Echo

Alan, I can only speak for myself, but I feel a vast disconnect between myself as a vintage Mooney owner versus long body "modern" Mooney owners.

We are going to know what really happened. I am thankful for that.

My God.

From this...To THIS! Removed center post compass for panel mount as well as pulling visors. I am a sunglasses and ball cap visor sun prevention guy while flying. I never use the compass with my Aspen installed. A panel mount backup was the solution. I had one open panel hole so was easy modification. Looking forward to a "clean view" while flying.

Fair enough. So they are going to inspect your plane for two full eight hour days at $200/hour? Damn.

Hi Gary, Good luck with this E I hope it works out. I offer a different perspective on the prebuy. I absolutely would go and inspect/fly the plane, but I would never pay $3500 for a prebuy. What are the dealbreakers? Obviously corrosion in the lower cabin tubes and spar. You can without to much difficulty pull the side panels and inspect the tube structure. A close inspection of the gear wells will show corrosion and or leaking of fuel tanks. Lifting carpets will show leaks in the fuel senders. Removing the rear avionics/battery access panel will show any corrosion in the tail. Removing a couple wing access panels will show corrosion/condition in the wings. If the tanks have not been sealed they likely will have seeps. This is about $3500/wing to strip and reseal at the two prime facilities that do this service (Florida and Minnesota). Compression checks and inspection of the accordian in nose forair filter (hard to comeby part) Dukes gear service/inspection? These gears (in Dukes) are also tough to come by and condition is important to verify. Other than that nice long flight to confirm it is in rig and avionics are all functioning properly. If you are paying $3500 they better be physically pulling the back seat and inspecting the spar. If plane was hangered (No leaks showing on headliner) and in non coastal climates spar corrosion is possible, but NOT likely. What am I missing E owners? Of course inspecting nose gear truss for ANY dents. If dented the truss SHOULD be replaced. Any excessive shimy on taxi or veering on takeoff and landing means slop in nosegear. You WILL know when you fly if not right. These inspections are NOT complex. I would not pay that price, but that is just me...Others swear by prebuys...

THAT price shows WHY Lasar is NOT the answer, but a problem. Not only do they NOT have my support, I wish them failure. That price is predatory. Chuck that!

Hendricks Engineering did my first M20E Pilot side. They did very nice work. Those panels looke great here. That lighter color is really tasteful Igor. Love it.

The first part I purchased from Lasar when I bought my first Mooney was a baggage door hold open. It is a simple part that twenty years age cost $7.00 with shipping. The same part is available in quantity on Ebay for $113. There appears to be some money to be made on parts... I, however, have ZERO interest in expanding my Mooney pit into stock purchase. Barnum & Baley would of loved this crowd.

Good grief that sounds like an awful experience. I remember they gave you a valium before procedure. While waiting I was thinking what if this goes south...and the valium kicked in. Should of got up and ran..

I did. Would not do again. The biggest deal for me was immediate loss of my excellent reading vision requiring readers. Should of just got glasses and continued with disposible contacts. Now I wear trifocals as prescription shifted after five years.

Some peoples taste is in their mouth only?

Simple answer is No. You can NOT buy a vintage Mooney equipped to your dream list for $100k. Spend $120k and buy a later model J with convertible rear seats.

What procedure did you use? My response was flippant. I apologize.

I coul not agree more. How wonderful that you visit lake country in Austria frequently. My favorite travel experience all time was Wolgang see. From swimming in mountain lakes to fenicular train to food it is spectacular. We are going to Zell nextfall. Can't wait. Fly safe. Scott

I will go leak hunting when the system no longer functions.

Naw because system works.

I used to love to sing a little song to my daughter. Of my own creation lyrics were simple. It's all about me.....It's all about me, not about you, it's all about me. Oh can't you see...That it's all about me. These lyrics brought to you with zero cash outlay because Craig does not require it.

Hmmmm. My pilot trim on yoke is biased to left. PC functions great, but The yoke control is NOT centered it has right bias that requires full left rotation of yoke knob. I just bought a Accu-Flite, Accu-Trak BI-818 D.G. Adapter P/N:280-003-500. Along with BI-805 (One listed now on Ebay) you could have a functioning directional control with a heading bug dg...I love mine. Price to good not to buy.

The hard plastic is in wings and sides from tail to cabin. The rubber is correct on the Brittain turn coordinator. Itis windshield washer hose and can be purchased on amazon. I have a photo of it in my Mooney love affair thread with the part number. It is inexpensive.

Maybe the Lasar cartel wants the whole slice of the pie. You. the plane owner deals direct with Laser. Cut out that pesky Mooney Service Center from getting a little taste.

My "hot take" is that continuity isn't high on the old owners list? They want SOMETHING out of their investment instead of handing over to Lasar. I get that, but I think funding the "deal" with customers cash is a slimy move...and if they were NOT "cash poor" they wouldn't have to do it, but since it is a "backroom deal" that is transparent as an old line rats plexy I don't know. Makes me O.K. that t-shirt is worn out...although that was "the old" Lasar.

Ahhhhh. O.K. NOW I better understand. Mooney is broke and Lasar as well as being cash challenged does not want/can't go through part approval process so needs owners to pony up cash to allow that to happen or Mooney goes bankrupt and existing owners lose equity and the liklihood of someone coming in buying Mooney and jacking up prices (more than current out of this world price) will happen...OR an existing specialist in aviation parts buys Mooney and organizes as a PARTS supplier vs. trying to build and sell airplanes under current type certificate (that is unprofitable) as shown by bankruptcy after bankruptcy.

Lasar, under CURRENT ownership and in new location are a relatively NEW entity. The history is NOT theirs. Only the name and the parts they bought. No one is stopping you from writing that check. I am glad you are planning to do so. I have ZERO interest in throwing money at a start up that is cash poor and having apparent difficulty in regaining approved status to build and sell parts.

An example of how Lasar is going to work going forward is available to review in Vintage section. It discusses the ask (Up front payment by 50 owners at a cost of $1400+ for a gear actuator THAT MUST BE SENT IN To LASAR) (grounding your plane) with an estimated 18 week or 4+ months WHEN they get 50 paid orders. No thank you.