Glen Davis

Derek, I’m in NJ and looking for the same panel in my J. Would you share your quote with me? I’m going to get a quote from a MSC in Maine and will share that with you. Glen.

Curt, Thank you. What a fantastic panel. I did see it once before via our mutual buddy. Why did you go with the JPI over the Garmin Engine Monitor? My guess is having the engine monitor separate, just in case your G3X failed. If I went for whole shooting match, what should I expect to spend. After seeing yours....... Glen

I’ll elaborate on the animal stuff later. But regarding my panel upgrade, for 3 years I have been a pilot for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. My aircraft is a “facility” for them. As such, under orders, I fly missions for the Coast Guard in my aircraft. I always have another CG pilot with me and often an observer. Many are older than I am. The Dept of Homeland Security compensates me approximately $100/hour while I’m on a mission, plus expenses. We are in communication with the Coast Guard ground facility every 15 minutes. Our typical missions are looking for vessels in distress, environmental hazards including oil spills, wildlife in distress and search and rescue. The Coast Guard has trained me including sending me to Oklahoma City for training in the high altitude chamber as well as underwater evacuation. I had to pass these programs to be a CG pilot. I get retested every year. Even at the advanced age of 64 they still let me fly! I guess no one has told them at 64 I have one foot in the grave. Glen

“Gets a year out of it” ……. I honestly believe, being painfully honest, I will get 10 years out of it. My father got his private at age 70. He bought a Grumman Tiger during his training and enjoyed it flying solo for 5 more years and dual, with me, for another 5 years.

Great advice. I’ll do it.

I like that one! When I’m gone my wife gets 95 percent of our net worth. If she’s gone it all goes to my favorite animal charities. No kids... I have enough that I’ll never run out. Flying makes me happy. Owning a beautiful well equipped aircraft makes me happy. Tinkering in my new 45 x 60 hangar makes me happy. I just put a 20 AMU bathroom in my new hangar and using the bidet toilet makes me happy (and clean!). I’ve got 100 countries stamps in my passport. Going on vacation doesn’t make me happy. Glen

I’m upgrading the AP.

What is it you like about the evolution over the Garmin?

I have a KFC 150 AP and I’m in Maine.

I need some help with panel updating ideas. This is what you need to know to answer my request accurately. 1. I'm 64 years old 2. I've been a pilot for 45 years 3. I've owned many aircraft 4. I bought this Mooney about 6 months ago 5. It has 1100 hours SMOH and 4000 TT 6. I have a commercial, Instrument and CFII (I don't instruct in this Mooney) 7. I file IFR always but never in really bad/low weather. 8. I will keep this aircraft until my flying days are over (hopefully 15 more years if all goes well) 9. It's hangared 10. My wife said "do whatever you want". 11. I feel comfortable spending 50K on the panel, not more. 12. I live in the North East 13. The Garmin 530 is WAAS and was recertified at the factory last year. 14. My time behind glass is very limited but I am not afraid to learn. Now the question: What should I do to the panel? See the picture attached of the current panel. Also, what do you think I will realize when I sell the items coming out of the old panel. Everything works except the ADF.

Some great advice. Thanks all. Dropping the gear before I start the descent is a great idea and then increasing to Vle would probably work perfectly. Also, asking the controllers for a vector because I am unable to descend due to turbulence is another great idea. But flying my Mooney in the yellow arch while in turbulence is not for me, as “stout” as it is. I feel that’s tempting fate. Call me a coward!

Well, you’re right. I was between 23 and 24 with ram air open

So here’s the situation. I am at 8000 feet today at 75% power in my M20J. I have a 30 knot headwind so I’m running it hard for best speed. I’m at 2600 rpm and 24 inches. My cylinder head temperatures started creeping up close to the 400 mark. I tried running lean of peak, 8.7 GPH and the CHT’s stayed high. I tried running rich of peak at 13.5 GPH and my CHT’s still stayed high. The only way I could bring my cylinder head temperatures down would be to open the cowl flaps to their first notch. That brought the CHT’s down to 350, But I also lost about five or six knots. The outside temperature today was hot. On the ground it was 90+. Do others have this problem? My baffling looks good to me but I am not a mechanic. Any thoughts?

Today I flew from Central Maine to an airport in the New York City area. I was IFR on top of a solid cloud deck at 6000 feet. I asked for lower as I was getting close to my destinations airport, in the class bravo, and I was planning my approach but ATC could not give me lower when asked. Finally, about 15 miles prior to the initial approach fix they gave me 3000. I lowered the nose to give a 500 ft./min. descent and as expected the indicated airspeed increased to approximately 165 knots. I was in the soup and getting bounced around and wanted to slow down closer to maneuvering speed. I reduced the manifold pressure 13 inches and brought the prop back to 2200. Still I was too fast for the rough ride I was experiencing. Other than leveling off and letting the indicated airspeed bleed off to gear extension speed, then lower the gear, what else can one do to slow down when in turbulence and on a dissent. I don’t have those funny things that pop out of the wings to help. Glen

Larry, thank you for your response. You used the work "easily" regarding designing and printing the seats. What might be easy for you is more like brain surgery for me! And I don't have a 3D printer. But I know your heart was in the right place I have a lead on a company that might have them available. I'll keep you'll posted. Glen

OH MY!!! What a lifesaver. I've been having anxiety over how to fix this problem. Thank you for your help. I have the adapters ordered. Mooney will produce the seat for me, although I have to wait three weeks. My sincere thanks to you and all the others who have shared our knowledge and experience. BTW: I have a home in "The Creek", too. Glen

Thanks for your comments. I will have the shop try to straighten out the door as much as possible. Who is Allen??? Glen

Thank you!!

In annual now. My doors are not closing completely. See photos. Should this be adjusted or is it acceptable? M20J.

My first annual. This is inside my nose gear well. Something screws into it. Mechanic doesn’t know what it is.

My fresh air vents in the headliner are not working. No air coming through. When we removed the headliner we found the individual vents in various states of disrepair. It appears they were repaired several times in the past and are pretty rough now. I have attached pictures for your viewing pleasure. It appears there are three parts: 1. the plenum (black plastic part) 2. Eyeball vent (Wemac I believe) 3. Flange that connects the eyeball to the plenum. The flanges were originally attached to the headliner but were cut out when the headliner was covered in fabric. Two of the plenum are cracked in two pieces, The flanges are non-existent or in very questionable condition. The eyeballs are all fine. My mechanic is struggling with how with how to fix this system. Specifically, a way to attach the plenum to the headliner with the eyeball in the middle. I checked with Plane Plastics and they only supply the headliner, not the above parts. I've been calling Mooney all day but only get a busy signal. Does anyone have a creative way to make this work? I'm hoping some part from a 1978 Chevy Nova with make this all better! Thanks, Glen

I'm thinking ventilation screens were added when radios were more prone to overheating issues. I believe newer equipment is less susceptible to overheating. Unless I find out otherwise, the screen will be history!

I'm having Aerocomfort rebuild the glairshield from my 1984 M20J. He contacted me on Friday stating my glairshield has a "ventilation screen" on the top about 3 x 5 inches which is "not standard". He wants to know if I want to keep the screen or if he can cover it with the fabric he is using to cover the rest of the glairshield. Does anyone else have this screen and is it necessary? See photo attached. Thanks. Glen Glairshield.HEIC

My new to me Garmin 530 has a user programmable checklist. Does anybody make use of this instead of a printed check list?

Good questions. * My heading bug is built into the HSI, a KI-525a. * After the initial minute or two of rock n roll, it follows the heading bug perfectly for hours. * I do not have an interest in replacing the HSI at this point unless it’s broken. Thank you.