Mellow_Mooney

Hey guys, First of all - thanks to everyone for your input. I really appreciate it and it helped me go down various paths that led me to end at the below. I ended up going with the gps 175 and a gi275. Going to be replacing my heading indicator with the HSI, moving my tach into the place of the horizontal guidance CDI (under my manifold pressure gauge), and removing that horizontal CDI entirely. so I’ll have the HSI and one CDI with horizontal and vertical guidance. Appreciate all the help! Just wanted to give everyone an update. Will follow up with pics of my panel soon (hopefully)! One thing I am curious about as I’m still learning IFR - does anyone know of any reason I should keep the second CDI with only horizontal guidance on my panel? By removing it am I limiting myself from any types of approaches? Thx again, -Mellow

Are you saying that this vent can deliver cold air as well as heated? Couldn’t imagine ever using this in the summer on my F curious if I’m missing a switch or something now…

Hey Everyone, Wondering what minimum equipment I need to upgrade my panel to be able to fly gps approaches. I am not worried about easy vs hard, just want the ability to do so at the cheapest entry cost. One avionics installer is saying I need to install an HSI and one is saying I don’t. I’m curious what you all think and if you have any insight on my panel. If possible, I would install the gps 175 and use it with a switch for my CDI or install a second instrument, but would prefer to keep it something low cost. My avionics guy is suggesting a g5 or gi275 but I’d rather not shell out the money for that if I don’t have to. Or - can I just use my existing equipment with the gps 175? any ideas to keep my entry costs low and still able to fly RNAV and all other approaches? still training ground for instrument rating but want to get this upgraded for training. Please bare with me if my terminology is incorrect… My home airport only has gps approaches that bring you below 1000’ so that is the biggest reason I want the gps approach systems. Thanks for your help in advance. -Mellow

hahaha... pretty good video. The thing is planes have 3 wheels - all in different areas so this wouldn't happen... i'm thinking the plane would run up the ramp all at the same time

Previous owner left a gas tug in the hangar for me - so I would probably only do it with the tug was the thought. Perhaps get one a bit wider so I don't miss the ramps... That being said - you guys are right, probably not a good idea - just wondering if anyone has tried it haha

Hate to bring up such an old threat... but this was super helpful. Thanks all for the info. I have one question - I'm planning on getting a small (30'x40') T Hangar soon and was wondering if anybody has ever stored their plane on wheel ramps? for extra clearance? Not worth the risk? Seems easy enough and would allow easier work under the plane and some extra clearance on sides of the hangar. Something like this:

Well guys and gals… as promised here she is! Flew her out to Apple Valley and Big Bear this week. She runs great. And FAST Put over 12 hours on her already and she hasn’t even gone through a quart of oil. Pretty stoked on performance so far. As everyone stated only time will tell if I made a good purchase, but at the moment I’m unbelievably happy. Fly safe, -Mellow

Thanks! Good to know. I’ll take a look at it.

So… this is my plane! Just bought it haha. it’s being ferried to me Saturday. I’ll take a close up shot of the visors and will ask the seller if he knows where he got em. cheers to good taste in photos

I took everyone’s advice on here and am thankful for all of it. So even if you think I made the wrong decision - thanks for letting me know what to look out for. I looked at the risk, decided it was right for me, and pulled the trigger. For reference - Borescope and compressions were immaculate. I called all the previous mechanics that worked on it, did my due diligence and found out about the entire history of the plane. Checked the tubular structure, the wing spars, literally everything that was listed and recommended on this post and with a 3rd party mechanic the seller agreed to fly the plane to. Everything came back in great condition. Mechanic even told me he would buy the plane if I didn’t… Only thing I didn’t check was a cylinder which my mechanic and I agreed is probably a large undertaking for a seller. I negotiated the price, and am comfortable with the reality that this might be a dud engine in a year or two. To me - I am getting a plane that I can invest in and mold into my perfect aircraft. Which is what I want to do. I might even be getting the deal of a lifetime - but I’m not betting on it. I’ll follow up with you guys down the road of course, but I think I’m buying a decent plane at a reasonable cost. Will still follow up with photos as well!

Sounds good I will! Have friends up there so will definitely be visiting sometime this year. thank you!

Pics coming soon! Will be having it ferried to my home airport next weekend. Transition training already set up with a local CFI that is a Mooney owner as well. Insurance all set (pretty expensive because I don’t have much experience in make/type). Registration all set as well - bank handled it for me. Will be following up with an updated title search down the line to make sure everything finalized correctly. thank you! Incredibly stoked

Hey everyone, thought I’d give you an update. I’m officially an aircraft owner! Had the mechanics spend two days looking over everything mentioned and all turned out great. Just a couple of squawks to bleed the brakes, the flaps and added an ADSB on the tail (owner paid for it). Also a small amount of mouse poop in the insulation… but all tubular structure was checked and good to go. Insulation removed. Huge thank you to all of you and also a big thank you to Tom @47U Tom went above and beyond, helped me find a good mechanic, helped identify additional areas to check and offered his own help personally to ferry if I needed. Excited to join the Mooney club and hope one day that I can pay it forward. Fly safe everyone! And if you see a guy in a Mooney with a gigantic smile waving at you in the LA area… I apologize in advance.

Thanks for your responses guys. I had also thought it should only be 2-3 for an annual inspection so that's why I was so surprised. From the conversation I had with the mechanic I think he meant that was the cost to inspect... didn't realize he might have meant it to be the cost of inspection and repair. I reached out to him again but closed for the day... will try him in the morning before I head out. Will update after the day tomorrow but probably won't be getting back till late. Thanks all!

The mechanics both said they’d love for me to be there when doing the work. Problem is the plane is 3 hours flying away, so I’m renting a Piper to visit it tomorrow and I won’t be able to take a couple of days off work during the week next week. Plus would cost another couple grand just to be there to watch the pre buy.