Bryan G

Top Gun is great, Mark does fantastic work!

I think this is the piece you are referring to, mine is just a 90* bent piece of metal, looks like something they sell at Lowe’s or HD. Came with the plane, there’s a smaller one mounted in the baggage door too. I took them off when updating the side panels, I think it may have even had a barcode sticker on the backside.

One of these is not like the others! Technically all three are different… My friend with a 201 and I dropped our wives and their friends off at South Lake Tahoe for a weekend and saw this cool Aerostar on the ramp. Couldn’t pass up a photo op and sharing it here. DA was about 7k when we arrived, and 8.5k by the time we launched for the RTB. Made the 5.5 hour trip in the car only an 1.3 hour trip, 2.8 round trip.

This would be awesome, I need to get in touch with a good Cali avionics shop that is familiar with the -275 and can do a good exchange for my older avionics. Lots of great options right now and I might be able to piece some of it together overtime.

Hey Mike, Have you considered folding bikes? There are several different ones that will fit with the back seats in still. Do you have split back seats? My backseats have a spring loaded pin that I can pull and pretty easily remove them. Usually I just fold the seats forward a little and I can fit the bikes no problem with the seats still in place.

Thanks for all the input, because I am in no rush I’ll wait until the time is right to fund this all the way through. I think I’ve been convinced after reading more into the engine monitors that the JPI900 will be my main focus, followed by the rest. I’ll go with the EDM900, pilot side portrait mounted in the CDI spot. Remove the vacuum and go with dual G5s, or -275s if the price goes down and my AMU stash goes up. Move the SL30 back up CDI over a spot and clean up the panel a bit. One day I’ll update everyone with the progress…or if I decide to go a different path. I’ll likely update the GMA340 to the PMA450B as well, big fan of the Bluetooth capability and not needing another cord for my music!

You’re 100% right…I don’t log a lot of IMC hours in my Mooney, and I don’t need it. But I “need” it @Skates97 that’s exactly what I need…you and KS have me sold on the 450! Also sold on the electric step. I dig your left side panel layout, that might be the direction I’ll head. Engine monitor is in a great spot IMO too. What are you expecting the flush mount G5s and EDM900 to run ya? I’m leaning towards the EDM830. But from a EDM700…I see simple swaps to the 730, but not to the 830. I’ll have to research more, I know the 900 would be great but I don’t think I’ll need the panel space, I’ll likely just leave the original engine instruments as they are. Current mindset is a G5 stack (or 275), PMA450B, EDM830/900 and a panel cut…electric step and vacuum removal. Probably more than a year out, all of this is about 13.5 AMUs without install but I love where it’s heading! Thanks for all the input so far, please keep it coming!

I definitely want the engine monitor on the pilot side, I wouldn’t upgrade the engine monitor unless I could put it in the right spot this time. I’m currently stationed in the Central Valley of California, but I have a couple friends with airplanes that could help ferry me if someone has a good avionics shop recommendation within a couple hours by Mooney. I’m at HJO. @hammdo how do you feel about the extension speed of the step, did you tie it to the beacon/strobe?

@KSMooniac the PMA450 looks awesome, I’m intrigued. I agree with the 430/GMX, no real reason to change it out yet unless someone can convince me otherwise. I know prices change from shop to shop, but is having a new panel cut…in my case, the left half…expensive or tough to do? If I went G5/275 stack I could eliminate one CDI, remove the altimeter and VSI, and clean up the left side a lot. That could leave room for an EDM900 on the left side, maybe even flush mounted. I can see this sprinting right out of my price range fast haha! @hammdo I need to find someone with an Avidyne to play with and see how it compares, but I think I might have to keep the AMUs for the glass instead @carusoam I’m going to take a look into those electric step conversions, wonder what kind of useful load I’ll gain if I dropped the vacuum

After having the Flight Stream 210, I could not go without it! So bluetooth flight planning is a must. I do love the 430W, the GMX200 is nice but I’m not overly in love with it The G5 stack has always been on my list of desires, but I keep finding myself in a loop looking at the Aspen, and then the GI-275.

I’ll have this airplane for at least 10 years, and no real preference in brand. My Garmin experience has been great, open to other brands though. I have a UL of 1030, I dont think I want to drop the vacuum system because of the step but I guess I could go electric or fixed.

My Mooney has taken great care of me since our first flight about 18 months ago, but I’m starting to (seriously) consider an avionics upgrade. Nothing immediate, but maybe within the next year. The problem is, I keep going back and forth on what I’d like to do. I’m not looking for a complete panel rebuild, and I’d like to be no higher than $15k after install and trade in credits. I don’t need to upgrade anything but…you all know how it goes What I have: STEC-30 w/ GPSS, GNS430W, GMX200, FS210, GMA340, SL30, GTX327 w/GDL82, EDM700 w/FF What I want: Glass w/ redundancy. GI-275 stack / Aspen. Possibly an engine monitor upgrade? Another thought was to clean up the 430w/GMX200 combo to a GTN750… Take a look at my panel and give me some good ideas to consider, thanks! (I’m specifically reaching out to the vintage Mooney crew, but understand if this post gets moved to the avionics section)

Here is the price breakdown: Discounted ARI cowl mod: $1312.35 shipped Used (like new) Polished 201 spinner with 5 hrs on it from eBay, listed $2k. Got it for $1032 shipped! Top Gun labor: 11.5 hours, 135/hr: $1587.72 Finishing and painting: 7.5 hours/$60 in materials: $1103 Total: $5035 *If anyone needs a Mooney m20f original spinner w/bulkhead, PM me!

I’m definitely happy with the results, both looks and performance. Here is my summary from the flight home and the speed test after topping off the tanks. TAS showed a 3.5 knot increase at 5.5k, 3.0 knot increase at 7.5k. Climb rate has notably improved. Indicated airspeed is showing about 4 KTS higher. EGT showed about 10F higher-negligible. CHT, however, is about 20F-25F higher. Showed 380F in the climb at 120 MPH, and about 365 once level at 5.5k. All 4 cylinders show about the same CHTs throughout the flight, so the cooling is still pretty even. Oil temp remained 190 throughout-no change. CHT temps stayed higher after landing, refueling, and starting back up again. I recall CHT in the mid 200s after refueling prior to the mod. This time I was showing about 300 on the taxi after refueling. No issues with hot starting (I just turn the beacon on, touch nothing, yell clear and turn the key…always works well!)

^^was a response to a previous comment that was removed… Picking Bevo up tomorrow, and I’ll update with the hopefully improved speed! Just shy of 5 AMUs …including parts, labor, and the future finishing and painting. So, if I can get 5 knots that would be sweet! I’d be happy with anything over 150 TAS…but honestly I just like the faster look over the old guppy mouth.

I always appreciate quality products, but don’t really see the need to make that post here! Trying to show improvements from a cowl mod…

Top Gun quoted me 12-15, and it ended up taking 11.5 hours! I dropped it off Friday before the holiday weekend, they started work on it the following Wednesday and it was complete one week later. The estimate for finishing and painting the cowl is 6-8 hours plus $200 in materials…which I think I’m okay with for a factory looking job, I was a little surprised with the outcome of the top fairing outer edges. But it looks faster already! I’ll definitely ask if they’ve done the lower cowl removal.

This is the “newer” sandwiched ARI cowl mod closure with the 201 spinner, awaiting the final fiberglass finishing and painting. UPDATED: 16 June 2021 The results: Looks faster on the ground. Flew her home, she felt faster and climbed better too. Topped off the tanks at home and launched to run the speed check…numbers added below. I ran a 3 way speed check to get a baseline before the mod. Full bag of gas, solo flight. Mooney was near stock minus a knisley exhaust and a newer hartzell 2 blade prop. I usually see closer to 315-320 on my #3, but it’s _hot_ in the summer where I’m at! ~460 SMOH/SPOH I ran the 3 way speed check after, exact same configuration. Full bag of gas, solo flight. A couple degrees cooler but all else the same. Numbers from my EDM700 w/ lean finder after level and things settled out: 5.5k: Before 148.48 KTAS / After 152 KTAS Ram / 24” MP / 2.5k RPM Before: 29.61 / OAT 31*C / 11.3 GPH (50 ROP) / #3 cylinder 1328/343 After: 29.77 / OAT 27*C / 11.3 GPH (50 ROP) / #3 cylinder 1338/367 ———————— 7.5k: Before 146.89 KTAS / After 149.83 KTAS Ram / 22.75” MP / 2.5k RPM Before: 29.61 / OAT 25*C / 10.7 GPH (50 ROP) / #3 cylinder 1305/339 After: 29.78 / OAT 23.3*C / 10.7 GPH (50 ROP) / #3 cylinder 1310/358

They go right through the baggage door. I initially had the fender kit with luggage rack on the back of one, but that one wouldn’t fit through the door. Took it off, and both fit right through without any issue. Same with taking them out. The al alloy is super light too which helps. Hills aren’t bad at all, it’s only a 3 speed but we can make it up some fairly steep hills in SMO and MRY. Usually about a 3-4 mile trip one way, the return is always up hill…haha.

Gotham 3 Citizen Bike 20” 3-Speed Folding Bike with Belt Drive. $679/ea My wife and I bought two citizen bikes that fit through a 1967 M20F baggage door with the seats still in, and it has definitely been an awesome “ride” since. I have removable split back seats, but I am able to fit two of these bikes into the back without taking them out. The downside is you can’t fit anything else back there, you’ll have to slightly rotate the bikes and it’s a snug fit. But if I lean the seats forward a tiny bit, they fit very well side by side with plenty of room to fit extra gear. The upside? Fits… light weight, 20” wheels, greaseless 3 speed belt driven, super simple folding system, sturdy, accessories (folding basket/carriage bag). Unfortunately they aren’t in stock right now, but it would be worth the wait! You could definitely consider the Tokyo 16” model, but it’s steel instead of alloy and I bet the smaller tires would make the ride tough over any sort of bump. There is also an electric version (lil London/London), but this manual model is workable even in the hilly areas of SLO, Monterey, and Santa Monica. Ordered these bikes after spending months scouring MS, from the Dahon models to the Brompton. I didn’t see anything about these particular bikes, did some measurements and went for it. Check it out!

This was my first upgrade as well for my 67 F. I went with the push button inertial reel, 100% recommended! No issues with the Jbar and unbuckling yourself by accident, and it’s super convenient. Original plan was to have them installed before I picked it up, but they arrived at the shop late so I did it once I brought her home. It was a breeze removing the old ones, clipping the new ones onto the seat, and getting the co-pilot side done. The pilot side was another story… If you install yourself and get it signed off, my tip is to just cut/dremel a notch out of your plastics instead of cutting a hole. That way you can easily re-install the plastics, and remove them if you need to. You can’t even see the notch behind the inertial reel anyhow. I don’t have any tips for getting the clamp around the pilot side steel frame… 1.18 AMU total for the two in the front. M20 A-K Front Inertial Reel Shoulder and Lap belt upgrade_push button-Hook ends (P/O: 7884) Here are a couple pics, one from the co-pilot side install and another just to show what it looks like from the backseat (was redoing the interior in that photo).

‘67 M20F: I purchased the ARI cowl mod and picked up a polished 201 spinner, scheduled with Top Gun for install after the July 4th weekend. I’ll make a post about the process afterwards, but feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions before or after!

My wingtips had two different worn out decals, this is what I ended up going with. Old vs new attached.

Mine is on the cowl, 67F