BaldEagle

2020 CFII reinstated, or MEI I’m at 1,495 hours, so maybe an ATP next year. My plan is to retire from the day job at 58 (10 years to go) assuming I hit my retirement goals, then semi-retire doing instruction and some right seat 135 and / or 91 ops. One upon a time I did the ATP written and got a class 1 medical - and then quit flying completely for 12 years.

Another option is Adam Valencic (http://www.themooniac.com/). He ferried my J from Tampa to San Diego nearly 2 years ago. He's a CFI and A&P/IA and gave me some dual instruction after getting it here. Real nice guy and a Mooney specialist. Based out of Apopka. Edit: and congratulations on the purchase!

I got a good price on a Garmin InReach Mini over Thanksgiving. The wife likes the ability to text friends / family if we're over the desert and out of cellphone coverage, and then there is the SOS button if we're having a really bad day of course, but the ability to communicate bi-directionally with emergency services was a big plus for me vs a PLB -- but if I did a lot of overwater flying I'd be buying a waterproof PLB also (and a liferaft)...

I’m getting my windshield replaced next week. From what I understand the trim piece needs to be removed carefully and with much patience and it can (should) be reused. Touch up paint required though.

My ticket just came up. Note turnaround is 10-15 days from December 1, and it looks like they've worked through their supply issues. I'm expecting to be grounded for a month when considering shipping, scheduling with local avionics shop, etc. November 13, 2019 MAX Production Schedule for December 2019 You are receiving this email because you are next in the que for December MAX rebuilds and exchange displays. We have communicated this status with your dealer and encourage you to contact them to follow up to ensure coordination of schedules. We cannot express more strongly how much we appreciate your patience in this program as we worked through our supply chain disruption which caused unintended delays. REBUILDS: For those who have NOT previously sent units to Aspen's Albuquerque manufacturing facility, we ask that you wait until December 1 to send in your display unit(s). Going forward we commit to a 10-15 business day turn time for your rebuild once received in our Albuquerque manufacturing facility. IMPORTANT! If we are not in receipt of your unit for rebuild in December we will be moving you to a later month in the que. If December rebuild scheduling does not work for you, please let us know by contacting us at aspen@aspenavionics.com and we willl work with you to help with any scheduling conflicts. EXCHANGE: Display delivery begins in the last week of November. Thank you for being a valued Aspen customer. Sincerely, Aspen Avionics

Annoyingly I have a GTX 335 (“out” only — not my decision, but the previous owners). I think replacing this for the 345 will be on my upgrade list. Apologies for the thread hijack.

I'm still waiting on my call for the MAX upgrade, but I have a tentative date of "December at the earliest" from Aspen. What are you using for ADS-B in for the Aspen? I have traffic from my TAS-600 displaying on my PFD but want to install an MFD and put weather on it. Apparently it's possible to augment traffic from TCAS/TAS with TIS-B, but I've spent so much time research all this it just leaves me even more confused.

I have my '78 J booked in next month for a windshield replacement. I found some good information searching this site but nothing definitive. Sealant: It looks like the sealant described in the service manual (R1403-G-B2 or PRC1321-B-2) is now part number CS3330-B-2 (24 hour cure). However this only seems to be available in red? That doesn't sound right. Can anyone recommend a vendor or sanity-check the part number? Or is a bead of something (not red) applied on top for finishing? Paint: it looks like some touch up work will be necessary. I have a paint code (Tan code A033265 / Paint 577-633) but no manufacturer information. Where are people getting their touch up paint from these days for factory original paint? Any other materials required (other than CR3212-5-2 cherry rivets)? The A&P / IA has done this job before (on Mooneys), but not recently so I offered to do the homework.

I have some upgrades planned for next year and have decided to add a second Aspen display (likely 1000 MAX MFD so I can remove vacuum system). I currently have traffic from TCAS via GNS 430 into my current Aspen PFD, but I'm confused when it comes to weather options. The transponder is a GTX335. What would be most cost-effective? Remove TCAS system and replace GTX335 for GTX345 to get ASDB traffic and weather on Aspens. Or install separate hardware just to get the weather? I'm happy with the current TCAS setup. I'm going to install a Flightstream 210 when I do the GNS 430 WAAS upgrade; I don't know if that complicates things or not. Curious to see what other folks have done.

I have a J with the Lycoming A3B6D and Bendix dual mag. Ghastly thing it is too. My A&P chased a small oil leak down to the top nut being loose, which I understand could have ultimately lead to a catastrophic engine failure. Anyway, the question concerns an owner-assisted annual. My understanding is that it’s perfectly legal for the owner to check mag timing, but an A&P is required to adjust the timing if necessary. I have a dual mag tester from Spruce. However it’s not possible to attach the tester to the P leads as they are completely shielded, and I can’t believe you have to pull these to expose the connectors to check the timing. Run it from the ignition switch? My A&P/IA is unfamiliar with the Bendix dual mag. Was wondering other folks are doing.

Just in case this happens to anyone else, it's fairly simple to resolve. My A&P just loosened the two bolts highlighted and the plate moved about a millimeter relieving enough pressure for the motor to not pop the circuit breaker. Cycled gear a couple of times and tightened the bolts back up.

Thanks Paul and everyone for the valuable feedback. I’ll post the outcome once my A&P has taken a look later this week.

That appears to be the problem. What’s the solution though...? Edit: according to the service manual: “Gear may have been extended manually & ball nut is tight against stops; use wrench on ball nut flat to loosen”

I'll get the thing back on jacks and will report back. Looks like this (hopefully) isn't going to be expensive...

Finishing up owner-assisted annual which was going well until today. Airplane is on jacks, did a couple of gear swings, all good. But after playing with the manual extension when I try to retract the gear the Gear Actuator circuit pops. This is what the service manual says: TROUBLE: Gear will not retract & Landing Gear Actuator C/B trips. PROBABLY CAUSE: Manual engage handle in engaged position REMEDY: Disengage Manual System The manual extension lever is latched though. Is there a microswitch there or something? Any ideas how I can troubleshoot this?

I just got into a hangar after a rather long wait and hadn't considered this. I almost put my back out trying to get the thing into the hangar the first time. I was essentially grounded until I landed a good deal on a used Sidewinder from a forum member here. This was a very slight incline as well. I use the standard towbar to pull it out of the hangar and the Sidewinder to push it back in. A hangar neighbor uses the metal tow bar to position the airplane and a Harbor Freight winch to pull the last few feet into the hangar. That's probably the cheapest solution if you can bolt the winch down effectively. Other essential items to add to your list: sofa and kegerator (or mini fridge). Hangars make really good man caves...

Excellent choice. Paul got me instrument current after more than a decade of not flying -- he has the patience of a saint. You'll enjoy your transition training, I promise!

I have the original factory gauges (cluster). I'm going to swing by the hangar after work to try the above described by @Browncbr1 to see if I can rule out an issue with the engine driven pump. The electric pump sounds strong when priming. I have a feeling that it may be a gauge issue because the needle on the oil pressure gauge (same cluster) sometimes bounces off max with the engine not running (bad ground).

Came back from a cross country this morning: fuel pressure was fine (at the white reference mark near the top of the green arc on the gauge), stopped for lunch, and the rest of the trip the fuel pressure was at 14 psi at the bottom of the green arc. Turning on aux boost pump did not increase the pressure. If my mechanical fuel pump is failing, surely the boost pump would increase the pressure? Clogged fuel screen? Wondering how I can troubleshoot this...

First time in Munich, you have to do the Hofbrau Haus. I went a couple of years ago after a 20-year gap and sat at the same table and nothing had changed. Yes, it’s where all the tourists go, but it’s still worth a visit imo. Bavaria is very pretty and worth renting a car for a day just to see the countryside. If I still lived in the UK, and had a Mooney, Munich would be a regular destination.

Harbor Freight has a 1 ton engine hoist for $189, which is less than the generic tail weight from Spruce. No aviation tax from Harbor Freight... I think I’ll go this route. Cheapest jacks seem to start at $309 each from Alpha Aviation. Not tempted to fabricate my own as I’ll likely just end up killing myself (and / or the plane).

Annual due in a few weeks. IA doesn't have the tools to do gear retract test so it's time to go shopping. Can anyone recommend Jacks and Tail weight? I did some cursory research and I know that I should be using an engine hoist rather than hanging stuff from the tail tie down, but engine hoists are not cheap. Looks like Aircraft Spruce has a generic tail weight, but I'm not sure about Jacks. Anyone using these jacks on a J? https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/jackj106.php Anything else I need? (Cap?) I was looking at getting this tail weight: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/12-01728.php

Yep, no brainer over here as I should get it the same month my warranty renewal is due for my non-Max unit. $3k, but I don’t need to write a check for 800 bucks in addition to the $2k savings. I’m not surprised they tripped sales expectations.

Closing this thread: I picked up a used Sidewinder from a fellow Mooneyspace susbcriber.

A hangar finally opened up (yay), but pushing the Mooney uphill into it is a barrel of laughs. Robotow, Sidewinder and PowerTow all get good reviews here — anyone in the San Diego area looking to get rid of one for a reasonable price before I hit the credit card for a shiny new one?