Mister_Bevilaqua

Does your Pre-J model M20 have a beacon light? I am surprised by how many I see that simply don't have them, especially when so many of the other makes from the same era do. Learning to fly, it was always stressed that the beacon had to come on before startup and remain on until the engine was off. I realize that the strobes can do the same job in terms of letting others know that the plane is occupied and possibly running, but they aren't ideal in low light or night conditions when on the ground and not departing the field.

I'll have to grab one.

I received the video and watched it three times. Thanks again, Don, for getting that out so quickly, along with the cheat sheet. I am certain both will help me as a new Mooney M20 pilot.

I wish we weren't already busy for the weekend of the Kyle, TX date. Hopefully, this is an annual thing, and we can make it next year?!

Of the two options shown, I'd pick #1 without a doubt.

I regularly fly out of a larger private airport where there are three flight schools, two flying clubs, a helicopter school, a pilot shop, along with multiple A&P's and a prop shop. This is a non-towered airport, and things regularly get a bit wild in the pattern. To make matters worse, they are under a 2000ft Bravo shelf with the Bravo to the floor just 1.5 miles north of the field and a Delta just three miles to the east. This field is busy all day, and the facilities are in poor shape IMHO. Hangars here are full, waitlisted, and bringing anywhere from $450/month on up. The hangar culture abounds, and you can find people busy working on planes or just hanging out any day of the week. The airport near my home is in fantastic shape; it's a city/county airport and has built a new row of t-hangars within the past few years, with more planned on top of the five rows that already existed. They recently upgraded to all LED's and retopped the runway and taxiways, and have a very nice little FBO. There's zero hangar culture, most tenants rarely fly their planes or even show up regularly, and you're lucky if you catch someone in the pattern every few hours on a bluebird day. Hangars are readily available and at half the cost of the aforementioned airport. It's a nice sleepy little airport, and it always likely will be. It all depends on your location and the culture of that particular airport. If you visited a lot of the smaller airports here in Texas, you'd be hard pressed not to assume that GA is dying hard and fast. I think there's a positive future for GA, but I foresee a lot of it being centered around experimental aircraft as the aging certified fleets quickly wither away and those remaining continue to get more expensive and much harder to keep in the air.

This is true, but I imagine that will be fixed in a future update.

I'll purchase one. I just have to find a DVD player to watch it on now lol. ***Funds sent!!!***

What do you mount to the ball on the side of your headset?

I have been using FF and I am happy with it overall, but I was recently gifted a free year of GP. I plan to start playing with it here in the coming months to compare the two. I am not sure if I'll run both moving forward, but I am hoping to find one as the clear winner in my book by the end of the year. I've heard a lot of great things about GP in the recent months, so it gives me hope that it might replace FF as my new EFB.

What does Lasar sell that's actually in stock or still available? 80% of their items are OOS or show as no longer available. I'm not sure why you'd bother to list products that you no longer sell.

What is their asking price per unit if you order 10?

Good stuff! I stopped by their shop and met them today on my way to Bastrop. They seem like standup people, and I'd be happy to let them do my annuals going forward. It seemed like they were getting covered up with work on other makes at the moment due to other shops closing their doors, retiring, etc. I kind of got a touch nervous about the purchase of a "vintage" Mooney after chatting with him about the parts that are pretty much unobtanium these days.

Has anyone here used JD and Laura at SWTA in Smithville for annuals or service? Their proximity to me would be ideal to make them my go-to for annuals, service, parts, etc., in the future. I just want to hear some feedback on their shop and expertise, specifically, before I consider using them.

The prices skyrocket the closer you get to any major metro—best of luck in your search.

Similar paint to the Mooney at the LSFM at Ellington, N20XR. That plane just so happens to be the same pictured on the cover of "Those Remarkable Mooney's" by Larry Ball.

I was gifted a free year of GP, but I have yet to download it. I hoped to get through my Instrument ticket before I opened a new can of worms to play with, so fingers crossed I'll get to it later this fall. I have high hopes for it as a possible lateral move should FF go to crap or hike their prices in the coming year(s).

I came here to ask the same question. Great ideas suggested, thanks!

PM's sent!

I have been poring over M20C to J models for the past year now. I have long been a fan of the Mooney brand, and if I decide to buy a low-wing travel plane, I believe that the Mooney appeals the most to me for my mission. I've been to the factory in Kerrville (back when it was still in operation), and I have remained enamored ever since, but I have yet to fly in one. Some may find that odd that I can be so sure of wanting to seriously consider buying one without ever having flown in a M20, but based on their range, speed, efficiency, and value, as well as the heritage, they are at the top of the list. I have sat in numerous short and mid-body models, so I am fully aware of the back seat space and panel differences between the two. Before I can take the next step and get more serious about purchasing one, I'd like to get up in a Mooney to see if the spec sheet and expectations meet the seat of the pants approval. I live in the greater Houston area, and I am willing to travel in the state, a few hours in any direction, to get up for a flight if anyone here is willing to offer up such an experience. I would, of course, cover fuel expenses and lunch at a minimum in return. So if any of you fine gentlemen feel like helping a fella out or know of anyone that would, please reach out and let's see if we can get something on the schedule. Thanks!

I had no idea they existed, this is great news. Thanks for sharing!

I am not opposed to a fixer upper as I have restored many old classics and motorcycles so I enjoy the process. That said, the "beaters" I find locally are still at astronomical prices or they have damage that would require repairs beyond my capabilities. It's good to see that there are people willing to take on a fixer-upper as many old planes I see sitting at local airports are in very sad shape and I fear most will never be saved.

Great point!

Thanks for all of the replies thus far. I understand these are very different missions and desires but that's where I find myself torn between two worlds. I have considered getting both as I mentioned above so that hasn't been ruled out just yet. We do travel and that's where the Mooney will shine. We don't have any children so a short body could work for the two of us 90% of the time but I would like the option to be able to carry a second couple from time to time with light luggage for a short weekend trip. I have looked at both short body model M20's and J/K mid-body's as well. I looked at a 300 Missle a few weeks back and the performance of that engine definitely intrigued me but I am not sure how much variance there is in price between an overhaul with the IO-550 vs. a TIO-360?!

I have considered doing just that, grabbing a M20C/E and dropping back to a 170B instead of a Skywagon. Sadly the clean 170B's have gotten up to nearly 180 pricing in recent years which kind of muddies that prospect some but if I am patient I should be able to find a clean short body M20 and an early, mostly original 170B for the price of a solid 180.