Joe8120

I also wanted to inquire if there is anyone who is located in the Nor Cal area or more specifically near the Sacramento region who would be willing to take me flying as a passenger in your Mooney sometime. I fly out of KEDU in Davis, CA. I'd be willing to pick up your costs of course.

Thank you to all forum members who responded. I've also received several messages as well. I appreciate the welcome especially toward someone new to the forum and an older student pilot who does not yet have a PPL. On that front I received some very good news on Thursday. My 3rd class med cert has been approved by the FAA!! This has been in process since January. So what I would have considered the PPL as possible before I now consider probable. What a relief as I wasn't sure about this endeavor until now since the med cert approval was unknown. Now its full speed ahead to getting the remaining reqs done.

Thanks again for the comments folks; I sure appreciate the insights. Its been quite a journey for me insofar as flying is concerned. As I'm sure it has been for all of you, it is a passion that is thoroughly enjoyed. My only regret is that I didn't get back to instruction sooner. But finances and family; you know the story. Then we were empty nesters within this last year and I started thinking about it again. I took my initial flight last October and Wow, the thrill was back. My spouse has been quite an encouragement in getting back into and getting the PPL this time despite feeling like I'm back in school and chair flying, study, flight planning, more study, etc. As far as pattern work, takeoffs, landings, my instructor is a stickler for precision insisting I nail my altitudes, power settings, airspeed, attitude, wind correction, radio calls, etc. He is pushing me to not settle for being mediocre and that each flight I should be improving (he says, "you should always be thinking and doing items 2-3 steps beyond right now; if you aren't doing something, you're bound to get behind the airplane"). I sort of lucked into getting him as my instructor; the schedule and personalities clicked. Regarding the medical, I will be moving to Basic Med but my last medical for my last try as a student pilot fell outside of the cutoff date for going with Basic Med now. So I sit and wait for the FAA. Meanwhile I continue to fly twice per week and we are knocking out items normally flown post solo plus going back and reviewing items earlier in my training. I had not progressed as far as doing a cross country in the prior tries. I did my first one about 3 weeks ago. I completed the usual nav log. When I arrived at the airport and we briefed the flight, he said he wanted me to do the first 2 checkpoints via pilotage/dead reckoning. I decided to shut off the ipad and fly the entire route like that cross referencing with the VORs. Let me tell you, it was quite a thrill when I had Willows in sight by navigating there by timing and looking out the window for landmarks. We did the same thing coming back. I'm not concerned about when I solo or the checkride in terms of hours; I'm just flying and getting better. I'm a member of AOPA and joined the Pilot Protection Service. As part of PPS, they call the FAA once per week on my behalf and are monitoring the progress of my medical. Of course they wanted my medical history going back 10 years + plus another eye test by my eye doc. Hoping to hear something within the next 4 weeks.

Thank you all for your comments especially from those who have trained in high wing aircraft and/or have come back to flying after an absence. Years ago in my teens I did limited training in 172s at Santa Monica airport in the 80s. Fun place to fly out of; we would practice maneuvers at altitude by the hills near Malibu. Unfortunately, I'm unable to train in the 172s as they are typically reserved for transition training for pilots moving up to the 172 after the PPL or if you and your instructor together exceed the gross weight of the 152 which the 2 of us don't. The club does not have any low wing aircraft as an option either except for a twin engine seminole which unfortunately does not get much use. The rest of the aircraft are exclusively Cessnas. I have considered the Piper Arrow but prefer the higher speed of the Mooney. And for those who have commented on the high wing visibility in the pattern, you know my frustration. Recently after I had finished up a lesson and was walking out of the club office, I heard a somewhat different sound and saw what I knew was a Mooney on the taxiway in front of the office. I stopped and found myself gawking; what a beautiful airplane and so different than anything else on the ramp at the club. The pilot I'm sure saw me taking a look and then stopped right in front of where I was standing. Good man! After what I had read so far and then seeing it in person; well I knew it was going to be the plane for me.

Hello, I'm an older student pilot on his 3rd try to get my PPL and I've I had training hours as a late teen and then again in my mid-late 30s. Money and family commitments prevented me the previous 2 times but I'm determined to get it done this time. I have about 33 hours currently and would have already solo'd but I'm waiting on my medical from the FAA as they were behind in processing applications last fall and then the shutdown hit further delaying the process (I have a few benign conditions/meds that won't be a problem but the AME stated it had to be reviewed by the FAA). So its hurry up and wait with the FAA and my medical. My question is transitioning from the trainer, a Cessna 152, to a Mooney I plan to purchase soon after obtaining my PPL. I've researched and considered other aircraft but feel like the Mooney will fit how I want to fly and the mission. I will have about a $50K budget and am looking at a C, E, or F. Mission will be flying with my spouse and maybe rarely 1 other passenger local trips and to WA and So Cal (we reside in No. Cal) for personal and business. How would flying in the 152 differ, for better and worse, as compared to a short or long body Mooney? Since getting back into training, I now remember how a high wing has poor visibility in the pattern (at least for me and I really dislike) and the 152 is blown around quite a bit with crosswinds/landings and in turbulence and I'm hoping this isn't the case with the Mooney models. I intend to get full transition training in whatever Mooney I purchase prior to doing any flying on my own. The club I belong to has inexpensive training rates so I get alot of bang for my training buck. I'm looking for general impressions from forum members regarding the aircraft differences and what I can expect flying the Mooney and my intended plan. Thanks.