Marc_B

Trying to understand the pro's of changing the beacon...my aircraft had LEDs installed but the original beacon was left as were the recog lights. I can hear it in the radio if you listen close and cycle on or off. Do the Whelen LEDs have the same "signature"? Is there a significant weight difference between the stock and Whelen beacon assemblies? I would imagine that the difference in bulb longevity and visibility would be real. Marc.

My buddy is and my dad had a place down there years ago. Been a while since I've been back and would be a fun way to travel down.

Out of curiosity why was this? Was contemplating a flight sometime to San Pedro/Ambergris Kaye…and looks like you had an amazing trip!

^^^ this! I did all the ground school and written exam before getting into my flights (focused on PIC XC with flight following before the written). At first I thought it would make more sense to "fly and learn as I go," but in retrospect the ground training and written exam are the minimum information you need to build a foundation of instrument flight. Flights are the "do" and learn the "doing", not to learn about something to begin with. I also found YouTube BoldMethod and ERAU videos helpful to pull things together. I'd watch these, fly with CFII to perform them, and then rewatch...helps to pick up the nuance. And found this video helpful for discussing wrap up closer to check ride. And if you don't have a FAR/AIM 2022 that's tabbed and annotated...get one!

Many forums have stickies of the most pertinent info or commonly asked questions. before you post a new thread/your first post (ground rules for those new to MS and advice to use search function and how to find what you’re looking for) so you want to buy a Mooney? (Basic questions, model comparisons, flight comparisons, etc.) ride share (flight to annual, just want company, asking for a pickup) Annual info (pireps on places, what to expect for first time annuals, big ticket items, etc.) engine rebuild/overhaul (issues, pireps on locations, sourcing parts, etc.) oil analysis/engine analysis (how to spot trends, review engine info on your EIS, ask questions of your data) training (instructors, Mooney specific training, rapid programs, pireps on these) panel pics (sticky in avionics section for all to post current panel, before and after, solicit feedback) flight of the day for 20xx (sticky for pic of the day for each year, quick way to see a year in flight; new sticky for each year) thought this might make it easy to use search function for common stuff…just search that particular thread…or if short enough read the whole thread. Also these are things that id personally find helpful in general. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year and a great year of Mooney flights to come!! marc.

Regarding the training element: I took the King Schools ground course and studied the books below (cheap and available for free download below). Then took the written exam. Followed this with work with an CFII. I thought that the PIC XC time would be the time limiting factor, but it's way easier to fly on your own to rack up time. Much harder to get 40 hrs simulated or actual instrument time. So identify at least 1 or 2 safety pilots to fly with early on unless you're doing an accelerated course that will give you those hours. Here in Colorado scheduling check ride with DPE was a little over 2 months out; so I scheduled this shortly after I started instrument flight training. So study/ground/written/fly/checkride. Instrument Resources: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/ Instrument Flying Handbook Instrument Procedures Handbook Pilot’s Cafe Quick Review https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f413aa64278dc3363aac3bf/t/5fbea4aa2dd96f5918cb30e4/1606329515677/Pilots+Cafe.pdf Sheppard Air https://www.sheppardair.com/instrument-rating.htm

I've been reading the threads regarding G5/GFC500 install and looking to replace ESI500 with the G5 vs GI275; currently use G500 as primary. Seems like longer battery life of the g5 and cheaper pricing has the edge for backup. But trying to reconcile GMU44 and need for GMU11. I like the idea of having headings, altitudes, etc sync. Will G5 (or GI275) backup sync with G500(TXI)? Is there a reason to install G5 with GMU 11 in addition to the GMU44 I already have installed with the G500? In G500 failure I'd still have GTN sending GPS info to backup. Any compelling reason that swings GI275 above G5?

171.3 hrs for me. Plus got my instrument rating. Even got my dad up for his first Mooney flight…I think the last time he was up in a private plane was late 70’s - early 80’s! I think he’s chomping at the bit to head back up for a trip! Plenty of fun flights this year and hopefully more adventure trips this coming year! Merry Christmas to all!

From Garmin: The GDL 69/69A utilizes RS-232, Garmin HSDB, discrete inputs/outputs, and analog audio inputs/outputs to communicate with other LRUs and systems on the aircraft. The GDL 69/69A is capable of supporting six simultaneous display and control interfaces. The installation manual does not have any information on portable units, so you would want to check with the installer what options you have in your particular airframe. However, to make things easier, you could consider the FlightStream 510, which would broadcast SXM over Bluetooth to two portable devices at the same time (for example an Aera 760 and iPad). Best Regards, Philip Garmin Aviation Support So that sounds promising...I'll have to ask my avionics guy and see what he says...

@201er I very quickly saw "Mooney Girl" on the headrest...is this your wife's seat or your wife's aircraft! Gotta kick out of that, great video! edited...(but its okay if you too are a Mooney girl at heart)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0792L8R4T?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details I found this leather binder on Amazon for $16.47. Looks nice and is about the only half-sheet "A5" size three ring leather binder I could find. I found several places online that could create a leather monogrammed binder but they were all full 8.5x11 size. So if you need to replace your binder, you're stuck with Mooney's 0.2AMU leather embossed binder, a generic Quill A5 size binder, or something like this...

@LANCECASPER what if I did not want to use the puck for the Aera and instead use the 69A from the panel and send that info to the Aera? Can I do that via Flightstream or Bluetooth or hard wire? or are you stuck in the panel vs portable divide?? I already get information from my panel sent to the Aera (i.e. traffic, flight plan, etc), just not sure if XM will flow as well... Marc.

Looking to get XM weather on panel and portable with one XM subscription. I'm considering adding a GDL69A SXM but wanted to make sure I'm getting the connection that I'm looking for. I understand I need to add 69A for XM weather to panel (G500/GTN750). But I have a yoke mount Aera 796 and I'd like to have XM weather on this with a single XM subscription. I do have a flight stream 510 card / FS210. I have the Aera bare wire mounted to the panel now...the current XM antenna puck is under the glareshield at the top. Can I get XM weather to the Aera via 69A? What modules are needed in that pathway? If I changed to another portable (i.e. 760) would this change the above?

I've had a Cencal flight bag for about 20 years...not sure what happened to the company. But the bag is padded, has a front zipper pocket that's got slots for log book and half a dozen pen/pencils; double zippered top pouch for plenty of charts, ipad, and goodies; radio pouch with dual zip so the zippers can allow a slot for a handheld radio; and the other end has a pouch just big enough with a plastic buckle for a headset. a little worse for the wear but I can't find anything I like better to replace it. Similar to the bag in the pic. not too big, not too small...just right! Marc.

Hey! I represent that comment! K up in cow town (Greeley). I am definitely in the camp of turbocharged for Colorado and have been thoroughly enjoying an M20K as my first and best aircraft!!

M20C/E/F/J/K roughly correlate to 17 gal w/o speed brakes, or 14.5 gal with speed brakes. My total measured was 104.8 gal (not 104.5). I'm sure there are some variation from aircraft to aircraft, but Monroy also spelled out procedures for measuring amount of fuel in Aux tank with dipstick to correlate to a rough fuel amount. I haven't had a chance to really see how accurate this is, but from flying and fueling it's surprisingly close. Since this all drains inboard I think all Aux fuel would be usable? Does anyone know if there is any low point that holds fuel with the aux tank that doesn't drain into the mains? AuxTanksVolumes.pdf

@carusoam I was curious about the “interesting calibration procedure” you mentioned. Wasn’t sure what you meant by that. marc.

Is there a specific procedure for this that increases accuracy? Or do you mean just adding fuel and letting equilibrate between the tanks between measurements? @carusoam where can I find details? Encore, speed brakes, monroy, cies.

I seem to remember reading about GoPro mounts for CO detectors...how about GoPro mounts for GoPros?

Curious if any of you have any idea how these types of aviation communities get created? https://www.skyhavenofaurora.com/index.html Long story short, KFNL - Northern Colorado Regional - has been working to establish permanent remote tower without radar control and eventually move to Class D airspace. The airport has been trying to grow commercial traffic. Not quite the same support of GA traffic. Hangar space in all of Northern Colorado is horribly lacking. Seems like an aviation community with heated hangars, wifi, bathrooms, etc would be VERY WELL received at KFNL (supporting Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Longmont, Cheyenne, etc). But not sure of the finances and logistics involved and who usually develops these ventures. Currently KFNL is putting in large office/condo hangars at a cost of over $500-700k that prices out all GA pilots pretty much. Came across Sky Haven from another MS post regarding YouTube's 310 Pilot and selling his plane/hangar and thought, "man, this is exactly what I'd like to see at KFNL!" ...is this the same sentiment as "man, it would be cool to see a turboprop Mooney!"??? ha ha. Just bored and daydreaming and about to head into work... Happy Holidays! marc.

I accidentally broke one of the wicks cleaning up the Mooney last week; microfiber towel edge caught it and broke it quite easily! I've ordered a couple from LASAR (10-900-60/1) 4" wicks. Just wondering what this "conductive paste" is that @GeeBee refers to. I've always put some SuperLube (dielectric grease) on the battery terminals on my truck. Is there a certain aviation grade compound that is used or just screw off wick and screw on replacement? It is interesting though that looking closer at a couple of the wicks the conductive paint at the connection isn't quite as "crisp" as it probably once was.

Here's a price list from earlier this year. If you have specific questions or a list of things you want done I'd just email Aero Comfort. This list has package deals as well as a la carte...pricing subject to change and valid for 90 days...email them for their current price list. Price List (1-4-21).pdf

For those that hangar in cold climates without heat, what lubes and cleaning products do you store at home vs hangar. Have a bottle of wash wax all that had some ice in it the other day. Trying to figure out what I should migrate home with me and what’s fine just to leave for the winter here in Colorado. Or just bring it all home and take what I need when I need it? Any horror stories of specific products particularly adverse to winter? marc.

The full service manual has all the wiring schematics in a better format to zoom in. See if that would help. It should be for all M20K’s. marc

GTN750 with GTN650. I find Time to TOD (Top of Decent) coupled with VSR - Vertical Speed Required, makes descents (when using VNAV) pretty easy to time without having to do mental math. Put top left user field "Time to TOD" and top right user field "VSR" (or vice versa). I've also enjoyed the Visual approach field that comes up around airports; makes it easy to throw in a visual for a long straight in approach and easy to see a perpendicular extended base leg. I watched a Garmin webinar showing a pilot add the Procedures page or Approach page to one of the lower user fields to quickly select an approach. I've added this briefly when I'm working on approaches so that I can quickly add approach after approach. I'd like to get my location of ETA to next waypoint squared away...would make position reporting easier and since I just got my instrument rating I'm still working on where to get each piece of info and what's the most efficient way to set the avionics up for me. Of course I have more of the standard flight data shown routinely in the GTN 650 default nav page. So I've been using this for standard flight info (TRK, DTK, ETA, etc) Marc.