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HXG

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Everything posted by HXG

  1. Just an FYI, my Aspen unit was sent in for the Max upgrade nearly 3 weeks ago and still not received. It should be shipping now, but it sounds like they’re a little slow on the turn around possibly due to heavy volume.
  2. The statistics are useful, but it’s not all doom and gloom. You can learn a lot about your risks by searching accidents involving your airplane make and model (as well as similar airplanes) on the NTSB or Aviation Safety Network websites. I also review accident reports daily. I found some accidents that could happen to me on a bad or unlucky day, but there were also many accidents and incidents that I would consider myself at low risk for experiencing. There will always be risks, but we can help mitigate those risks by learning from prior accidents.
  3. How many times does the plane actually kill someone By Yetti, July 18 in Mooney Safety & Accident Discussion Just Once
  4. I agree. I think the new Cirrus is pushing $900,00. Spending that much on either is outrageous to me living in a 2 professional income household. However, I certainly don’t fault anyone for spending their money as they like. I was talking used turboprop. I consider older Mooneys to generally be better value than older Cirrus planes. But, like many Mooney owners, I worry about the future of Mooney.
  5. This one hits home. This happened shortly before I came on with Mile High Gliding as a glider CFI who also gave glider rides in Boulder several years ago. This was a case of a heads down cirrus pilot who was involved in a midair collision with the tow plane towing a glider. Poor cirrus pilot and his brother were burned alive. Tow pilot killed. Glider pilot with ride passengers landed safely. Cirrus is a great airplane. A great passenger plane with parachute security for non pilots as well. But, I get a little irritated when some of their pilots exaggerate their safety with frequent false claims, particularly to non pilots (I’ve heard it many times). These planes will kill you and do burn chute or not. Cirrus is well represented in incidents and accidents in the NTSB reports as are Mooneys (even excluding the gear ups). Both are great safe airplanes, but I agree that the easier transition, style appeal, passenger comfort, and parachute safety have made this a far more desirable plane to new prospective buyers. I prefer Mooneys as a “pilot’s plane”. At $800,000, I don’t see new Mooneys ever competing with a new Cirrus. That cost is outrageous to me and not that far away from turboprops if you have that kind of money to spend. .
  6. A funny anecdote. A few months back a non aviation guy visiting my local FBO saw my Mooney Bravo landing and commented “What kind of plane is that? That looks like one of them drug smuggling airplanes”.
  7. That concern has always steered me away from looking at pre 2007 G1000 aircraft. Also, I should add that the older crankshaft AD on the Bravo engine should’ve been taken care of long ago. Most, not all, Bravo pilots seem to run their engines ROP rather than LOP even with well tuned GAMI injectors.
  8. My personal experience has been good so far. I’m a Lycoming fan. I bought my Bravo with 1600hrs on the engine now approaching 1900hrs. It’s a thirsty engine design, but it runs great. I also typically cruise at 29/2400, keep the CHTs below 400 on take off and below 380 at other times, keep the TIT below 1625. and keep an eye on the exhaust system.
  9. As a teaching point, Don’s scenario reminds me to always be ready for an unexpected hold as I move from en route flight to arrival and approach. Are their printed published holds along my route on the low ifr route charts or on my planned approach? Am I ready to copy and implement unexpected hold instructions? etc. Holds for weather, radar outages, and other IFR traffic are not as rare as we may think.
  10. I’ve flown into KRAP a few times and have found the controllers helpful. It’s not very busy. I would have asked for clarification on which published hold the controller was referring to, but if the controller came back with an attitude and little interest in clarifying, I would have done what Don did and cancel IFR. A friendly call to the controller on the ground innocently asking for clarification as a non local pilot could help point out his error and possibly spare a future pilot from a similar situation.
  11. Thanks for the PIREP flumag. Awesome setup you have there.
  12. As long as “ Envelope Protection “ can be easily disabled/turned off, I’m all for it. Obviously, I hope I would never put myself in a position to need it. This feature could have saved JFK Jr. and his passengers. I’ve seen enough autopilots (not the newest GFC 500 or DFC90 which I have little experience with) do occasional wonky things so I hope these new protection features perform as advertised (i.e., activation beyond 45degree banks etc.). I was only speaking for me personally. I think envelope protection has the potential to save many lives so I’m not against it. A parachute might also be nice, but, like envelope protection, it’s not currently high on my list of needs. If I do need to do sudden aggressive maneuvering to avoid a midair collision, I’m on fire in an emergency descent or I want to do commercial steep turns, I certainly don’t want any autopilot trimming against me. If it’s easily disabled or activated by a quick button push without ever having to start pulling circuit breakers etc., then I agree that there would be little downside.
  13. I personally would not want envelope protection. I don’t mind a wing leveler safety button feature, but, I don’t ever want an autopilot trying to take control out of my hands without me commanding it. I just dropped my plane off for the Max upgrade. I’ll also provide a PIREP.
  14. I would also be interested in hearing current Surefly PIREPS.
  15. True. A lot more benefit would come beyond fixed timing. But, hopefully a long overdue step in that direction. Maybe wishful thinking.
  16. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/july/22/lycoming-announces-new-electronic-ignition-system
  17. I hope they don’t do an afterburner taxi out.
  18. +1 How you get to your landing when cleared for a visual approach is up to you as long as you do it in a safe manner while complying with regulations/restrictions and any ATC/ tower instructions. Pilots start getting into trouble when they provide their own interpretations of how things should be done rather than deferring to the FAR/AIM or asking ATC when in doubt.
  19. Thanks. I will likely be adding MT prop to my bravo in the next year or 2.
  20. FoxMike, How much weight did the MT prop save you?
  21. That’s true. The wingspan is only a foot longer or so. The Baron is a great plane, which has always been on my short list of desirable planes. The BE55s and BE58s that most appealed to me cost more than my Bravo. The few that I’ve flown have had more maintenance issues/costs than I’ve experienced on my Bravo (knock on wood). It sounds like you have chosen and maintained your Barons well if your costs were less or similar to your Bravos. They climb well. I wish they had higher service ceilings (excluding older TC turbos, Colemill conversions etc.). Twins can be safer in the hands of proficient pilots. I’m happy with my choice though Sorry for the thread drift.
  22. HXG

    Politics

    No discussing politics, religion, or criticism of peoples lifestyle choices. It rarely goes well in person, let alone online.
  23. Having flown many different piston twins, I did consider a Baron (the only twin that interests me), but their acquisition and operating costs are higher for a newer plane that I considered on par with my Bravo, service ceiling is lower, and I couldn’t justify a bigger airplane and bigger hangar when most of my flying is solo.
  24. I love my gas guzzling Bravo. But, I certainly don’t look at 252s/ Encores as lesser airplanes. Their speeds are amazingly similar with significant less fuel burn. I would be proud to own either one. I just happened to find a local FIKI BRAVO for sale that I wanted more than the available 252s so I traded in my Super Decathlon and went for my dream plane. No regrets, but that new engine cost will be brutal.
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