0TreeLemur

Here's what that Mooney posted by @Culver LFA looks like without the cover. I saved it in a folder I keep of nice Mooney paint jobs. I think it is fantastic. I think the nose art says "Gripes Al Mooney".

Our C is the only Mooney at KTCL. Its been that way for at least 4 years. The controllers all know where we used to park under a shade port, and where we now park in a hangar.

This is my fave. First off, the pilot who was chosen to land on the moon first couldn't hardly control it. When the base ace crashes it, it must be just awfully hard to do. Plus, it just looks silly. Today with mems and low-power cpu's/control systems, this would be easy.

I'll take spectacular ways to kill pilots for $500 Alex.

I too work with a lot of young people. The rise of computers as the leading edge of technology is very exciting, and I suggest this has contributed mightily to a decline in interest in aviation, which used to be the top tech when many of us where youngsters. The "greyhoundization" (is that a thing?- I think so) of air travel also made it less appealing to most people. End result: youngsters of the current age are not drawn to aviation as a career or as a passionate hobby.

The shoulder belt attach point clamp on my a/c has an integral nut. I didn't install, but this indicates they are available.

That company is good to work with. Like I said their pricing is very competitive.

I had the same problem with scraped knuckles even with the buckle turned to face me. We bought new certified lap and shoulder belts from Aircraft Belts Inc. who have very competitive pricing. They offer a lap belt with the push-button. Plus, because the old ones up front have shoulder harnesses and my back seat belts didn't, we moved the belts with the knuckle scrapers from the front seats to the back seats. This required adding shoulder harness attach points in the back seats, which I consider essential after hearing about the unfortunate fate of back seat Mooney passengers without them during crashes. Haven't scraped a knuckle since.

It's really embarrassing to be that guy. I used to be that guy. Glad it's someone else now...

Sounds like they have a mic jack that isn't properly insulated!

Another banner day at the hangar! As @takair suggested, I moved the TC100 ground point, and my noise problem disappeared. I suspect it was a bad ground connection. I cut off the crimp-on eye, extended the wire and crimped on a new eye. System is so quiet, I couldn't tell it was on without doing a radio check. Wow. Gone are the whine and squeals! Thanks to all for their input. Big shout out to @Baker Avionics @takair, and @PT20J.

Hi Jared, When I looked last year I didn't see one. So I bought the Carenado M20J. It has a similar panel to my C. It's just too darn fast! It does have a full autopilot which I don't but I need one to fly a simulator. -Fred

I looked and the inverter is grounded on a lug right below the pilot-side control column shaft, on a screw that penetrates the steel tubing. There are about three other things grounded there too. Here's a photo of the really nice looking TC100 with the sliced wire. Why they did this blows me away.

Thanks @takair. A couple of years ago I bought a spare TC100 that is relatively new. It was refurbed in 2011. I could swap the one in my plane with it, which I'm pretty sure hasn't been opened up in decades. Sadly, when it arrived someone had cut the shielded cable between the TC and the inverter. That will be a challenge for someone to repair, I suppose. Maybe that's worth looking into. Anybody know what the inverter on the TC100 does? Does it output A/C power? FWIW the noise in my headset when the TC is running is probably about in the 2-5 kHz range. It doesn't change as the TC spins up. The instant I push in on the TC CB the noise appears. The instant I pull the CB, the noise stops.

Rob, doing some reading today I came across an interesting article on the Van's Air Force forum: https://vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?p=972076 This article says that ideally if everything is grounded at one point on the airframe that this minimizes the potential for ground loops. It also helps to minimize current flowing through the airframe and stray EM emissions. This is counter to: Is this because the source of your noise was not a ground loop, but a stray emission from your TC ground wire? Thanks. Noob here on radio noise.

My C has wheel covers, they make it look cooler. Mine are black. Chrome look high-speed. Yes, you gotta take the wheel covers off to check the tire pressure. Three screws.

I have transcribed all the logbook entries from the airframe logbooks into a spreadsheet. Really handy to send that to the shop at annual time. Also interesting to plot TTAF vs. date. Note some gaps when some prior owner did not keep the books up. The steeper part at the end- that's me.

Agreed! I really appreciate benefiting from their experience!

Good day at the hangar today. I re-assembled that mic jack correctly as per the figure provided by @Baker Avionics, using a temporary plastic washer, and the squeal is gone when I transmit! Hurray! THANKS GREG! There is a whine coming through the system still that has been there for a long time. Based on what takair said, I pulled the T&B CB and viola- the whine went away. TCL ground confirmed loud-n-clear. So it seems that my TC100 is making some noise, and something in the radio/intercom system is picking it up. There is an A&P a Mooney hour away with an apprentice with skills in avionics. I'll arrange to take it over to him. -Fred

I'm interested and hope that so someone will tell me more about this. Since upgrading to the Top Prop, which is much quieter on my a/c the the old prop in cruise, it is now possible to have a conversation with the headphones off. But, the wind noise around the door seems to remain the largest part of the high-frequency noise budget. Any pireps on how much wind noise is reduced? I gather after latching the door, you pump it up and it differentially expands to seal the gap. It will provide noise reduction- how much? It will also stop drafts too I suppose. Before opening the door do you have to deflate it, or will the door open with it inflated? Can it create a safety hazard if you were to fail to deflate it before an off-field landing? BTW thanks to @carusoam for including the link.

Your gps antenna is installed at a location directly above the overhead air plenum, which means that there is a cable penetration. Most installers I've seen don't do that. Rather they install it between the air plenum and the door someplace. That plastic overhead panel is easy to remove. I'd take it out and have a look. Maybe experiment with one person outside with a hose, and another inside watching. It could be that the plenum has a leak where the cable penetration is, and that is wicking water down onto the overhead panel near the speaker. Good luck.

I did not know that ground proximity could have that affect. Good to know, and I look forward to getting back to my non-squeal configuration.

See the thread I linked above. Photos there.

Because of all the military traffic using the field, Marietta, Florida, offers a free hot lunch to all, at least they did pre-Covid. Don't know who/why/how they do it, but it was tasty both times I had it while getting a prop ECI done at the local prop shop.

I have a generator. It weighs a ton but is very quiet. @Baker Avionics nailed it I think. I'll confirm this weekend.