lotsofgadgets

$160....Ouch. Mine broke in the same place, the rubber is fine, just the metal adel clamp was broken. I was able to order 5 of them for $8 on eBay. I have 4 left if you need one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Qty-5-Umpco-Adel-Type-3-Metal-Loop-Clamp-MS21333-27/110731447222?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I have a Century 21 in my 82 M20J and it doesn't have a disconnect on the yoke either. The owners manual does state "The autopilot may be disengaged by pressing the momentary ON-OFF rocker switch on the programmer, by pressing the AP DISC switch on the control wheel, if installed, or by interrupting power at the Aircraft Master switch. It looks like the disconnect switches were not part of the factory install when our airplanes came out of Kerville. You should be able to add one if you are willing to run the additional cables thru the yoke and connect them to the head unit and mount a switch in the yoke. Talk you your avionics shop, or A&P.

As you might have heard, the McRib is back at McD's. Unfortunately someone in Minnesota must have upset the folks at Mickey D's Corporate because they are absent from every store in Minnesota, except Worthington, MN. So I just got back from a 1 hr flight from Minneapolis to Worthington in SW Minnesota just to have a McRib. I guess its another version of the $100 hamburger. What crazy excuses have the rest of you come up with to go flying.

With the leaves are falling as fast as the temperature we are getting into cabin heat season again. AOPA has published an interview with fellow MooneySpace user Dan Bass @DanM20C where he recounts how he survived the crash of his M20C after becoming incapacitated by Carbon Monoxide. Now is a great time remind everyone to invest in a CO detector, your life could depend on it. https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/online-learning/real-pilot-stories/dan-bass-accident-photos

I located a secondhand dimmer assembly and swapped it. Everything works now. I like the idea of the MaxDim, but I couldn't justify $280+ per dimmer. Maybe by the time these rheostats go south there will be a more cost effective alternative.

Kitplanes magazine ran an article last year reviewing an inexpensive Harbor Freight charger. To quote the author "But when a $40 product1 from Harbor Freight saves me a $300 battery, it is worth writing about". I have used the same charger on my Concorde and on golf cart/rv batteries with good success https://www.kitplanes.com/aero-lectrics-66/

Now that it is getting dark earlier i find myself using the panel lights more often. On my last flight I went to turn on the panel lights which also dims the Avidyne displays. No Click on the right hand knob , the panel lights don't turn on and the screens stay bright. The glareshield lights work normally. I am assuming the rheostat in the dimmer box broke. Does anyone have a source for replacement Rheostats, or do I have to look for a used dimmer?

My tach cable wore out on a return flight from sun-n-fun last year. the cable rounded off inside the tach drive. I chose to replace the entire tach with a Horizon P-1000 digital tach since it connects to the mags to determine RPM. After seeing how much of a challenge it would be to fish a new drive cable, and the improved accuracy of the digital instrument it was an easy decision. you might also want to consider the EI digital tach, theirs doesn't start recording engine time until you are above 1300 RPM, the Horizon kicks in at 800. No credit on the horizon tach for taxiing and warmup.

I'll be there with the whole family. Dennis - Lotsofgadgets Dory Austin Abby

Does the instrument normally show all 4 bar graphs? If so, I would suspect an issue with the wiring harness since it isn't reading 3 of the probes. This is one of the reasons I went with the Insight G1 and now G2 in my J. The newer G series have a probe diagnostic screen that will tell you if a probe is not connected or has high resistance. That makes it easier to determine if it's a gauge issue or an engine problem. The great thing about Insight is you can upgrade from your 601 to a G1-G4 and use the same harness for CHT/EGT. The higher up you go in the product line adds more features. I am currently flying a G2 which gives me EGT/CHT, Fuel Flow, OAT and bus volt, plus logs the data to the SD card for post flight review. Might be worth considering.

remember it..... I still have my Apple //e and the disks still work! for those who want to relive those glory days check out virtual apple 2 online http://www.virtualapple.org/a2-fs1disk.html

A private airplane destined for the Twin Cities and missing since late Wednesday afternoon was found in a river near its departure airport south of Duluth, aviation authorities said. http://www.startribune.com/search-is-on-for-small-airplane-that-failed-to-arrive-in-crystal-from-moose-lake/509685672/

Rudy Aircraft Instruments will overhaul a TC for $360. or hit up the junk yards for a used serviceable replacement. Wentworth had several in stock when I was there on Wednesday

$55/case at Oshkosh, includes free ride back to your campsite with the purchase of 3 or more. I bought 6 ;-) Wound up selling 2 cases to the neighbors and have enough left to make it to Oshkosh to restock.

you will be spoiled with the Avidyne 550. makes flying IFR seem like cheating. If you haven't done so already, check out the free IFD intro video at avidynetraining.com. Gary Reeves does a nice job explaining the basics of the Avidyne interface. Also download the IFD trainer and IFD1000 app for your ipad. You can start to chair fly the new radio while your shop is busy wiring the real one.

Niko, I'd happily fly with a "Youngster". I PM'd a reply to you as well. I'll check in once we get closer to the 15th in case plans change.

replace the 530 with an Avidyne 550. The Avidyne is a drop in replacement for the 530 which will save you a fortune in install charges and put that money towards the Aspen.

I have to be in LA for business December 13-16. Any chance one of you would be up for a a $100 hamburger run on Saturday 12/15 if I cover the gas (@Chrixxer)? Having never flown in the LA airspace, I'd love to ride along with an experienced local to see it first hand. Thanks in Advance -Dennis

The MooneySpace hive mind solved it. I have a Hobbs, and used to have a KR87 (before the Avidyne upgrade). It could have been connected to either device, my hobbs has always run from the time the master was turned on, so maybe that is default behavior with a missing vane. I never used the ADF, except for AM radio so I don't remember if I ever saw the flight timer increment. either way, looks like more useful load is available, or I will talk to Mark at AlphaSystems AOA and put something more useful in it's place. Thanks for the help team!

I have the Tanis system in my J hooked up to an internet enabled plug. can you say "Alexa, turn on the Tanis"? I use an LTE hotspot for internet at the hangar. The Tanis is a great system. Mine is setup with 4 intake bolt heaters for the cylinder heads, and a oil sump pad heater. This kept the CHT wells free for the Insight engine monitor. Tanis now has an LED status light available so you know you have the cord plugged in securely. I toss a couple blankets over the cowl and prop and makes sure the cowl flaps are closed. The Tanis needs about 2 hrs to warm up a cold soaked engine, or if I plan ahead I will turn it on the night before.

This weekend I took advantage of the last of the warm weather and cleaned the airplane. While I was working on the underside of the wing I noticed one of the inspection panels has a slot in the middle where something is/was installed. Since I don't have an HSI or slaved compass I ruled out a flux gate. Any ideas. It is on the left wing about three feet outboard from the fuselage near the leading edge. Before I get out the screwdriver I figured I would ask the smart people first. Note: the photo of the belly was taken before I cleaned it :-)

0.119 AMU plus miscellaneous paint and supplies

I wound up buying the DIY interior repair kit from Bruce Jaeger and it included 100 #6 1/2 screws with tan painted heads, you can probably get them at the aviation section of home depot and hit the heads with a rattle can. https://www.jaegeraviation.com/Do-It_Yourself_Plastic_Repair_Kit-2b.pdf

Carpet kits are available. Call Mike at SCS Interiors and he can even send you paper patterns to make sure they fit. Or as suggested call Bruce Jaeger. I did both. I bought new floor carpets from SCS, but I replaced the sidewall carpet with 1/8" Kydex sheet. No more cardboard backing and sun faded shag carpeting.

I use Sheltair at Pompano Beach (KPMP). Close to the beach, dive boats, etc. Besides, you might be able to share the pattern with a Goodyear Blimp.