dkkim73

I specifically traded an iPad Air which I otherwise loved in terms of speed, price, etc, because it was functionally too big. IMHO the Mooney cockpit is too tight for a full size. If you have panel space or don't mind blocking a window, it might be different, but it wasn't an option for me. HTH

Amen, amen and again I say amen.

Hi All, Since we don't have fine-grained region forums and this is not clearly "West Coast" I am posting in the general forum. Montana has a proposed house bill to prevent use of public ADS-B data for other than safety and navigational purposes. Ie. to prevent fee-based bottom-feeding. https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4174?open_tab=sum For those of us in this jurisdiction, it would be a good time to weigh in. David Tagging people with MT connections, pass on to anyone I'm missing... @Dialed In @NewMoon @Fritz1 Here is the email from AOPA Advocacy: ----- Dear David, We need your help to SUPPORT Montana House bill 571 (MT H 571) which aims to prohibit use of ADS-B technology for imposing aviation-related fees. Your voice will be critical to helping the bill pass the Montana House Transportation Committee on Wednesday, February 26 at 3:00PM MT. To take action, please call or email the Chair of the Montana House Transportation Committee to express your support as follows: Honorable Neil Duram Chair, Montana House Transportation Committee Tel: 406-471-2356 E: Neil.Duram@legmt.gov Recommended subject line: Prohibit ADS-B Uses Other Than for Safety and Efficiency Recommended Text: Dear Chair Duram: On Wednesday, Feb 26 your committee will be hearing MT H 571 regarding prohibited uses of ADS-B technology. As a Montana resident, I am requesting that your committee support prohibiting all uses of ADS-B technology in the state of Montana (other than as needed to support aviation safety and efficiency). Thank you for supporting this effort. **************************** MT H 571 prohibits any division of government or a private company or corporation from using information broadcast or collected by automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems, whether that data originates from ADS-B In or ADS-B Out, as a means for calculating, generating, and collecting fees from aircraft owners or operators who operate aircraft within the geographic boundaries of the state of Montana. Your fellow pilots are counting on you to contact your Chair Duram quickly and urge him to SUPPORT Montana House Bill 571 to eliminate the use of ADS-B in the state of Montana for purposes other than necessary for safety and efficiency. Thank you, AOPA Regional Affairs Advocacy Team ***This inbox is unmonitored so any responses will go unanswered. For questions or concerns, please contact Northwest Mountain Region Manager Brad Schuster at brad.schuster@aopa.org.

Do you work for Volvo marketing?

Everybody wins.

All right, I'm gonna commit some heresy here: Have you considered a Cirrus? Since you don't need turbo and presumably not FIKI, some older Cirri might be a consideration. Why? if there is family reticence based on safety, the somewhat simpler ops and parachute might be reassuring bigger interior with more car-like modern look is more inviting to some non-flyers (I say this largely b/c the topic of interiors was mentioned, so seems you're factoring that in) usually more useful load I think most of them are already glass I think there is a timeshare Cirrus org or two in the Southeast, as well. I also thought the Saratoga suggestion was worth considering. It's only missing wood panels to be a station wagon, but it seems like a real load-hauler and I haven't heard anything bad about their flight characteristics. There's one at my FBO and I eye the cargo space from time to time... HTH! D

I have both. On my routes I sometimes won't get great FIS-B reception in places. The XM does seem to have better latency and resolution. I also paid for some more wx features as I'm leaning on it more heavily to start. Once you know what you find most useful you can tailor it. ADS-B data is amazing, when you consider it's close to free. And of course, brief like a fiend before you go... Saving my upgrade pennies for a stormscope also. First one to post a picture of a radar pod on a Mooney wins my new Excess Prize.

This seems typical. It seems as if these days we are seeing more and more people collecting "credibility points" and moving up in oversight responsibility, without deep expertise. She might be a smart person and interested in lots of safety things, but seems pretty diffuse in the variety of oversight areas. Not exactly Scott Crossfield or Richard McSpadden here in the level of deep aviation knowledge. Again, as pointed out above, probably better to let a deeply-knowledgeable junior person brief the technical details. The whole DEI thing, vis-a-vis pilots, toreques me off not so much on the who-can-do-it deeper issues (I wrote and deleted a whole post from a military flight doc's perspective after reflecting on my latest Grinch impersonation) but rather the focus on photo ops and promotions over performance. "We've got to get this geriatric brain-injured quad amputee as the first asian-american attack helicopter pilot to promote equity!" etc. It ends up casting a shadow over people who might be doing a fine job but can't be evaluated objectively because they were chasing the wrong endpoints. *disclaimer I have four limbs

Looking at that grainy video, it looked like a hard landing. Sounds like crazy cross winds. Thank God it wasn't worse for the passengers. On a more dad-joke note, I need to point out that it was technically, ultimately, a gear-up landing:

I meant to reply earlier this afternoon when reading in haste and mention @Ragsf15e given I've seen some photos showing happy kids in his plane. I regret not flying with my kids when they were that age. I have memories and pics of flying with my eldest at 2 yrs old with my wife several states cross-country in club rentals, and then there was a huge hiatus until I took that same child up at age 20 in my own plane at last. "When I get time and money" etc etc. We did other fun stuff that built memories like backpacking, building out a small homestead orchard, short ski trips, projects, etc. But I think the flying would have been more magical if I'd not hung up the hat and waited. Now they're politely interested but it's not the same child-like openness and wonder. So maybe find a way to do it sooner, and in stages. On the plane specifics, I decided I needed a turbo early on (except for considering the Ovation) and went long-body for a number of reasons. You are in lower terrain and warmer weather, so I can't comment on the models and gotchas specifically from personal experience, but you have more options! A few thoughts: - no experience I've read makes me think that avionics are as inexpensive and fast to install as "one might think" which means -> shoot for buying something that's mostly configured in a way you are "happy with". Even my limited look at service and add-ons makes me think you're looking at costs and delays. - it sounds like you are used to glass and modernity. I get it ("copy gucci" ;)), I like my "old" G1000 much more than the 6-packs I'd flown with prior and feel safer with it in the clag down low in the mountains. But maybe think about needs vs. wants. If you get enough 2D SA on a more basic reliable TSO'ed moving map, do you need a big latest-gen touchscreen? I can't answer that, just worth a thought. - @Schllc mentioned not ruling out the Ovation. I saw some *very* nice Ovations with 6-packs and GI275's for a pretty solid price when I was looking year before last. It might be closer to what you want than you realize. And without the older plane maintenance concerns. Again I can't comment as I have only stories I've read here. There are some very , very nice older 4-cyl planes refined over the years by some forum members. You asked about airframe, powerplant, and avionics. I would guess you would want to avoid any real airframe issues (corrosion, etc) because that would be a rabbit hole, and you want to fly. So also with catch-up maintenance on unmaintained planes. I hired some advice to help me navigate things. Glad I did. I found a lot of helpful conversations gratis as well (e.g. Jimmy Garrison). I'd suggest talking to people, hiring some advice, and certainly get advice when you go to make a deal if you're doing it on your own for the first time. Some brokers can help you find a plane soup-to-nuts, but fees there can range up to 3%. I think a mix of education and hired advice is good. This forum is chock-full of helpful people. HTH David

What model are they? The newer ones have a central box that controls their deployment together. That could provide another source of failure or bad connection. Or the yoke switch if flaky.

That is a very interesting idea to which you allude with the panel: Replacing backups with a GI-275 in the center. It's funny I always hear about the STC limitation with the G1000 but I rarely hear about big panel mods. Someone theorized that you might be able to cross feed data between the 275 and the G1000, and get better communication with other Garmin devices that way. (I know Lance is looking at a more direct flightstream based mod right now...) You could also drop a second unit in HSI mode underneath and get a more full featured backup set... You also probably know this, but if you put in a Garmin USB plug you can also use that for updates. Looks like it's shaping up as a really custom plane. Vaguely envious of your slight aft CG.

You could also try a good salvage shop like BAS (https://baspartsales.com/); in my experience they are very helpful and responsive by email and phone. The idea of calling Main Turbo in CA is a good one. They are a well-reputed repair shop and might be able to advise on the "quickest path from A to B", which is what it sounds like you would prefer. Good luck; I am sorry to hear of these hassles. Hopefully you will be back up soon!

It would certainly be a good thing to get some actual info on how the thing works and what it looks like. The Eagle AOA sensor is well-reputed but the install is more involved. It seems Holy Micro takes more of a wireless approach with their other stuff. If they can do a good job with AOA, easier install and lower price, it might have some legs. I agree the collateral is more marketing-heavy. Maybe it's all just early, who knows. As to ag planes, I've always thought the bravery of those pilots was underrated. And those low patterns are very meditative to watch, too.