JamesMooney

I love this. Do we think this deserves a dedicated channel on MS? Fun!

Thanks. What are you asking for the KX155 and KI209?

How are the radios?

No no, sorry. The quote was $330 in labor, plus parts (I.e. $400+ all inclusive). There’s a thread here on MSC where most people are reporting $125-250 for labor, plus oil and parts. So $330+oil/parts felt a bit high. maybe I’m wrong. Maybe $400 oil changes are normal!

I can't speak to 'better' - but the overall consensus is that a MSC is definitely the place to go for a Mooney, in general. Let me give you an example. Today I called one of the major A&P shops at my 'home' field (KHEF). They are a very expensive shop ($300 for an oil change - was the quote - which is 2-3x more than it should be). When I said I had a Mooney, they immediately told me they would only do basic stuff, like an oil change. They said "We don't have the manuals or the experience with Mooneys." My take-away from this: you want someone who truly knows Mooney. They aren't Cessnas, nor Pipers, nor Cirrus. They have unique systems, designs, advantages and quirks. It's time and money well spent to take it to a mechanic who truly has experience with Mooney. Whether they are branded MSC or not, I can't speak to - but I would certainly want to know (with some certainty) they have real experience with this aircraft type. (We aren't talking cars here, so don't apply any similar logic to the problem of taking your car back to the 'dealer' for repair - this is a different machine.) I've also heard that having your Mooney regularly maintained by a MSC has a resale benefit - if you ever want to sell (why would you?! ) Just some early thoughts based on a lot of research. Others can agree or correct me!

I'm a new Mooney owner at KHEF (Virginia) - not far in Mooney time from anywhere in Maryland. Two recommendations I've received are Freeway Aviation (a MSC at Freeway Airport, east of DC) and Airmods. I spoke with the Freeway folks and have my M20F scheduled for an oil change and to check out a few squawks in two weeks. I like the idea of setting up a relationship with a local MSC - seems like a good long term arrangement

Ya - I used ropes on the wing tiedowns and a ratchet strap style on tail (adjusted to have a small bit of slack, but not much). Bungee cords between the left & right yoke to hold the ailerons, and a bungee from the right-side yoke to under the passenger seat adjustment bar to give some hold on the elevator. Seems pretty sturdy.

Oh wow, I missed out! I did the hot dogs but knew nothing about the donuts! They did give me some snack bars and water in KRDU, when I paid for my $6/gal fuel (The joys of getting fuel at 9 pm on a Saturday during COVID?) LOL

Great tips, thanks! I know CYTZ very well. It’s a fun airport and amazing location! Thanks for the suggestions! What were your favorite places to get lunch or dinners within a “Mooney hour” away? KWWD is nice, same as KLNS, KRDG and KHGR. Any other recommendations?!

We’re neighbors. Moving to spot A19 tomorrow! I’ll take a look for yours’. Question: it was really windy this week (gusting to 35 kts). Any concerns on the ramp? Do you have your ailerons secured (I.e. Bruce’s wing covers?). Right now I just have bungee cords on the yokes. This wind this week had me real nervous though. (New airplane owner paranoia?!)

Oh that’s awesome! Fellow Canadians on here, thats great! I did my PPL at CZBA, my night at CYTZ, worked on my instrument at CYHM and commercial at CYKZ. When I was stationed out east I flew from CYFD a good amount. My previous plane (some years ago) was C-FGGQ, bought from an owner at CNC3. And I know that poem well - three generations of military (including Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, albeit Australian but he was family and lived in Vancouver), and I spent 14 years in the CF. Glad to have fellow Canadians here. I’m looking forward to the COVID quarantine being removed so I can use the Mooney for a quick dash back to Toronto to see family! Let’s just not discuss hockey....

Don't tell my insurance company that I like to fly at right angles. (PS. Unrelated..... thanks to @Parker_Woodrufffor awesome help with insurance!)

Hi all! Long time reader, occasional question-asker, and now new Mooney owner! I flew our new-to-us 1976 'F home from Texas to the Washington DC area on Saturday (calling KHEF 'home' for now). Maxwell did the prebuy and was fantastic. Cannot say enough great things. Flew to Houston (KIWS) for a night to see friends. Planned a two-day / one-night trip back east with an overnight stop in Nashville. However..... that nasty cold front on Sunday made me re-evaluate. I ended up doing the trip on Saturday in a single day. KIWS-KMEI-KRDU-KHEF. 1,150 miles. 175 knots ground speed. 9.5 gph. It's true what they say about Mooneys - these planes love to stretch their wings and fly! Crossing half the country at 11,000 feet will be a memory for a long time to come - absolutely stunning. I'm already spotting Mooneys on the ramp - at KIWS, they parked me overnight beside another 'F. Looking forward to being a regular here - and hoping for the day we can all get back to fly-ins and the annual summit again. Off to the MSC at Freeway Airport (W00) for the first 25 hour oil change in early December. Also need to replace an inop #2 com (but the nav works) with a GTR225. Before that, first trip with my wife will be to KJHW for Thanksgiving in Ellicottville (weather permitting!) - an easy 1.5 hour hop. PS. If anyone knows of a hangar coming available soon in the DC area, I would be grateful! Right now we're on tie downs - with some nice new ropes and a ratchet strap on the tail, plus new Bruces Custom Covers and fresh seals - but still, a hangar is the end goal as fast as possible.

You should check with Jimmy Garrison. He may have a few good options coming available soon!

Updating this thread - closing in on purchase of a M20F. It will have: GNS430W STEC 60-2 w GPSS HSI Stratus ADS-B Fuel Fuel + digital EGT/CHT It needs: A new second radio (current KX175 is inop) - would you do COM only? NAV/COM? GPS/COM? Or a used 2nd GNS430W? A new audio panel (has a legacy analog audio panel) Maybe G5s (replace the AI + HSI one day) What would you all suggest? Esp. regarding the 2nd radio: COM, NAV/COM, GPS/COM, or GNS430W? Typical mission is 200-400 nm IFR.

About to buy a M20F - in the next few months, it will need a need fresh 2nd radio and updated audio panel. Any other recommendations for shops? So far people have suggested Sarasota; ThreeWing; Precision; SMART; and Islip. Lancaster too, but they are booked until March (6 months!). Any other recommendations?

It's interesting that you report having success with continuing the price negotiation well into the process. You mentioned "The remaining money due to the seller goes into escrow. Then we usually haggle over a few items and he reduces the price a little. Basically the price negotiation occurs well into the deal, when closure is in sight, the money is waiting to be transferred, and after the airplane has been thoroughly inspected." Other MS'ers on here have suggested that's crazy - no way to change the price after a pre-buy eval is done. (In this thread, just scroll up ) Sounds like both approaches have worked?

I had an engine failure in a PA28 north of Waterloo ca.2003. Put down in a field near Mt Forest. It was later found out that some of the maintenance records were falsified long before by another owner. Fortunately the off field landing was fine - they field repaired (swapped out) the affected engine parts, plowed the field (paid the farmer), and had the plane flown out - all on the insurance company's checkbook. It has drilled into me the importance of (1) a good (very good!) prebuy, (2) a mechanic you trust, and (3) good insurance.

Just had a PPI done. Seller advertised a great plane. MSC inspected it. Had 20 or so items squawked. 10+ were airworthiness. Another 10+ were recommended. The airworthy items amounted to 3-5AMU estimated. My concern is that the seller represented the plane as being in very good condition. Then the logs showed flight time 10h/year for 5 years. Did the seller really know their own plane with so little time flying it? 10+ airworthy items is not trivial, folks. If you read the suggested contracts (ie AOPA), they try to protect the seller. Seller fixes only airworthy things. Leaves all the other broken items that don’t make the FAA list (‘airworthy’) for the new owner to swallow. Why should I pay for a PPI that reminds the seller all the things he’s deferred, only to absorb the cost of the PPI plus all the maintenance he’s deferred. Cheap ownership only cheapens the value - airworthy or not. This wasn’t a mechanic looking for negotiating items; it was an honest and independent review that came back saying the past owner deferred maintenance or didn’t know his plane. So do I pay the original asking price? Airworthy items or not, I don’t think so. I will certainly be negotiating some things. Has anyone else had experience negotiating after a PPI?

Hi all - anyone have recommendations for a CFI that could do Mooney transition training in east Texas? Ideally near KGGG. Thanks!

Wow! Am I reading you right that - assuming the PC wing leveler still works - I can add a Brittain AP for hdg and GPSS for only 1AMU?

Will do - very soon!

Thanks Steve. What I meant by 'soft' IFR was typically flying 'occasional' IFR en route and approaches typically not requiring down to minimums. I think there's a difference between approaches in 2.5-3 sm / 800-1500' cig, versus flying to ILS minimums every time. Of course, the weather always changes after departure, so its fair to always assume you're going to minimums. But I just mean I'm not seeking out flights every time that will put me in minimums. And as such, I'm not building an avionics stack meant for constant IFR down to the bottom of the glideslope (If I was doing that kind of regular low IFR flying, I would go with an autopilot-equipped bird, no question.) Great point on the engine monitor. The WAAS GPS doesn't have to blow my budget. A GPS175 may be perfect for my mission, and can be had for $4k, or $6-7k installed. That's only 1/3 my budget. The GTN750 will wait for another airplane in 5-10 years (by then who knows if it will be the go-to model anyway). Thanks again, appreciate the perspectives!

That's exactly what I had in mind. Contrary to the messages above, I've had some reasonable quotes... a GPS175 can be installed for $6-8k. Dual G5s can be installed for $8k. That could leave me with $4-6k in my scenario budget, maybe for a JPI700/730/800/830 installed. That means I walk away with an IFR WAAS, connected to glass PFDs, and an engine monitor. With the existing Narco digital NAV/COM and analog transponder, that should be a fine plane for my 200-400nm east coast missions. Unless anyone thinks I've missed something here Interesting that no one mentioned Aspen, Avidyne or Dynon so far.... a lot of Garmin fans?

Thanks - I've reached out to him now.