FlyingScot

OK - the 310HP conversion is done - prop is balanced and the governor hits exactly 2700. I am here to tell you that what y'all said about it is definitely true - a different airplane on the takeoff roll - pushes you back in the seat. Without much optimization, takeoff roll was reduced by at least a third, and initial climb performance is just as impressive. All in, I missed a chunk of great flying weather while it was in the shop - but it was worth it. FF is at 28.5 and CHT's are nice and reasonable. Only draw back is my idle stall has returned; it's not idling too low (700-ish), it is apparently too rich, given I need to lean it out when I taxi to get a smooth running engine. Something to adjust at the next oil change; I am based in a class C, so stalling can be awkward depending on field location. Thanks to all of you for your advice on this - I know it is going to be well worth it on the shorter, high DA (carrier) airports I sometimes use. - Bob

The airport on Jekyll is great (09J) - no avgas, 3700', and instead of rental cars - they have street-legal red bug electric GEM carts - a short walk to the Jekyll Is Club Hotel in any event. Landing from the south puts the Hotel and Wharf (the rest. on the wharf is a great place to sit at sunset) off the right wing.

I'm sure it it will go up like a rocket below 0 OAT! I did the top-prop conversion a while ago and that in and of itself was a huge improvement. When I did, they wouldn't give any trade-in value for my 2-blade MC. It's in the hangar, and I'm trying to think about what to do with it. It's in good shape (~1100 hrs), w/recent annual. Maybe a wall decoration? ;-)

Thanks to everyone for your help on this topic - dropped my O2 off today to have the conversion done - will post a PIREP when done and after experiencing O3 power! - Bob

Thank you - I didn't realize this - interesting.

I am just about to add this combo to my R - and your Pirep makes me look even more forward to flying with it (if that's possible). I am just curious - why 2 altimeters? Less typical that 2 attitude indicators, etc (esp w/GPS alt available) - just curious if there is a specific reason/need b/c of your mission. Best - Bob

Respectfully, everyone is taking this way too seriously; he wasn't issuing an indictment of modern avionics or anything else. And given what he has done, he is certainly entitled to his opinion on such things - he chased the demons beyond the barrier after all. I met him at the Wright Brother's celebration at Kitty Hawk in December 2003, and it was certainly one of the highlights of my aviation life. Personally, it made me smile. - Bob

This is great info - thank you. I am surprised - Isn’t an increased FF spec part of the mod? If it isn’t, to what should it be set to ensure correct op in all conditions? Thanks - Bob

Thank you to everyone for the info - this is very helpful and answers all of my questions - Bob

Greetings all - I am contemplating a 310 conversion for my O2 - I already have an appropriate top prop, so I am hoping this will be relatively straightforward - The one thing I am having trouble figuring out is simply where to get this done/who does these now - I have searched the site archives, and most of the postings are fairly old on the subject - and it isn't clear where the dust has settled on the STC of late. Can any MSC do the conversion now, since apparently Mooney owns the STC. Or is Bob Minnis still the best source? Anyone have this done recently? Any thoughts / suggestions / answers would be appreciated. Also...a trivial question - I don't have a 900-class engine monitor (yet) - just a 700 and the Moritz gauges - which I like (a sickness, I know ). However, the Moritz RPM gauge is "hardwired" to redline at 2500 - so does the whole cluster have to be replaced to complete the conversion? Is there a replacement? Thanks in advance - Bob

Thank you for the suggestion - I will follow up with my A&P - Bob

Delighted - here's the latest incarnation (the last was from a while back) - One side is permanently attached using the ring that comes with the flags, and the other is attached using a book ring that I bought at Office Max. The pipe is just a 14" section of 3/4" electrical conduit painted with clear varnish w/2 3/8" thru holes drilled 1.5" from each end. The flags I purchased from Sporty's (DO NOT TOW STREAMER, SKU: 8476A, $14.95). The two red lines demarcate the width of the nose gear spindle. It's simple, hard to ignore, and hard to miss in the preflight! - Bob P.S> I also carry two trailer coupler locks like the ones below to lock it on if I need to - hope this helps!

I use this when I am at an FBO I don't know/trust to not move it. They can't get a towbar attached, and my cell phone number is on the back of each flag - I also carry 2 Trailer Pin locks when I absolutely don't want the flags removed. ...too subtle?

Thank you for the recommendations Mike - Bob

No - it's correct for the std config.

This is exactly what I am experiencing -

I consulted an aviation attorney (which I am not) on this very topic recently, and this is very consistent with what I was told - For an individual owner, there did not seem to be any significant advantage (save for keeping your name off of the FAA registry), but some disadvantages/inconveniences/hassles in some circumstances (like foreign travel) - Bob

Thank you for this - It does - it's right at 1K in fact I have heard some frustration about these OH's re: certain shops - any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated - Bob

Thanks for the recommendation - No I haven't - but considering it. It would certainly help on the Short(er) Fields - Have you done this and if so did you have it done in MI?

Greetings All - I recently swapped out the original 2-blade on my 2000 O2 for a 3-blade Hartzell primarily to get better ground roll performance on T/O at some high DA airports that I use. The conversion is great, and I love the new prop and the performance. However, since I have done so, the engine has a tendency to stall at idle, and it has died on several occasions now while idling and maneuvering on the ground low speed. I know this is not directly related to the propeller, but perhaps to the different load it is placing on the engine at idle, which is exposing a problem in the idle setting, etc. Anyone else experience this or something similar? Thank you -

Thanks to everyone for your recommendation/advice - very helpful, and very encouraging -

Thank you! This is very helpful - I was debating as to whether going with the "c" was a good idea - and thank you for the recommend on the shop - I appreciate the detailed explanation -

Thank you!

I am looking to upgrade two 430W's in a pre-glass O2 to a GTN 750/650 stack. I would be grateful for feedback on the best Garmin Avionics shops in the Midwest with particular attention to MI, upstate OH, or upstate IN. If you have experience with this upgrade path and have advice to share, I would appreciate that as well - Thank you!