Mooney Newb

Yeah the school I am training at has glass displays to train ifr. That’s why I was surprised that the previous owner flew ifr in it.

It had ads-b-out installed in 2023 I believe reading the maint logs. It also looks like the previous owner of 18 years is willing to give intro lessons to the plane, I’m told he flew it with these instruments ifr. I’m not sure if that’s possible as I’m starting ifr training next week. My ifr instructor is also willing to train additionally in this plane should I buy it, however he has not seen the instruments yet.

It’s low hours on the frame and half tbo on the engine (tach time not years). It’s a great looking plane, it’s fast with a low fuel burn per hour, its cost is much lower than pipers and Cessnas in its same class. The price being low id imagine is due to not many people wanting a wood winged plane, especially because they had to have all other tails replaced due to a delaminating causing a fatality. I’m not looking at resale but I also don’t want to spend 100k fixing this to fly when I can spend 50 to 90 on a mid hour Cessna or piper. There’s an allure to a quick low hour fuel efficient plane that is not the norm, however I also have not won the lottery and and not financing a museum, I will fly this a lot.

My apologies I was reading two different repairs. One the wing was removed and another where they repaired wood on the left wing. The repair was done in 89 and the wing was removed for additional repairs in 97.

As an update to all. I have not yet purchased the Mooney. The owner never completed the title process with the FAA. This makes sense as he had a medical issue that I’m told required amputation. The FAA then cancelled the registration and the N numbers as of December 7th 2024. The owner is going to look into what he needs to do to fix this and I’m going to look for a Mooney wood worker to inspect the plane (so far none found locally). The records indicate that the entry side wing was pulled and repaired in 1997 for wood rot with photos of the repair. Still strongly considering this once it gets all sorted. However the wing off repair concerns me. I was advised by several pilots to not buy any plane in Florida unless it has a detailed inspection for corrosion and rot because in their experience most planes not kept in hangers have these concerns. This has been kept in a hanger since its repairs, and has had a detailed annual that included taking apart and inspections the wings for rot and none was found. Sooo? I’m on the fence now. Still looking for a flyer but seems extraordinarily complicated with this model and this previous owner.

Looks like completion of an AD according to files with the Faa

Interesting. I don’t really need ifr flight training in this. I don’t see myself flying ifr intentionally. It would be nice to have it capable as Florida weather is unpredictable at best and allegedly the owner flew it ifr. From what I was told he is a retired airline pilot and now working for a charter. I have yet to speak to him directly. Good to know it’s probably 30k I was thing closer to 15-20k.

Yes, looks original. Was thinking of putting a more modern system in. I’m currently doing instrument training.

Previous attempted sale with a $11k annual 14 months ago where the new owner never took delivery, he also had a medical problem and lost half his foot from what I was told. Which is why the plane has been sitting in limbo for the last 14 months or so. The only person to actually fly it is the gentleman that owned it for 18 years allegedly. Boca Raton is semi local to where it’s stored at, I’ve flown between the two airports in roughly an hour, hanger space is a problem here so it could be reason.

Yeah I read that. Going to try and get ahold of the FSDO on Monday. Also going to speak with the school I got my PPL and has 50 or so planes in their fleet, see what they think on the reg.

Thank you for the list. The company doing the annual has offered to let me observe the process. I’m going up Sunday to go over details on the purchase. added some photos.

I love history. I have old vehicles, the newest being 23 years old and the oldest 62 years old. I have been looking for some one familiar with mooneys but not finding much except out of Texas. Plane is on the space coast in Florida. This is allegedly a flyer and I am going to fly it extensively.

I’ve looked at a couple planes in my price range and I immediately passed on them. One had a wing replaced, another was missing paint and had obvious corrosion. Looked at the logs and it has only flown about 40hr over the last 6 years. Last flown last year based off the annuals reports. Currently stored in his friends hanger who builds restores fabric wing planes who hasn’t flown since a bad car accident and is selling everything and getting rid of his hangers.

Hello all, I’m a new pilot, found a 1960 M20A locally. Seems like a good deal. 1200 smoh, 2600 taf. Spoke to the AD that did the last annual and he had nothing but good things to say about it. Plane will come with an annual as part of the purchase price. Hangered with dehumidifier. Previous owner has had it for 18 years. The owner is out of the area but may come back to give intro flight (if not I will contact one of the Mooney CFI that I found local to my area) has all of its logs it looks like. About 18” thick briefcase full of papers. Wings all seem firm and no delam and flap brackets have no movement. I will be flying this extensively. What should I be looking for? Should I pass on this and spend 3 times as much on a piper warrior or Cessna? Thank you for any advise you may have.