Tommooney

BTF just north of SLC. I flew in 2017 and needed to leave the plane a while / month and take airliners home. I asked the guy in the FBO how much for a monthly rate. He asked " you buying fuel ? " i said yes and he said just tie it down over there...... There was no charge. That's where ill go back. BTF Tom

Frank at Chandler does my annuals. He's a good guy and his staff are good too..

Hi 91Y I'm old now so i'm going the opposite direction you are. I bought my Ovation factory new exactly 20 years ago. Only test pilot Mike Miles flew it 12 hours testing before we had BBQ lunch in Kerrville and he handed me the keys. No one else has ever flown it. It has 1500 hours since. Never a problem. After previously owning a Cherokee, '63 M20C, Twin Comanche ( great and fun plane but maintenance was long waits for parts ) My wife has decided not to fly small planes anymore after the last cross country CA to Maine 2021. My kids have moved far away: NYC, Norway, Italy. I'm looking to trade down to a Cardinal for the easier entry, lower costs, less proficiency, etc. The Ovation is now wasted on me as I don't need coast to coast capability. Just a flight around SoCal once a week for fun. An Ovation is much more $$$ than you described BUT, I rarely have any repair needs between annuals. Price is about $275K so you can figure what loan payments would be. Its paid off but I started with a 15 year loan at 6% when I bought it new from factory ($400K new ). It was a big $$ stretch for me back then but I have no regret, flying problem free coast to coast 20 years. 185K cruise @ 10K'. It flies every week. All JPI data is uploaded to SavvyMx monthly. All annuals at MSCs. Everything works for hard IFR when needed. We can talk if you have any interest. I just want one more trip to the Bahamas this winter( for me, best flying in the world to the 50 airstrips on the islands ). Good luck. Tom 805-300-6621

Try asking for the monthly rate. And / or try East or North bay fields.

I sold my old 2 blade prop online. It was advertised as buyer pick up but buyer is too far and wants shipping help. What is best way to ship 2 blade from CA to FL? I am hoping I can steer buyer to a service or shipping company that has experience. I am in SoCal OXR and can drive it an hour or so. (My local Mx says he just puts it on a tire in a truck and drives to a shop so not helpful.) Thanks' Tom

Airport Pirep: I went to an old favorite overnight stop at Laughlin NV yesterday. KIFP. It was first time since pandemic. It used to be a good stop for the 40 years ive been flying. I remember the old runway and walking to the water taxi. I got my seaplane rating there from old Joe Sheeble for $1500. I saw the same old yellow Piper still sitting there next to the river. I bought 30 gallons at $7.25 / gal. so handling fee waived. The overnight parking fee is $37. / night ( every night ) f*$! me! . Facility fee of $7. once per visit. There were very few planes on ramp....except an F from Utah showed up when I was leaving and we talked. Signature fbo. It was the same as I remember before tower seems to be busy doing something else and takes a while to respond? There was still the free shuttle from The Riverside Casino in 10 minutes and rooms are still cheap. Tim McGraw is playing there next week. Riding the wave runners for a couple hours is still a blast. My friend liked the car museum in the casino. The Colorado Belle is closed and fenced off so no more walking up and down the river sidewalk from the Riverside to Bubba Gumps. You have to go out to street to go around. Good luck and happy landings

SavvyMx has been good for me and saved money that was significantly more than the cost. Good luck Tom

Where on the field will we find BBQ / You? Tom

There are hangers for sale at both OXR and CMA. See : https://cohota.org/hangars-for-sale%2Flease The prices listed are high but if you wait around patiently a while, you can get one for a reasonable price. CMA is about twice as much as the same size at OXR. The hangers can be owned, but the land is leased from the County. Ventura county charges the same for a tiedown or small T owned hanger of about $100 / mo. I've owned hangers at both airports since 1987. Saved a bundle over renting a hanger over that time.

I'll try to make it. I put a post with pictures here back in July for more info. They had record water then , IDK what conditions for rafting are like now. The airport cafe has a mini van for rent to town runs.

When I took checkride, Joe asked during the flight if it was for private or commercial? I said Commercial, he said "gimme a steep turn each way "

HI FL brother Mooney pilots! I'm seeing multiple ads to train in an ICON A5 in FL. I got CSES rating from old Charlie Sheeble many years ago in Laughlin NV on the CO river but never was able to use it after that. I thought flying on water was super fun. Is it possible to get checked out and rent a seaplane to fly to Bahamas? Any tip appreciated. Thanks

I have the B cool. I used a few times but since I usually cruise around 10K', I feel the hassle of setting it up is not really worth the time needed before getting up to cool air at altitude. I don't take it on annual trips to East coast ( to save weight ) so only used it in desert SW where there is no humidity.....

I had that happen at 10K' cruise. Pulled breaker. after landing put breaker back and ok for a while ( or maybe it had already fell into wing and I didn't catch it at the time ) . Then the stall warning came loose and fell back into wing. Mark at Top Gun put it back together at minimal cost and has worked ever since....I'm not sure what was wrong except it came loose? Good luck.

The rafting company said they could pick up but I would suspect a long wait. They answer their phone and seem happy to talk. You'll probably want to talk to them anyway about the rafting trip. Sierra South rafting Co. Google it to find. There are other companies next door too. The airport restaurant crew van is $25 / 4 hour or $40 / day. i used from 11:00 to 5:00 and they charged $25. Ok to bring back late and leave keys where they tell you. There used to be ( 2019 ) a town van lady for $10. / load each way but didn't see it this time. Maybe still there? Its all really laid back casual. A restaurant guy offered a ride free but didn't know if he could pick up. 5 years ago I used this method and someone did come pick up. Its only 2 miles each way. There's usually people ( old pilots ) hanging at restaurant that can give ride to town. I didn't check to see if they have Uber? A fold up bike would be an easy level ride each way. The town / raft Co is just past the left end of first photo where river comes in. The raft company offers an 2 day overnight camping option on lower Kern that I'm going to try next month. We did the upper Kern this trip. $150.pp. I only booked it the day before going. I left my house at 9:00, flew there, had lunch, rafted 4 hours 12:30 to 4:30 and was home by 6:30 for dinner. I've not seen this much water flow in flying there for 40 years. 6000 cfs today, most years its below 1000 cfs. They call it class IV but didn't seem like class IV compared to American river near Placerville ( it was mellower on the Kern ). At the start, they have everyone jump out of raft in relatively calm water ( 2X2 ) into very cold river and swim upriver and float back and get hauled back in raft to verify people can swim enough for class IV which was unique to me but seemed like a true test for safety. No BSing. It won't work for very old, weak or heavyweights. They said they had class V further up river but flow was too big today. Come back next week..... The water in Lake Isabella is at the dam top / over spillway so should not flood airport anymore than in first picture. In the third picture, you can see distant runway behind the Mooneys is 5' above water. Water was all around but no problem landing / taxi / park. Airport was engineered for full lake. Excellent pavement. Also in first picture , you can see camp ground between middle of runway / lake . Looked nice with trees and sprinklers going on the grass. Port a potties and looked like maybe showers. And a separate ramp to park plane next to camping. No one using it on a beautiful week end. Landing is usually rwy 17 so a long final is over town and river ( nice video if you have go pro mounted ). It was a perfect 90F yesterday but often over 100F in summer. Water is melted snow and waves regularly in your face rafting....nice combination ( they lend you a free wetsuit farmer john ). A really nice day trip from my overcast OXR. If you want some company when you go, let me know.

Flying into Kernville L05. Lake Isabella is full and surrounds airport. Runway / Taxis in great shape. They have fuel at good price! Restaurant open breakfast / lunch. Rents crew van $25 / 4 hour. Campgrounds looked very nice between runway and lake. There is record water flow in Kern river and rafting is full throttle now.

Hi: I'm flying into Kernville L05 tomorrow for an early 11:00 lunch and then river rafting for the afternoon. Anyone been lately? Do you still call the van lady for a ride to town and back? Runway, restaurant still the same? I don't get an answer on their telephone... Thanks

The restaurant will usually answer the phone and give an unofficial look out the window right before departure : 310-510-2196. It used to be the guy up in the tower but not recently, he just seems to collect the landing fee now. If it does go IFR on the way, my home base is only 20 min back to an ILS: OXR. or, LGB, TOA, etc. There is no fuel there so you'll have to have the fuel to get back.

I have an Ovation in OXR if that's close enough? I'm there most days a couple hours around noon. There's a 231 on the ramp in front of me today too. Tom

Nice! Mine is warped too....

I've used the gas Powertow EZ40 for 20 years without a problem. The company is in Idaho. I just looked up the cost and wow it is twice as much now. With the tight fit of the T hanger, I'm afraid I'd eventually bang up the tail if I regularly tried to muscle it back in. A case of an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure... IDK how bad your back is ( mine too ) but I do have to lift it up/down as I push back or the turn wants keep increasing to limits...opposite of pulling out it wants to straighten and needs turn added when turning. Good luck

I had a daughter go to UA 2015-2019. In the many trips there, I found and recommend : The boneyard at Davis Monthan. They let me fly over sightseeing at pattern alt on week ends before landing KTUS. The museum there is excellent. Karchner Caverns Titan Missile museum ( really a must see ) Old Tucson ( movie set ) Tombstone old west town Desert museum east by old Tucson a stuffed animal museum: International Wildlife Museum ( better than it sounds ) Mt Lemon ski area These were all nice things to do together on the many visits over 4 years. Go Wildcats! Bear Down! At KTUS, I always went to Executive FBO and it was good. Sometimes there would be F-16s in pattern along with the airliners but it was usually pretty easy in-out. Enjoy these years

Here are photos of the factory provided towbar from 2003. It still works fine after 20 years. I like the fuel cup holder on the handle to reach under wing to sample. The nose wheel attachment in angled so it doesn't slip out. Lots of compliments over the years. Maybe a MSC or a call to factory could locate manufacturer? IDK. Good luck.

The original 2003 Ovation tow bar folds in half and has a fuel cup holder on one end so you don't have to get under the wing when straining fuel. I've liked it for 20 years and have received compliments when using. IDK where to get one other than asking an MSC? Good luck

I still keep this old page ( attached photo ) in my flight bag.....