Michael Williams

Northbay based Mooney C, with leaky left wing tank. Prefer NOT fly it to Minnesota or somewhere far away for repair...any California shops do this repair? Also some suggesting installing bladders instead, some even have longer range installs. Any Mooniac with info on either CA shops for leap patches or re-seal...OR fuel bladder replacement? Sure appreciate the local or regional info. Thanks

Any Mooney pilots that have put together a successful system to record in-cockpit video on a smartphone with ATC and Intercom audio mixed into the video stream? I know there are a lot of GoPro flyers doing it that way, but I'd like to use my iPhone to do such and its apparently a bigger problem than it seems. There's even a YouTube video "hack" on building a box to be able to do so. I know one pilot who does this with ease with his Android, but I even struggled today trying to plug an Droid into the system. I have the splitter cord that ads the 3mm male pin plug into the smartphone...but even that setup doesn't do the trick. Any feedback? Many thanks, Michael in Santa Rosa (M20C - N79390)

So far has not been a problem. Most of flying is solo...and when there's a passenger in the co-pilot seat they seem to have "fun" seeing the progress of the flight.

What an amazing Mooney panel you have...congrats. I adore Fore Flight, its really all I've ever used in this field. I have an older C Mooney with space pretty tight. I had a K model 252 for some years back in the 90's and had more elbow room, but the C provides great performance and economy, just snug. I finally found the correct "RAM" mounts to put iPad Mini 4 onto the co-pilot yoke with medium arm and able to angle toward the pilot seat. Its position is perfect for reaching and operating there. Then I use a Ram X mount for my iPhone X fitting perfectly between the handle of the Pilot yoke...and I use that for airport frequencies, taxi diagrams, AFD uses and the such, while keeping the Mini in moving map mode. I'll attach a photo from this weekend. Thanks for your feedback. Michael

Thanks to Bob and 81X for the time to do such an illustrative post. Very helpful. At this point, still kind of experimental, I've mounted the iPad mini 5 onto the co-pilot yoke (with a Ram yoke mount and "long" arm) so I can swivel the iPad towards the pilot better. It's only a half-arm length away and easy to pinch to zoom or expand, or to change screens). My second plan was to mount my iPhone X, regular size, onto the pilot yoke with a similar Ram mount. It set up GREAT, to use the iPhone for more data info items such as frequencies, metars, taxi diagrams, etc) with the iPad mini being used for for moving map displays and other real-time navigation depictions. The only problem is that with my short legs and the need to scoot the pilot seat forward a good deal the iPhone is actually too close to be comfy and cockpit movement bumps into the system. So for now I'm back at the drawing board on the second EFB. The side window is so situation that I haven't been able to figure out a suction mount option but I'm still working on it. Thanks, all...

1965 Mooney C, tight cockpit, but want to mount a new iPad Mini 5...looking for best sturdy mount suggestions and experiences on mounting location you might have to offer? Many thanks,

Thanks all for your feedback. Regarding the Ray Jay Turbonarmalizer. I've heard that turbocharging creates a whole new maintenance issue with the extreme heat generated in the turbocharger. I fly mostly VFR from sea level Santa Rosa with most days in the standard range (seldom temps above 85 ambient)...so I do not NEED turbocharging under most scenarios. However I am surrounded by terrain in three directions and if I NEED to get to higher altitude for terrain or weather it's a great feature have have (in reserve). If I'm understanding the "manually" activated turbonormalizer would only be employed if I chose and could operate the plane "normally aspirated" in most flying circumstances. Am I understanding this correctly? Thanks, again...MO

I owned a Mooney 252 back in the late 80's with turbocharged engine, but not familiar with the aftermarket Ray Jay. Any opinions? Also, this is a Mooney D model converted to a C, what does that mean? Many thanks,

I've got 4,000 total hours, SEL, SES, Multi and IFR...and about 1,000 hours in a Mooney M20k (252) that I owned and flew in the late 80's. But no Mooney hours in past 15 years. I'm currently negotiating to buy a Mooney (either a C or G) and I have a hangar at KSTS, Santa Rosa. Would need a Mooney qualified CFI for Mooney dual when I finalize the purchase. Initially VFR reintroduction to type. If you have any recommendations for Mooney qualified CFI in my area I'd certainly appreciate the tip off. Many thanks...