DustinNwind

Hi All, Plane in discussion; 1965 M20E. Photo of panel below for reference. I have the original wing leveler that works perfect but want to change from a turn slip to a turn coordinator - is that possible while retaining the wing leveler? Main reason is I am looking at getting two G5s and going to update the 6 pack and metal panel, thus to make it cleaner switching over to a turn coordinator. Also want to do 8 3" on the left side to move over the JPI730 What avionics shop do you recommend 3 hour flight from Los Angeles? I've gotten the wildest quotes for a single G5 installations from $3,200 - $5,081! Also, any cost effective recommendations of where to get a new panel cut for my bird? Looking forward to your thoughts.

Beautiful bird, congrats!

I'm actually selling my airplane and have been looking for a new one (M20E to 182, please don't hate me). One of the problems I'm having when looking at new planes - people selling their old avionics like they're new. 430 and 530 will be getting old considering the new beautiful stuff for under $10k, stec 30 and old AP are going to be subpar compared to the new stuff. So I'm having a hard time buying someones old avionics for new avionic prices. My ideal plane I'm looking for is a newer engine, impeccable maintenance history, and a clean slate to put the newest avionics in. One thing that I want to see in the plane is some type of engine monitor when they overhauled the engine.

Beautiful plane! Congrats!

Congrats, welcome and beautiful plane! You have a very impressive aviation background and look forward to your thoughts and post. A lot of us could probably learn a lot from 29,000 hours of flying. I'm looking at a cub as a second plane - how was that in IMC? That was a pretty thorough introduction, but please provide the following to appease the masses : • Middle name • Pre-breakfast weight and post breakfast weight. • 3 references + Uber rating. • Elementary school mascot. • Favorite color besides Mooney red.

Do you have photos of what it looks like after?

Congrats on getting her home. As I said before, Mooney dip will work even at 100 mph, just dip the nose down quickly and put the bar down. Also, think very far ahead when descending into pattern - throttle back far out as they don't lose speed easy. Still get someone that knows the plane local and get a few hours with them, and ENJOY!

Congrats, that's a beautiful bird! Couple of tips not mentioned: 1. The Mooney Dip, and I was told it is called. When retracting the landing gear dip the nose down quickly while pushing the bar down - gravity/ less drag will help the push the gear up. 2. Most likely things will happen much quicker than previously in other planes. Think far ahead on decent they don't like to lose altitude. Lower the gear helps love altitude while slowing down too. Helps a lot. Probably many more, but your transition instructor will tell you everything. Congrats again! Dustin

@Alan Fox DM sent.

Thanks Andy!

I don't even know what that means - If you planned correctly you bug out and go to your alternate. A fool continues as the weather gets worst on approach. Please be mindful of that kind of thought process on tips for IFR, that's how people get killed, and even more so pilots that don't know better and want to be heroes.

You really don't need be and personal minimum should be adhered to ALWAYS, not a lax "sometimes" sort of way. If you're flying in IMC you should already have an alternate.

Thank you so much!

Hi All, it's that time of year again for my princess, annual time. I search everywhere on the website and couldn't find it - does anyone have an ANNUAL CHECKLIST? Thanks in advance. - Dustin

They were installed before I purchased the plane. I’m averaging 155 kts TAS.

Here are a few photos of my M20E with a few mods. Like others have said, the windshield is the best mod, next and just for ascetics; I love the wingtips. I'm also a stickler for new windows all around.

Hi Jesse, thanks for the feedback. I talked to TT earlier in the week and they said the paperwork was submitted. Is that false?

Navi, I don't think I've read anyone bashing Andrew or any personal attacks on anyone at TT. I think a lot of people are just frustrated with unfulfilled promises. I can only speak for myself - I'm frustrated that I've been promised a product over and over and it keeps getting pushed back. I bought a plane,which is substantial amount of money for me, based on those promises . This has obviously been a lesson learned. I should have heeded @gsxrpilot recommendation a long time ago but trusted a companies multiple promises. I still love my mooney but I bought it to fly 4+ hours to my ranch, not to fly and get a hamburger a hour away.

Longest conga line ever.

I talked to TT yesterday and they said now it won't be till the fall/ late summer most likely.

I'm going to reiterate what three pages has said before me and many people that have owned a Mooney much longer than I have, but I'm going to give my opinion based only on my experiences. Yes a Mooney can be a good first plane for these reasons: • To land you have to be within 5kts or you're floating forever. Learn to be on your speeds ALL THE TIME. • To slow down the plane or lose altitude you have to think far ahead. This will become much more important when you get your instrument rating as you'll have to follow specific altitudes by command from ATC rather at your own accord. It's a slippery airplane. It was the most intimidating obstacle to overcome for me. • It will teach you to fear weather. No vintage Mooney should be flown in hard IMC - people do it and survive, but YOU should not do it. A layer sure. • It will teach you how to be complex. I used to retract the flaps on my roll out in a 172 after landing till a friend that has thousands of hours started smacking my hand. What he was teaching me was that there are many of men and women who are smarter than me that have retracted their landing instead of flaps on accident. A Mooney will teach you right away how to fly a bigger plane on a smaller frame. • Everyone will tell you how much they love their Mooneys, thus it will keep you flying more with words of affirmation. Reason Mooney is a bad first airplane: • You get too accustomed too high performance, and it's hard to go back. • Flying slow planes for the first 100 hours teaches you better stick and rudder skills, especially rudder. • It will take longer to get proficient. • You won't be flying long cross countries as often as you think you will. I live in Los Angeles but have a ranch in N. Utah thus bought the most cost effective hotrod to get there in, a VERY FAST M20E. Weather will be a factor. If there is any chance of icing I won't go, if there's major storms I won't go, and if there are high winds I won't go. Thus, I buy a Southwest ticket almost every time I plan on taking my M20E cross country and I have to be somewhere. My budget doesn't call for a true all weather (FIKI - flight into known icing) plane thus some trips are canceled or postponed. I can't reiterate how dangerous ice is. • More complex means more things to go wrong. You will forget things and you will mess up. A plane with more positive dynamic stability is nice at the beginning. Gear up/gear down can be an issue for some while managing so many new things, along with prop etc.. I'm selling a beautiful M20E that I'd love to sell you, but honestly what it sounds like you need is a turbo charged 210, but that also is a whole other conversation on complexity. Even a turbo 182 could probably do you great. This are just personal thoughts and feelings and I'm sure I'm missing a lot of thoughts. There are higher time pilots, and smarter folks here that have chimed in. Best of luck!

USB power: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/647247/pn/010-02201-10# (" easily and economically add USB power capability to their aircraft" - AOPA) vs https://www.amazon.com/Crave-CarHub-Charger-Qualcomm-Charge/dp/B01DOOPZF8/ref=asc_df_B01DOOPZF8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310039037276&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2301606605576970236&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030997&hvtargid=pla-574298703732&psc=1

What's the difference between HDX and G3X?

Paul, I agree - but I want to see a plane fly at least 50 hours a year for the last couple of year regardless of the plane I buy - so for that reason a 200-300 hour plane is my ideal. You can borescope an engine but it's hard to see the cam which can have the worst problems.

Agreed there is some truth to that but I like when someone else puts the 200 hours onto the engine. Buy the engine at ~200 - 300 hours. I also understand your thoughts on buying a higher timed engine plane but that means you need to have $30,000 on hand to pay then you're back to your dilemma of "infant failures" in a couple of years (if you fly 100+hours a year) but now you've spent $30k and 2-3 months of no airplane.