Aggie Aviator

Anybody in for a Sunday flyover in support of Texas governor Abbott?

Looks like I'll have to get on the horse to start racking up time. With avionics install at the end of 2019 (6 months down), Covid and frozen pipes from the big freeze, my flying has been unacceptably low.

I have about 240 hours so what's the magic number of hours? Would an instrument rating make a difference?

That is sort of what i was hoping.

So we are thinking about buying a lot at a runway neighborhood (in Texas) and when I had my insurance agent see about quotes she came back saying the companies she reached out to suggested that they wouldn't insure the Mooney on a turf strip (one of the runways is 3,300 feet long so I don't see this as the problem). Does this sound reasonable? I have a friend who flew off of a turf strip for 15 years and had insurance.

For me, I didn't notice any change with temps or noise. I didn't even realize it was missing until I did my post landing walkaround. My tail pipe was not completely gone as it broke right at the bottom of lower cowling so it was likely still doing it's job to a large degree.

The same exact thing happened to me except mine broke where the actual exhaust exited the lower cowling (it was rusted). I sent the remnant off to https://awi-ami.com/ and they rebuilt one. it was a perfect fit but the costs was 454.00 including the spring kit and shipping.

I chose not to get the floats but I do have the transducer which measures fuel flow when running. When i initiate a flight i program the quantities into the CGR-30 based on what the measurements are when I stab the tanks. Combine that with the fact that I have so much additional fuel capacity with the Monroys and it would be really difficult and foolish to ever run low on fuel. The previous owners of my F installed the Monroys which allowed them to fly from New Jersey to Florida non-stop (or so I have heard). I once had a Cirrus driver accuse me of owning an aircraft with a limited range. Such is the mindset of a Cirrus driver, I had to correct them to let them know that I can stay aloft for 10 hours under the right conditions. I LOVE MY MOONEY!

I use the hawk fuel measurement system to measure the depth of the fuel in the mains and auxiliaries and I painstakingly documented what the quantity is based on the depth which give me a pretty accurate quantity on the ground. To calibrate, I drained the tanks and then added back 1/2 gallon at a time and measured after each 1/2 gallon so I get a good reading on the ground. I am still in the process of calibrating the my CGR-30 burn rates but I am slowly dialing it in so actual fuel gauges are not imperative unless i have a transducer malfunction and if this happens the original fuel gauges are still accurate at lower quantities.

I have Monroys and do have two fuel caps although the design just allows the fuel to flow into the mains (no valves) as the quantity decreases. I really love the ability to take 100 gallons when necessary but when me and the wife are doing cross country flights I usually just fuel up to 75 gallons for useful loads. My only gripe (and it is a small gripe) is that there isn't really a fuel gauge that I am aware of that allows for the Monroys (I passed on getting the fuel gauges when I installed my CGR-30). PS. Be careful not to over fuel because it makes pushing it back into the hanger a real bear (first hand knowledge) and there is no reason to stress the gear with the additional weight.

I never saw a definitive answer regarding the inner gear doors but I do need the right half part number 550060-002. I would be willing to buy a right 550060-002 and a left 550060-001 inner gear door if the price is right. I do have an F model but as long as you are aware of the additional Johnson bar effort it isn't that big a deal to just swing your gear before you get above 85 mph or so (and you also can do the Mooney dip to give the gear a little momentum).

Please keep us apprised on the status of this installation (if they find an adequate participant). I wonder if the GNX 375 would qualify for their requirements (I doubt that it would being GPS only).

Very nice airplane. Welcome!

'67 M20F - N3292F and will have two G5s installed with my xpdr and engine analyzer installation coming up next month. I am definitely interested in the GFC500 and I'm planning on moving ahead with that one as soon as it is certified.

Brian Isbell out at Houston Southwest (BK Aircraft Service). He specializes in Mooney and is very, very thorough and looking out for the buyer. (832) 595-5008. Once you meet him you'll really like him. Tell him you got his contact information from Darrell.

You might try these guys. http://aero-on-demand.com/index.html They have a Mooney, Tiger and Cheetah but you might have to join the flight club to do it.

Guys, I am contemplating redoing the panel and possibly get new yokes for my 20F. I know it depends largely on the amount of changes to the panel, but how much should I budget to move some instruments around and possibly replacing the panel? How much is it to change out the shafts?