hammdo

Normal flight ops today, did great, temps and oil stable so time for a cross country! Oil still looks new (not black from blow-by) so l’ll go a few more hours then change it. Pleased how well she broke in… -Don

https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID137303780920240213191443.0001?modalOpened=true -Don

Oil report- still looks good and based on pics of the engine, pretty happy: -Don

David: how long did it take you to disassemble? -Don

Pics… Nice looking M20 (not an M20A)…. -Don

All cleaned up, belly now clear of oil, did another check out, oil is in great shape, don’t see any leaks. Next flight will be normal ops - hopefully I’ll be able to get some actual IMC while this weather is in the area. Still have left tank patch to do, control tubes to the elevators could use a cleanup and paint, replace the mechanical pump, then do the Boeshield treatment. Catching up on some items that should be addressed. After those are done, then save up for autopilot. -Don

No, screw wasn’t enough (it should have but wasn’t). I added one from one of the bolts to a common ground. It’s in the pics. -Don

Only wire to the center post should be the hot wire. When airpark overhauled mine, they make it so you cannot remove it. I had to add a ground on mine to make sure it reads properly. A full reading is a no ground situation. in your pic, the gasket or screws are leaking so you’ll need to address that… BTW, Air Parts doesn’t send a gasket for the sender so you need to ask for one… -Don

Another flight test today, 5000 ft, 25 square, fuel flow @ 11, she did great. Calm day, no wind to speak of (max 52 gallons too…) pic of the flight TRUE at 178 mph…

Edge Aviation in Commerce (2F7) does mine. Brad and Mark are good folks. Talk to Brad, he’s the owner. They are a Garmin shop too… If you need a ride back, let me know… I’m hangered in Mesquite… -Don

Sums up me pretty well. 1 lesson in a Cessna 172, next week Warrior - loved the low wing, bought a Warrior a few months later, got my PPL in that. First time I saw a Mooney (King videos while getting my PPL), I was hooked… -Don

Kx155 is my backup with its own indicator. I think I’d go with the BK slide in replacement if I needed to upgrade… https://aerospace.honeywell.com/us/en/products-and-services/product/hardware-and-systems/navigation-and-radios/kx-200 -Don

I didn't take it that way ;o) -- just looking to see if there are options out there... -Don

Got that, didn’t know if these might be in better shape… -Don

Texas air salvage may have some (used): https://www.texasairsalvage.com/main_list.php?a=search&SearchFor=914020-18 -Don

Did a post checkout today. Took the cheeks off again to review everything was looking good. No oil leaks, everything nice and tight, baffles look good. Nice to see the new hardware on the cylinder, exhaust, and intake for the IRAN cylinder. Right now the oil is above 6 quarts and exhaust does not show any dark streaks. Oil still looks clean but it’s still a bit early in the break-in process. Flights later this week will be longer runs just to make sure. I’m going to clean the belly before next flight so I can gauge how much oil I see on the belly and which side is pushing it… -Don

That is an excellent idea. I’ll need to do that since mine just came out of annual… -Don

I did want to note: @ 3500 ft MSL today, 26 manifold, 25 RPM , she was doing 183 mph true or 159 knots true… ground speed was 167 - 170 knots with 8-11 knot tail wind - smooth air though… temps were 50° I kid you not - level flight… was very surprised. Leaned to 11 gallons an hour - did that for 3 loops around the airport… -Don

sabremech @ gmail.com should work (remove the spaces so it’s a valid email). I bought a set from David… -Don

She’s back! Flew great, broke in the cylinder fast (less than an hour). Flew 2.4 hours and temps came down and inline. #1 now is a bit hotter but that could be baffles. The new controls are like butter with the new heims.. huge difference.. I’ll fly her for about 8 more hours then change the oil again with XC and run that until I get about 50 hours on the IRAN cylinder… The new updates for G5 and GNC355 will need tweaking but nice updates. A&P said it’s one smooth running engine… PTT works great… and ahhhhh, the leather yokes… -Don

Insurance will be a killer if you can get it. My average cost per year are around $20k for hanger, annual, gas, insurance, subscriptions, maintenance, etc. but, I have 650 hrs and 375 in type. Take into account down time/unexpected maintenance which will happen in the first couple of years of ownership, and you’ll probably find renting will be better until you get your PPL. You’ll need ~100 hours in your ‘owned’ plane in the first year just to come close. I’d wager your first year insurance would be 7k to 10k. I’d check rates first to see what you could expect to pay for insurance, then see if it’s feasible… -Don

Nature of the beast: $1450 flat plus supplies/tax

You have to push the seat full forward (sometimes that also means the cushion needs to be 'crushed' against the nose gear plastic over), raise the front up enough to get over the rail then, slide it back -- making sure nothing is in the rail to prevent seat movement (cotter pins et.al.) -Don

Yep… just my wording.. -Don

I use my ‘certified’ altimeter and note the difference. It is my ‘real’ altitude. G5s are mostly for ‘on glide path, on localizer or correcting’ callouts. My DH or MDA is defined by the round gauge if you will. I have the round gauges (except Attitude indicator/DG) still in my panel. Besides, I add round up to the next 100’ for the mins anyway to account for error - 250’I go 400’. I don’t shoot to minimums in real IFR weather — the ‘guy in the pink shirt’ minimums if you will… -Don