RonM

May I gripe about sky high avgas prices on this forum? Hopefully fuel prices will eventually come down some. Doesn't high avgas prices put a damper on general aviation? With sky-high avgas prices, doesn't it affect the value of our airplanes, as the activity of flying is less desireable? Just wanted to gripe publicly. I know this is a problem this forum cannot fix.

Hi Mr. 67 m20F chump. No, my inner gear door is fine - thank goodness! Regards - RonM

Mooney Friends: I want to thank everyone for commenting on this topic and wish everyone a Happy New Year! Many safe and fun flights in 2022! I ended up making it down to Ft Lauderdale safely. All good now. I want to thank Alan Fox too, for his generous offer to assist. Alan is a great asset to our community and I am very grateful. Best, RonM

I am doing it.

Friends: I was only jokin' with those philosophical comments. I am in a serious bind being at a "foreign" airport, and needing service. Thus I appreciate all the comments. If I was home at Caldwell NJ, my mechanic would take care of everything. Not the situation though. I so appreciate all the intelligent and thoughtful comments. Respectfully - RonM

I won't be losing my spot at Wet Wingologist East. I have owned my airplane a few months over 30 years. My whole life since has been an obsession to get my airplane squared away. It is an elusive goal, and has never actually happened. (Seriously.) In the end I will win. My Mooney will be just fine.

Can the gear door be taken off, banged in to better shape and re-attached? It is just a piece of sheet metal. Right?

How hard is it to get a ferry permit? I have to figure out if I fly back home to NYC, or wait around Charleston.

What about a gear retraction test? Is that an option?

If the gear door gets removed, can I fly it without a gear door?

Mooney Friends: It's me , the Dumb Ass. I have been flying my Mooney Missile down from Caldwell NJ enroute to Ft Lauderdale Florida. At Charleston International I exited the runway on to the taxiway. I'll spare U the excuses like sun in my eyes, lack of a clear taxi centerline. I bumped my gear door in to one of the the little taxi lights on the edge of taxiway. I was hoping it was nothing but when I taxed to the FBO and checked it out I saw the outer gear door was bent /banged up a bit. Inner gear door seems unaffected and I taxi'd just fine. I would like to continue on my mission to drop airplane off in Ft Lauderdale with Wet Wingologist for fuel tank re-seal. I have had a bent outer gear door before and flew for a long time with it. Any comments appreciated. Regards - RonM

Thanks all - again for all the commentary on my Mooney Fuel Tank Leak. I read all comments very carefully. So much appreciated. Have a wonderful holiday season all! Best - RonM

1980Mooney: Thanks for your reply! I have been very happy with my Missile all these years and hope you are too. My left wing leak is pretty bad. There was a steady flow of fuel dripping creating a puddle under the wing and also the belly. I was putting off the repair to when was convenient, but after the puddles occurred it was time for me to do the scrape and re-seal. My mechanic drained my left tanks and put the fuel in the right wing. Yes, before I go to Florida I will top off all tanks and fly on the leaky tank first and then the good tank. I was advised that was okay. Until I leave, though - I plan to just fly on the right tanks which total 46.5 gallons. Just taking local trips and practicing approaches which is what I like to do. I will take 2 to 3 hour legs when I go to Florida, I imagine. Your decision to do a patch repair sounds reasonable to me, and I hope it solves the issue for you. Regards - RonM

Mooney Friends: Thank you all for all the helpful commentary on my Fuel Leak situation. You are all so friendly, knowledgeable, and generous with your time. I can't thank you enough and it is so great to be able to consult Mooneyspace for advice. As it turns out, I will be headed down to Wet Wingologist at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. I know the Minnesota place (Weep No More) is superb, and it would have been fun to fly out to Minnesota. However, I consulted with Edison from Wet Wingologist and he answered all my questions. I now have a plan of action to resolve my leaking fuel tanks once and for all. I wish everyone happy, fun and safe flying this holiday season. Best - RonM

I did upload video to You Tube. However, I did not see how I could share any link. Much Thanks - RonM

I was aware of the leak for a while and planned to have the fuel tank resealed - on my schedule. Now the leak has all of a sudden become urgent, dripping a puddle below the wing and also leaking down to the belly forming another puddle. My right tanks are leak free (inner and outer) total 46.5 gallons. I am hoping to fly from Caldwell NJ to Willmar, MN. (Mooney leak shop) exclusively on the right tank. I plan to fly legs of 2 hr or so to stop and refuel. Will that work?

Wish I could figure out how to attach my video which is on my phone taken yesterday. Being a dummy is such a pain.

Friends: I have a 1991 Mooney MSE / 1997 Missile Conversion. I am the original owner having owned the airplane 30 years, and I am based in Caldwell, N.J. I have a fuel leak in my left fuel tank. ( I have inner and outer tanks by the way for total fuel capacity of 93 gallons.) The leak in the left fuel tank is very bad. My right tank still holds fuel and appears to be leak free. Any suggestions for repair appreciated. Thanks - RonM

Thanks all for the Videos, and the helpful commentary on this topic. So much appreciated! Regards - RonM

Thank U A64Pilot and 1980Mooney! Much appreciated! RonM

Thank U Art! Much appreciated! Best - RonM

Friends: I have the Mooney 1991 MSE / 1997 Missile Conversion. The other day I was in my airplane. I pushed down on the front passenger side arm-rest and the plastic about maybe 4 or 5 inches below the arm-rest cracked. A nice 7 or 8 inch crack in the plastic. (I assume the interior door trim is plastic?) Anyhow - any suggestions for repair? Can it be "plastered up" some-how? What would be the solution to that issue? Sure, it is purely cosmetic, but appearance is important. We all take pride in the appearance of our airplanes, I think. I am the original owner of the airplane, so this fall I will have owned it 30 years. Much thanks for any commentary. RonM

V1VRV2: My mechanic commented today that due to the shape of the cowling of the Ovation, it may be normal for the TKS fluid to drip down the cowling and out the nosewheel door. I have the Missile Conversion which I guess must be a different shape cowling than the Ovation. Perhaps what is normal in my airplane is different than what is normal in your airplane. Just passing along relevant commentary on this issue.

Thanks, carusoam!