mizer2167

My only significant experience is in PA28's and C172s. I have an insignificant amount of time in a Bonanza. I don't see a lot of difference between the handling of the PA28's and C172s I've flown. Given your description of the Mooney's controls @Andrei Caldararu I'm curious, would you describe the Mooney as being fun to fly? My primary mission is boring holes in the sky, but with the ability to carry 3+overnight bags 400 nm on rare occasions.

Needs an overhaul soon, as I think TBO is 1500 on that engine. Overhauls are spendy, moreso than the Lycoming. My understanding is E-185-8 parts and knowledge are getting sort of hard to come by in general. Beech electric prop parts are hard to come by also from my research. Then you have the ruddervators. Hope there's a replacement available some time in the future, if not, you really need to make them last. E's don't have some of these issues. Parts are more common; 1400 on the Lycoming isn't as close to TBO and parts are readily available for the IO-360. So, longevity is the consideration; part of why I think you see as much difference as you do. So much fun to fly those early '35 models though. I only have a few hours in them but they were great hours.

I'm pretty set on a short body. I would like the extra space, but typically fly alone or 2-up so would prefer to save the $10K. Everything's a trade-off at my price point. Paint, interior, engine, engine hours, etc., hence a C or E being my focus.

Yes, I've used that tool. In my opinion, the guy that wants the equivalent of $80K for that M20C along with $150/mo. and $80/hr. wet will be waiting a while to find partners.

I'm open to learning. Which assumptions do I need to change? My intention is to pursue my IR, yes, which shaped some of the "nice to haves" on that list. The Phoenix plane looks okay, but has an O/H in it's future sometime soon that with doing the prop. O/H at the same time would approach the cost of the plane. For a run-out there are better planes to be had, in my opinion. I'm not keen on doing an overhaul for my first attempt at ownership.

Well, without knowing what I don't know...My shopping wish list, in no particular order: Flies often Maintained by a good shop or a meticulous owner Tanks are good Pucks are good Min 140 kts TAS @ 75% (I've heard that M20's have more individuality w.r.t. TAS than some A/C) 900 - 1000 lbs useful load Low to mid time engine, <~1000 hrs Wing leveler working, or autopilot IFR GPS Good to average paint and interior ADSB (I live under a Class B veil, so wouldn't be able to use until installed) Need an empty weight arm around ~45 or so for 2-up with staggered seats Looking for the "best-in-type" plane I can afford really....unfortunately it will not get me all those things above in an "E" and I would probably drop the GPS first as I'm still VFR. If no ADSB, I'd probably have to do a tail beacon ASAP, but not my preferred solution as I like having "in" hardwired to ships power.

I'm looking for an M20E or C, but not finding much out there for sale. I'm looking to stay at or under $50K. What I have found seems to be priced at a premium as-equipped, or is very nice, but out of my budget. Missed a decent E recently for $45K, but it hadn't flown much in ~11 years, maybe 100 hrs total. I found another E more well equipped that is still for sale, but W&B is very far forward and won't meet my typical mission of full fuel and two large folks in the front seats without ~100 lbs. in the baggage compartment; also has some light hail on the ailerons. Does anyone know how to find leads for aircraft not currently on the typical websites (Controller, TAP, Barnstormers, Wingswap, ASO, Craigslist, Ebay, etc.) to investigate? I am relatively new to flying (first plane too) and not finding much for sale locally on message boards and the like at FBOs. I found a really excellent other brand plane for sale near me by random chance reading a welcome post in a message board, but the owner's not ready to sell for several months to a year. I figured lightning might strike twice posting something here; I'm still interested in the speed and economy advantage vs. a less capable aircraft.

Not much out there on the market right now to look at in C or E's, regardless of price. Then again, it's the middle of winter in most of the country.

I think like many just starting out, I’ve gravitated to what I’ve trained in. Comfort level is there. Hard to know what you’re missing without some first hand experience. I do like that you can do full flap slips and basically follow the glide path of a brick tossed out the window. Not many planes can slip like a Hershey Bar wing Cherokee short of tube and fabric.

I'm planning on making the next fly-in with the FL regional Mooney group when it's nearby (KBOW, KOCF or similar) as long as the weather is VFR.

Congrats on the new bird! I've never had a chance to fly a Mooney. Would be easier to make a decision if I could get a few hours in, but it's not something typically available on a rental line. It's hard to imagine something more stable than a Cherokee though. Most of my time is in PA28's. The insurance quote on the M20 in my situation with low time and little retract time isn't great, but it's still 30% less expensive than the C33 I had my eye on. Lower insurance and potentially maintenance are the two things that to me are an advantage to the PA28's.

I'm in a similar situation, except I don't own an airplane yet. I can get a really well cared for lower total time 1974 Cherokee 140/160 with dual nav coms, DME an MFD with new paint and interior and a 250 hour Zephyr overhaul for $37.5K. It's the nicest overall 140 I think I've ever seen and has quite a few speed mods as well. It's also ADSB compliant. The other plane I'm interested in is an early E model M20, with good, newish paint and interior and a mid-time engine, but with old electronics and no ADSB. The owner wants $50K. I can't decide between the two. I'm a low time pilot and don't really have a mission per se yet. But the attraction of "buying your last airplane first" is there.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Single+Engine+Piston&amp;make=MOONEY&amp;model=M20C+MARK+21&amp;listing_id=2331685&amp;s-type=aircraft Looking for my first plane. I've been looking at Mooney's recently and the short bodies fall into my price range and mission requirements. This one just popped up online above. 1966 M20C with good paint, newer interior and a a GTN 650 and GTX 345 with WAAS for ~$30K. The bad news is it needs a cam. I was thinking with the 1,100 engine hours if I were to buy it, I might as well do a MOH. Given the recent top OH, I assume it's possible also just to IRAN the motor and fly on. So I'm thinking $23K - $25K all-in on the OH, including the accessories, minus the prop, since it was recently done. It may be possible to do the OH a bit less expensively if I can find a good A&P, but being new to this I don't really have any contacts. With that stack, which is more than I really need, as well as good interior and paint, it seems like it's within shooting range of being a decent deal that would fit within my budget and could be flown for a long while before I'd need to spend any more $ on any of the "big three" (avionics, engine, paint). It could use an autopilot for later, but I'm VFR so it's not a concern right now for me. I'd appreciate hearing what others think. Obviously a pre-buy at somewhere like Maxwell is in order, if it's flyable. Need to check.

I'm in Central Florida. I've not flown a Mooney ever, but have gotten a chance to fly a few planes from B, C and P brands. I like the value proposition of M20's (efficiency, ownership costs, acquisition price) - at least from the outside looking in that they seem to offer. My other choice is an Arrow, but I can't find a decent one and they're slow for what they are. I'd probably fall back on PA28's as that's where I have most of my hours - and I fit in them plus have decent left/right visibility. Either that or roll the dice on an early C35 with the E225 Conti. and hope I don't need any Beech parts.

I'm 6'5", but mainly torso. 32" inseam.

Well, I sat in an M20E. Unfortunately, I only have about one hands width of space left above my head, which isn't enough to wear a headset or leave any space for turbulence. Halos would be mandatory. The owner said that the seats might have had the padding increased by the previous owner, but between that and whacking my noggin on some of the plastics, it didn't seem like the best fit. Question: How much padding is in the seats? Is it something that can be shaved down and perhaps stretch the springs on the frame like a Bonanza to gain another 1" of headroom? That might be enough. Leg room was great...and my knees didn't interfere with the yolk like in Pipers.

Appreciate all the responses. I'm 6'5", but with a short, 32" inseam so I sit much taller, like someone 6'7" or 6'8". I want to avoid "tire kicking" if I can't fit. Travel and prebuys aren't inexpensive either. This one's halfway across the country, but there's an MSC nearby that can do the prebuy for me. I was considering buying it sight unseen. Also, in this market, the good ones priced realistically seem to go in days or hours. I think this is a good one.

Can someone tell me the seat to ceiling height on a short body Mooney? Trying to see if I can fit before putting down a deposit and have a long 40.5" sitting height. I haven't had occasion to sit in one yet.

That would be great. I plan to be at KCLW this Friday flying N3003Q out of TBA. I'm pretty much your size, but a lot of my height is in my torso. If I can just shoe-horn myself in and check if I hit my head, it would help. Let me know the next time you plan to fly. I can make most evenings and weekends, except this Saturday morning.

I expect most of my flight time will be solo or with one passenger, so I'm not too concerned about a long vs. a short body. My daughter is still young and I haven't yet been able to get the whole family to come along at one time, yet. Headroom will be the deciding factor I believe.

I'm a low-time pilot looking to either purchase an early Mooney or possibly locate a partnership. Unfortunately, I'm also 6'5", about 34" inseam and have fit issues in some planes and have never been in a Mooney of any kind. All I've flown are PA28's and C172s and fit, although headroom and knee clearance on the yoke(s) is sometimes an issue without articulating seats that lower. Is there anyone near X39, KCLW, KPIE or X05 that might let me do a quick fit check in an early model or even hitch a ride one weekend and get a feel of the controls in cruise flight?