impossible, for every flaw to be found on pre-buy. Especially if it was not done by one of the well-known Mooney experts. I would also opine that it's not super unusual for things to be missed at annual -- particularly the first couple of inspections on a new-to-you airplane by a new-to-you shop. It's not what we hope for, but that's reality. Even if you are not mechanically inclined, you need to constantly poke around your airplane looking for anything that doesn't look right.

Fantastic write-up. Thank you!

@EricJ, you may not know that flight school engines are some of the longest lasting. Apparently, our engines (at least the normally aspirated ones) thrive on daily abuse.

Really?

Talked to a guy at CHD who was swapping an engine on a 172. It was on some kind of leaseback arrangement with a flight school. I asked what kind of problem it had. He said it was perfect, but he just swaps out engines at 3,000 hours regardless.

Wow! I have seen standby alternators, dual batteries, standby vacuum, multiple nav/com/gps radios, and more duplication in larger airplanes, but this is the first standby engine monitor.

Mike says the engine will tell you -- not the tach. Savvy Aviator 04 - Debunking TBO.pdf

Discussion has concentrated on Slick vs Bendix but, as @GeeBee pointed out, I would find a way to factor QAA out of the equation as well.

And your age.

Anything you want?

I worked in an industry that relied, to some extent, on ratings in "independent" publications. We could usually get the top spot if we "donated" enough. One year, we provided a car for the conference organizers to give away. Got the top pick.

Were you credited as author? I see articles in some pubs that were written by Mike Busch, but he is not credited. Instead, the byline is "staff".