Seymour

@PT20J ...so a separate SW update is required for a GI 275 based installation? ...and I can also find that on the Garmin warranty site? Because I also did not get an email (and it's in for annual now).

If trim servos are installed and the autopilot has the optional elevator trim, it is necessary to disable the AP. You note that you have to trim manually - Do you have a separate breaker for the electric trim? When you pull that breaker to trim manually, doesn't the resulting trim failure prevent the autopilot from engaging? My understanding is that the only way to use the autopilot without the installed trim servos is to have the AP reprogrammed as if the optional trim was not installed. Since I have not had the AP reprogrammed, my AP breaker is pulled and labeled "Inoperative". Is this unnecessary?

Welcome! PM sent with a recommendation (but he's probably too far from the north shore).

Nope! I just installed a new electric step. How big of a pumpkin can I fit on that bomb bay? (Let's see, what's the formula again @aviatoreb? Something about pie plane?)

Sage advice. If the toy's real value after inflation depreciates faster than you're paying it off, you're drifting negative. ....but everyone's situation is unique. Agreed! You should NEVER risk losing the home to buy a toy. That would be over leveraging. Paying off my mortgage was a priority, but as long as there are other assets (including and in addition to the toy) that can be sold at reduced prices to cover the monthly nut for the duration of the mortgage if things rapidly go south, the strategy seems solid. Correct! For me, it's a risk management decision, similar to flying. I check the financial Wx before making the journey, but that can't account for every chance of danger along the way. Be prepared and vigilant along the way. Learn from others' mistakes and make good decisions to avoid them (eg. various insurance policies) rather than avoiding the entire opportunity altogether. Higher inflation makes the leverage numbers work even better. Like @Eight8Victor notes, 4% inflation is a very conservative number right now. $10K of I-Bonds are going to yield 9.62% next half.... Even the Fed recently raised their 'target inflation rate' to 3%. Would it make more sense to wait until the market recovers and tops out again before selling assets to purchase the toy? Won't the price of the toy also inflate? Especially if everyone becomes flush with cash (again)? With advancing age, time is more precious than money. Review the age 75+ aircraft insurance thread for validation of that point. Call me a nut. (I'm only half nuts.)

Is taking a 2.25% fixed mortgage against a paid off home to purchase a toy that depreciates at 2% per year during 4% inflationary period nuts? (guilty.)

PM sent. My spare is airworthy, but I paid $250 for it on ebay earlier this year.

AOG (see other thread) and REALLY wishing that I put that old, small, cheap multimeter in the Mooney tool bin instead of tossing it. It would have saved me time, frustration and AMU in my current predicament. ...and I purchased TWO starter solenoids, one for now and one for the future failure (that will never occur if I carry a spare). Other than that, a leatherman multi-tool, a small spool of wire and a small swiss army knife seem adequate for my comfort level of repairs. ...and like @M20F I may start carrying around the new SkyTek starter I just purchased (that turned out NOT to be the issue). The survival pack is a whole different thread, but includes a 406Mhz PLB, first aid kit, power bars, etc, etc

At Anthony's request, Relay circled in orange below. I'll provide a better pic next time I get a lift to the airport... Best view of the Southern Head of the island is from a Mooney: Spectacular scenery while hiking (but my photography doesn't do it justice) ...and more pics here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/izx669adrvahvtk/AAAU5E4NrVlVw_QHwmS0ZnJDa?dl=0

Grand Manan - CCN2 If you have to be stuck on an island, this is the place!

Thanks for the quick response, Clarence! Now let's see if I can find lodging on the island for the mechanic again once the part arrives... on Canada Day.

Might already have an answer from the comments on Aircraft Spruce:

Reviving this thread as I'm AOG on an island in Canada off the coast of Maine that has a 3+ day "Express" delivery time, so I need to get it right (this time). I'll provide more details on my maiden cross-border flight and the ensuing adventures in aircraft repair, but for now I'd simply like to confirm that the correct part is ordered. Luckily, I'm solo so that no passengers need to be someplace soon so I'm putting Buffet's Margaritaville on infinite loop and enjoying the great (flying) weather. 1965 M20E Diagnosed Failure: Starter Solenoid - Part number DR1464 (mounted to the firewall) Specific questions: 1. Is anyone able to confirm that this is the correct replacement part? (Certainly, google thinks so.) https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/sts-12s24s.php I ordered the 12V option from Aircraft Spruce in Brantford Ontario yesterday; it is expected to begin it's long journey on Monday night. 2. The part is mounted directly to the firewall with two screws. Are there nuts on the inside of the firewall that I need to find as I back out the mounting screws or are they tinnerman (or some other type of captured) nuts? 3. For information only, I'm looking for the best old thread on hand-propping an IO-360-AIA. Savvy's AOG service says "Not Recommended". Local aviation folks say "Good luck finding someone to do it". ...and I've heard enough horror stories to avoid it but I'm looking for good reading material while I wait for another part. Reaching out to @M20Doc because he might know the answer without having to research and may have Canadian sources that I'm not familiar with.

In addition to a (very old, probably empty, unknown type, soon to be checked thanks to this thread) fire extinguisher on the floor between the back seats, I have one of these element extinguishers in the outside pocket of my flight bag (next to my handheld radio). Our local pilots club scheduled a "fire extinguisher analysis and demo" with a local firefighter and I donated one of these, but the seminar got quashed due to Covid. Hopefully, we can reschedule it soon and I'll learn more about it.

No, we went with Garmin in the new panel specifically for these features (and others like it). The GFC500 autopilot has a blue button that activates the AP in roll steering mode to immediately bring the plane to wings level and altitude hold (yellow circle in my panel picture). When the GFC500 is paired with a GTN navigator (GTN650xi), a feature named "Smart Glide" (orange circle in the picture) does the following: a. Tunes COM1 on the GTN to 121.5 b. Sets the transponder to 7700 c. Activates the GFC500 AP to setup a descent at the aircraft's best glide speed to the best, nearest airport (if there is one). https://www.garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/aviation/garmin-continues-to-enhance-aviation-safety-with-the-introduction-of-smart-glide/ https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/aviation/five-reasons-your-aircraft-needs-garmin-smart-glide/