GeorgePerry

Long time since I posted on MS...Living in Louisville KY flying for UPS Airlines. I serve on the board of a youth non profit that helps kids learn to fly. Please check out our webpage and buy a few raffle tickets to help support youth flying and flight training scholarships. George Perry Captain UPS Airlines

Its that time of year, and if you like to support worthy causes please consider purchasing a few raffle tickets (link below). Flight Club 502 is volunteer run, so 100% of your donation goes right to the programs and flight training scholarships. https://rafflecreator.com/pages/33010/win-a-cessna-150-or-$20000

Posting on behalf of a air force buddy who just got orders overseas. This is a really nice plane that I've personally flown and its one of the fastest "J's" I've ever been in. He's owned it Since 2018 and purchased from a Navy pilot in Chesapeake VA. Prior to that it was owned by a UPS 747 Captain. Its always been professionally maintained by FAR Part 145 Mooney repair shops. Needs nothing but a new owner. Check flightaware.com to see how much its been flying.Basic Specs:1978 N201XK, M-20J SN 24-0496. $109,000. Fast efficient traveling machine w/300 hrs in last year. TTAF 5816, SFRM 849, PSOH 1299, flying weekly. GAMIs w/EIS. EDM-830. Avidyne IFD-440 GPS Nav/Com w/NavWorx ADSB, Garmin GTX-330ES Transponder, Garmin GMA-340 Comm panel, Apollo SL-30 NAV/COM. S-Tec S30 Autopilot, Shadin Fuel Flow, Rosen Visors. 54 gallon fuel bladders (no leaks...ever!). Annual good through 5/20, Text, call or email Ken at 803-549-6143 or francisF16@yahoo.com.

This is my last post and them I promise to drift back into obscurity again. I initially commented because I was so disappointed with Mooney's leadership back in 2014 when they were flush with Chinese cash that they didn't do the thing that would have almost certainly made them competitive again; Increase useful load and install a BRS. Instead the CEO dismissed my counsel and went a different direction. I am largely lamenting at what "could have been" if he'd only listened. Sucks b/c I'd loved it if Mooney could have evolved into a competitive manufacturer that could compete head to head with Cirrus. They didn't and the rest is history. Now Cirrus is the only "real" choice in the HP SE piston market place. I'm I in love with its looks...No. Am I in love with the way it "hand" flys...No. Is is the best option when weighing a variety of factors (Safety, Speed, UL, Price, Supportability, Comfort, Spouse peace of mind) Yep. All that being said, I wish Mooney had gotten their act together so "some day" I might have the option to come back to the brand. With this weeks announcement chances are that'll never happen.

My airplane was sold new (with TKS installed) with 1192 pounds UL. Aftermarket AC brought it down some but the prop change (MT composite) brought it back up. No doubt cost is a big factor. A good SR22 starts at 200K and goes up from there. I recently entered into a 2 way partnership. Its working out really well and that's made ownership costs very manageable. I've done two annuals, and both have been under 5K at Cirrus Service Centers, not an independent shop. Knock on wood, but nothing's broken and its been extremely reliable. Probably because I fly it alot.

Sorry you're right...Meant to say TKS was available in late 2003 early 2004

Late 2003 TKS (not FIKI) was an option. A/C is an aftermarket add on. MT prop weighs 55 pounds, 25 pounds lighter than a three bladed Hartzell.

2003 Gen 1 updated to Gen3 specs with Avidyne with STEC55X and dual Garmin 430W, Garmin Flight Stream 210, active traffic, ADSB, XM WX and ADSB WX

I spoke to Richard about his turbo / engine failure. He told me the first indications of the engine's demise happened well above the minimum CAPS deployment altitude, so if he'd had a chute he could have walked away uninjured, like the Walmart CEO who had a low altitude engine failure. (Video below) Mooney has only sold two "ultras" in the first two quarters of 2019. Cirrus has sold over 200 in the same timeframe. I suppose there will always be a handful of folks who make choices based on unique criteria...but the market has spoken and the numbers are clear.

Not really....Some posters seem to forget. I've owned several Mooneys and I really enjoy the way they look and fly. I'm not beating up on the brand. Two points I'm trying to make are (1) Mooney leadership was blind to the changing market and consumer demand. Now they are out of business. The primary reason Mooney is now defunct is (2) CAPS gives Cirrus pilots an additional layer of safety Mooney's, Bonanza's and Cessna HP SE planes just don't have. Those are unassailable facts and anyone who wants to take issue with those two statements have at it. As for the "salesman" comment. I'm don't work for Cirrus anymore so I don't have a dog in the fight. I'm speaking from my own personal experience and seeing many pilots perish needlessly while their Cirrus flying counterparts have a tool that has saved 186 people so far. https://www.cirruspilots.org/copa/safety_programs/w/safety_pages/720.caps-saves-and-fatal-accidents.aspx?1 I have no issues with anyone who choses a Mooney over any other brand. Just go into it with eyes wide open and understand the additional risk that comes with the decision.

As I said, others milage will vary. But you should ask Richard Simile (long time Mooney Sales Guy with Premier) what he thinks about BRS systems, and he survived. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2015/04/25/pilot-celebrates-surviving-crash-by-filming-his-plane-burn/83298100/ Its easy to say what you're going to do if a worst case scenario happens, its another thing to do it. As pilots we never rise to the occasion, we sink to our training. Most GA pilots don't train or practice low alt engine outs. So most GA pilots are likely to respond poorly if the situation occurs. A BRS gives average pilots an above average chance of surviving uninjured. The NTSB data proves this beyond any doubt. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/july/24/how-cirrus-reduced-accidents

Fair enough...I'll be sure to add this conversation to my long list of personal failures

The costs associated with maintaining a proven safety system are minuscule compared to what someone's life is worth. As an earlier poster pointed out there are several Mooneyspace members who are no longer with us that could be here today if they'd had the option to pull a chute. But the choice to fly a SE plane without a parachute system is an individual one and based on risk tolerance. When I was younger, I didn't think twice about flying a SE plane, day, night, good weather, bad etc...But as I've gotten older (and I hope wiser) my risk tolerance is not as high as it once was and I don't fly in SE planes anymore unless they have a BRS. But of course others milage will vary.

I get it. You're decisions and justification are based on emotions and personal preference, and not informed by facts or data. Just say that. Emotional justification is just as valid, on an individual basis, as any other method for forming an opinion or making a decision. But emotions aren't a good foundation to underpin a sound business model. And that's my point. I wish the Mooney CEO had listened to me 5 years ago. If they'd prioritized evolution to match market and consumer demands, they'd still be making great looking and great flying airplanes.

I'm not sure how you define "not even close" statistically or with factual data. Your argument conveniently does not include what you plan to do if your engine quits at night or over mountainous terrain, or low altitude? Heck, what if it quits on a VFR day at 10000 ft. You've still got to be on your "A" game to have a positive outcome. This doesn't even get into the "soft" topics and the psychology of what happens when your non-flying spouse or friend decides that they don't want to put their lives in your hands . etc, etc, etc....Lots of real world considerations, backed up by both safety and sales data that make the Cirrus a better choice and better tool. Most Mooney owners (remember I was one of them many times) Speed is the biggest disparity. But it's less of an issue than many might think. for instance, if we assume a 400 mile trip with the SR22 doing 170kts and the Mooney Missile or Ovation doing 185kts. The difference in block time between a Mooney and Cirrus is only 11 minutes. Gas is about the same since the engines are both IO-550's that have the same FF at 75% power. That's in the margins. If you unload your bags quickly and have the FBO bring the car to the ramp that time is recouped.