BobCW

@hammdo The owner before me did it so I'm unsure. I can take some pictures when I fly it next.

I see your point! My typical flights are 1-3 hours, but occasionally I do trips 3+ hour legs. I would love to be able to sit there and twiddle my thumbs, instead I pitch the yoke between my index finger & thumb, place my arm on the elbow rest, and make minor adjustments to pitch and roll. It gets old, bIt it’s just old school piloting! An AP certainly would make the long XC’s more convenient, but for the amount of times I fly >2 hours legs (I do a lot of same day round trips that are 3.5 total), it’s not worth the investment/downtime. If I had a partner, even at a 1/4 share, and was keeping the plane long term, I would do it.

Thanks! It is pretty turn key...It took quite a bit of work by Don Maxwell (see the receipt in my Drive) and post maintenance flying/troubleshooting by me to get it mechanically to where it is aesthetically. I'm not sure where you are in your aviation or ownership journey, but something I learned from this community is that when you buy your Mooney, try to get AS MUCH of your prioritized wishlist checked off as possible. Even if you're an A&P, it gets really expensive really quickly. If you can keep your costs down by doing some of your own work, you have to consider your family/job/other obligations as well. Can you really afford to spend X numbers of hours at the airport every week. Some guys have flexible jobs and limited family obligations and they can do it...I am not one of those guys. As weekend warrior I couldn't take on upgrade projects myself or I would never have gotten to fly time wise (I also don't have tons of AMU's laying around to spend). My advise it to stretch your budget and get all you can get. Above all, the most important thing is buying a plane that has been flown frequently and recently! You greatly de-risk the likelihood of having catastrophic first year problems or being stuck with a large first year annual bill. That's why Jimmy's GMax Valuation guide puts a dollar figure to a recent Don Maxwell Annual. If you do stretch your budget you still need to account for State Taxes (if applicable) and first year insurance (usually paid in full, but @Parker_Woodruff has a partner that finances it for a low fee). If I was keeping the plane for the following amounts of time listed below I would invest in these 3 items: 3-5 Years: Dual G5's (or GI275's...Dealers choice). Having an HSI would be helpful. Currently I have to incorporate the GTN750 in my "scan" to get Desired/Actual Track information. DG's are just not very good for flying straight lines when I get cleared direct (happens 90% of the time) and I'm not on vectors. It also would be nice to reference the course deviation bar/glide slope on the HSI rather than having to also build in the GI106B in my approach scan. 7-12 Years: Paint...I'm huge on aesthetics (can't you tell) and fresh paint would really make this plane stand out on the ramp and give you that $200K feeling in the low $100K's range. 12-20 Years: AP...I know everyone has their own opinion on AP's, but here's mine. Sure I want one, but I don't need one. After flying actual hard IMC many times with my wife and two daughters (distracting 4yo & 1yo) on board, I can say with confidence that you don't need an AP. They absolutely make it easier and reduce workload. Depending on your proficiency, I would agree that they make the approach phase (IAF>Breaking Out) safer or at least make you feel that way because your not trying to watch the plate on foreflight, scan the instruments, get on speed, get on descent, drop the gear, etc all by yourself. But if you can do all that then you'll build a lot of confidence in your ability to fly the airplane when the system doesn't work, when it tries to do something funky, or if you make a bad decsision and go VMC>IMC. I can tell you that with Mooney's in general and the way Don has this Airplane rigged, it is super stable. My skills and comfort level has definitely been push in actual conditions when the girls are being restless or when a controller didn't decend me quite enough prior to the IAF, but I was always able to keep my speed above calculated DMMS and the plane within the course deviation bar...if you can't you have always ask for a PT before the approach to get better setup or GA if you get outside the course/off the GP. The primary reason I put this 3/3 on the list is that a GFC/500 installed will cost $20-30K. It you get a 1/4 share partner you could use his buy in, of say $30K, to fund the AP. As @carusoam always says...PP thoughts only! Rob

I plan to stay on MS! I'm more of a reader than a poster, but it sure has educated me and helped me diagnose problems here and there (saving me lots of dollars vs. being an uninvolved owner). If I could stay in a Mooney I certainly would! You just can't beat the efficiency of speed/cost that it offers. Surprisingly with my family (all girls other than me), I don't have a GWT issue, its a volume issue. Strollers, carseats, pack n' plays, etc. seem to be in my life to stay. My wife loves the convenience of traveling privately, but a little more space to take all our stuff when we go somewhere for a week. We have made it work on family trip by sending large items in advance my in-laws, but really it turns into the stressful logistics planning fiasco every time. Will be looking to get into a bigger 5 or 6 seat plane in the next 12-18 months. Thanks! I heard someone with ATC once that was also in the 59_ _Q Range. I got a little too excited...

Thanks Jim!

I'm very thankful for this community! About two years ago the members here helped me validate my "mission" and select the perfect plane. Due to some overseas travel and various life events that I have coming up over the next 12 months, I am not going to use the plane as much as I would like. Combine that with my family's plan to step up to a bigger plane in the future (like an A36), it makes practical and financial sense to sell my current plane and save on the fixed costs until upgrading. N5952Q: 1966 M20E Super 21 Serial Number: 838 TT: 2,921.68 SMOH: 375.61 SPOH: 375.61 Sob story aside, this plane checks all the boxes: Low-Time Engine with all the Right Upgrades, New Panel with WAAS GPS, New Attractive Interior, Appealing Paint Job, 201 Speed Mods, No Damage History, No Time in Corrosive Environments, and most importantly...it has been Recently & Frequently Flown. The low-time, recently overhauled engine features GAMI Injectors, Skytec Starter, Plane-Power alternator, Relocated Spin-On Oil Filter, and Quick Drain Oil Plug. Don Maxwell Aviation performed an Annual less than 16 months ago. The panel features the Garmin GTN 750 WAAS Nav-Com, Garmin GI 106B VOR/LOC, Garmin GTX-345R ADS-B In/Out Transponder, GMA 340 Audio Panel, and JPI 830 Engine Monitor. Subscription-free ADS-B weather, advisories, and traffic through the GTX-345R/GTN-750 Setup. Even pushes right to your iPad through the 750 Bluetooth on the Yoke Ram Mount. JPI EDM 830 Engine Monitor displays the Engine Parameters, CHTs, EGTs, and Fuel Flow. I can't tell you how 1) comforting and 2) helpful in troubleshooting this system has been for me over the last two years. The interior was completely redone in 2017 with new leather and plastics. The Airframe itself has low total time and features Speed Modifications (One-Piece Windshield and 201 Style Engine Cowling) that allow regular cruise speeds between 145-155 KTAS at 8.0-11.5gph depending on your LOP/ROP Setup, Winds, and Altitude. I usually cruise 5,000-6,500ft (my kid's comfortable ear limit) at 24 Squared and get 8.3PGH LOP and 11.2GPH ROP. Wheelen LED Wing-Tip Strobes and LED Landing Light add to the exterior appearance. The paint job is appealing and the plane does truly impress with that "10-foot-shine," but it does has several small cosmetic blemishes that are noticed up close. Photos, Logbooks (will upload soon), Oil Sample Reports, Savvy Aviation Reports, Aerospace 337/Title Report, and much more is available inside this Google Drive folder for your due diligence. Also, please feel free to review all my flight history using the Savvy Analysis Tool here. If you would like to search the Aircraft’s Tail Number Registration and Damage History use this free tool. I'm listing it at $110,000 (both Jimmy's GMax Valuation Guide and VRef exceed this total), but I'm willing lower it for a MSer if we can avoid some of the formalities and save myself all the hassle. Don did my Prebuy in 2021 and subsequently rolled that into an annual where I spent $25,500 ($13,000 to Jewell Aviation) to get this plane mechanically where it was aesteically. Since then, I've flown it over 120 Tach Hours and worked out all the gremlins. All the JPI Data is great, Oil Consumption is 1 Quart per 7-8 flight hours, I have rarely ever let CHT get above 400 (spread is low to high 300's), Savvy FEVA/Report Card/Trend Analysis are solid, and oil analysis looks fine. Call or Text 270-881-6396. Airplane is located in Springfield/Clarksville, TN at M91. I'm willing to fly it to you if your within a certain radius (300-500NM).

@tmo all it should take is a Prior Permission Request (PPR) with our Base Ops. I am actual working this weekend and can go over there and check. I've been flying twice here at ETIC when we had Civilian Fixed Wing Aircraft come in and land. One guy conducted Night Pattern work (I know because they wouldn't allow mixed NVG and unaided in the pattern).

Congratulations! Come find me in Grafenwöhr and let's go fly!

@Will.iam did you make your own fuel sticks? I looked them up. You are right, they are beautiful! @AH-1 Cobra Pilot am I'm sad they retire the TH-67 just a few days ago. I loved doing Run-on Skid Landings. I will say, wheels and struts are much better for slopes and uneven terrain. Skids are cool though, no doubt...

It’s a good Aircraft and Mission! Well thank you. For most of us, especially Active Duty Pilots, interacting with GA is a total rarity.

@Shiny moose thanks for the excellent and comprehensive advice!

Wow that personal example make it’s crystal clear! Thanks for sharing. Planning to use an escrow to protect the purchase process for me. Also thanks to @FJC for the direct message discussion on escrow! I have removed the question from my original post and made it a solid part of purchase plan (bullet list).

@201Steve another recommendation to flex the budget. Hmmm...this is a tough one! @MikeOHI really do need the 1000lbs Gross I believe. Also thanks for the other insightful advice. I'm going to try and find something that has as many of the goodies in the dash as possible!

@Parker_Woodruff I was just having this discussion with someone else. In 2031, I would much rather have purchased the 1975 than the 1965. Also expect me to head your way for an insurance quote sometime this year!

I'm all about expanding the search. Just subscribed to an automated Barnstormers alert (thanks for the tip), I am monitoring the listing board here on MS, and I joined a few Facebook groups.