mooneygirl

Here are two California options for next weekend: If you would like to attend just shoot an email to: MooneyAmbassadors@charter.net and let us know which you will be attending. Your RSVP means a lot to those planning for parking. Mariposa Airport EAA event, September 25, 2010 The Mariposa Airport is a gateway to the beautiful Yosemite area. This fly-in was organized to highlight the importance of this GA airport. Please come and show your support and represent for our company. Point Person: Ron McBride. Tehachapi Celebration of Flight, September 25th, 2010 Breakfast served 7 am to 10 am. Free airplane rides for kids aged 8-17. Raffle and door prizes. Aircraft manufacture displays, automobile cruise-in, bake sale, tethered hot air balloon rides. Point Person: Austin Kalb

Hey Bob, I have a couple of "yes" responses and four "maybes". Hope you guys have a blast. Let's fly those Mooneys!

Scott, Wonderful! You are truly engaged. That is awesome. I wish more folks had your passion.

One thing we need to keep in mind is that I am sure representatives from the factory are reading this thread. Imagine how hard it is for them to be viewing this, trying to to their very best work, and yet be tied by policies that are at best, behind the times. I don't know about drum beating and flag waving, but what I do know is that we can support our company through these difficult times and remain optimistic. Savvy businessmen? A bit sexist. Perhaps we need another female CEO at Mooney. What have you all done for Mooney or for GA lately? What have you done to be part of the solution? Instead of grumbling and being negative, perhaps we can turn our strong feelings into supportive actions.

What we decided to do was purchase an Ovation that had been used for a business machine. It had a lot of hours on it. With what we saved on the purchase cost, we were able to put into a kitty for overhaul when needed. After attending Mike Bush's workshop on TBO being a state of mind. We felt more comfortable. Mike says if it has a bolt on it, it is an accessory. If you need to replace an accessory you do it. Otherwise keep the bottom end happy. The Ovation is our business machine and allows us more payload. Don't let a higher amount of engine hours freak you out it all other indicators are strong: LOP, oil analysis, wobble test, borescope. For our needs, we decided the Bravo or the Ovation. The only Eagle we were comfortable looking at was a Screaming Eagle and there were none in our price point, which is very similiar to what yours is.

That is a good point Tony. One further point on Mooney Factory service is that statistics show for the months of June and July that the factory was able to turn around a part within 24 hours. That includes order, fabrication, and shipping. The factory is doing more and more insurance service work [when our owners forget to put the gear down and the like] and has gained an excellent reputation for quality and timely service. I don't really think that being concerned that your airplane will be locked in a hangar is valid. Yes the production line is in hibernation, but the company continues to support its fleet. What can we do as individuals to help support our company? Check out our Mooney Ambassadors! Fly your airplane! We are there, trying to keep the name in the forefront. Because we all know that Mooney is an American legend.

In preparing for the Oshkosh Ambassador presentation I was contacted by two Mooney owners who took their airplanes to Kerrville for service. These testimonies were unsolicited. I thought I would share these in light of the concerns of this thread. ---------------------------------- Philippe:Flew from Paris to Kerrville for a new interior "I finally made it back to France without having to swim thanks to a very dependable aircraft and great maintenance.I just want to point out that only a very few stock aircrafts are capable of crossing the atlantic with only one stop. Proof is that I managed to join Narsarsuaq-Keflavik direct, when a Cirrus SR20 behind me had to stop in Kulusuk adding a very expensive night stop in Greenland. Same from Kevlavik to Scotland with the same "modern cirrus" having to stop in Vagar (Feroe Island). Although my aircraft is 30 years old, it feels brand new to me, especially with the fantastic interior refurbishment it has gone through. The 5400+ miles I flew from Paris to Kerville were, on top of a fantastic experience, mo(o)ney very well spent. The dedicated and professional Mooney team will always make the difference." ------------------------------------ Robert: Rob owns a 1998 M20 J Rob is a CFI and an A&P but chose to take his bird to the factory. Mounting of a new 406MHz ELT Antenna under the dorsal fin in place of the old 121.5MHz unit. SB-282 complied with by replacing the no-back spring in the landing gear servo motor. The new management at Mooney have a realistic view of their market and are very genuine people. These are regular guys that care about us as customers and care about keeping the existing fleet in top shape and providing excellent service. Everyone is optimistic about the economy improving to start up the production for new aircraft in the future. In the meantime they are here to stay which is good news for all of us.Everyone on the shop floor and in the offices was friendly, concerned and took an interest in performing the maintenance with quality and customer service with pride. The enthusiasm on the floor seemed to be contagious right on up to the offices or is it the other way around with the new management? The new management really seem here for the long haul and are focused on making the company what Al Mooney envisioned.

You gave it your best shot Jason. I thought the Livermore workshop had been moved to Stockton, CA. I remember Jerry saying that at Oshkosh. I believe that he said his very first seminar ever was at Stockton and he was coming full circle. Perhaps you have more updated information. You really did a great job Jason. Kudos to you!

I am taking my E model to Troutdale Oregon for service [Advanced Aircraft Systems] and I have to give a 50% payment when I drop off the aircraft. The remaining 50% due upon completion. And as well, when we took the Ovation for paint, we paid 50% up front. I am writing this because I was hoping to illuminate that this is a fairly common practice.

Here is the latest installment in the Forbes Wheels Up publication. http://blogs.forbes.com/wheelsup/ As promised, my next topic was business aviation.

Hi Clarence, so funny. I was just on the phone with a mechanic who is going to build me some new baffling. My CHTs in cruise are in the high 300s. Lately on climb out it is hard to keep under 400. I have resorted to getting my first 1000 feet of altitude going 105 mph and nosing over to 130 for a cruise climb, to keep my number 2 cylinder below 400. I will watch this list for comments.

Oh come on Mr. Hope, they were elderly Seals on Hospice. So Green Peace wasn't upset....

Here is where I got my signs: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Mooney+street+signs&x=0&y=0 As a matter of fact I just ordered a few more....can you say ADDICTED???

I love that she got the Mooney tail on the right way. Al Mooney would be proud! I bought our Gabriel [10 years] the My First Logbook, which has some fun activities and provides a detailing of where they flew and what they saw.

The super safety seminar at KSEE Gillespie Field was so much fun. Fernando Torres flew his J. Paul and Gina, owners of a lovely 252 were my host/hostess. Maggie II was on the ramp with her prop tags on. We also ran into fellow Mooney lovers Donn and Barbara Larson and Larry Palmer. I would say there were about 500 in attendance. The seminars went all day, it was just such a wonderful event. JJ Greenway from AOPA [their Chief CFI/ASF] presented two workshops and then introduced me as a Mooney Ambassador and said "if you own a Mooney, you need to talk to this lady about the Mooney Ambassadors and what they are doing for GA" As well I was able to announce our December 4th Toys for Tots event at Oceano Airport. John and Martha King were introduced as "straight out of their work release program". Martha quipped that she "knew John's landing was bad, but she didn't think it was criminal!" John and Martha opened with a slide that said we are "special people" because we are pilots. My kids used to say I was special, special Ed. special. Ha! They meant it in a loving way We had dinner on Friday night with Rich, from KSEE, Paul and Gina, myself and JJ and his wife Candy [she is running for state office! http://www.candygreenway.com/ ] Flying in was not too much of a problem. Following dropped me out by French Valley Airport, but was able to talk to Ramona tower and transition and stay under the Bravo airspace. The rattlesnake hills provide an interesting approach to 27R. Flying "home" to my folks house KJAQ was 2 hours and 40 minutes. And my bum was numb by then! Here are some photos. Can you guess Maggie's one speed mod? Let's all keep up the good work promoting GA and supporting our wonderful Mooney Airplane Company.

I bought the Mooney Street metal sign and the Mooney Only parking sign on Ebay many years ago. And yes I do have Mooney Ambassador Shirts!

Scott, thanks for sharing. That was funny!

Jason, you are doing a wonderful job helping to promote Jerry's seminar. Way to go! He is a legend. It was so nice to spend time with him at Oshkosh at the MAPA tent. What a wealth of knowledge. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you congrats for doing something so nice. [and the education you will receive will be awesome]

This Saturday, September 11th. There are four of us Mooney types going...anyone else like to join in? This is an awesome chance to see the John and Martha King without handcuffs, Mike Busch from AVWeb and LOP fame, and JJ Greenway, AOPA ASF's chief CFI. We are getting together for dinner on Friday night... if interested either post here or send me an email. Here is the information I have: The Super Safety Seminar will have 11 seminars featuring John & Martha King, JJ Greenway from AOPA and Mike Bush from the Savvy Aviator. Please look in SPANS event list for the specific announcement for the topic that interests you and register on-line for that seminar to receive WINGS credit. You need to register separately for each seminar you wish to get Wings credit. The San Diego 99s will conduct a flying companion seminar for non-pilots that want to know more about what that person is doing in the left seat. The Gillespie chapter of the EAA and the Gillespie Pilots' Association will be conducting Young Eagle flights from 10:30 for as long as they can for potential pilots who are 8 to 18 years old and have completed an application signed by a parent or guardian. People flying in for this event should park on the transient ramp and call the telephone number posted there for transportation to the Air & Space Museum facility. Seminar Schedule (Speakers, topics and times subject to day of event change):

We received this inquiry from the Ambassador guest book: Any ideas??? I am writing on behalf of my good friend Stefano, owner of 1957 Mooney M20 s/n 1169, registered in Italy as I-HUPF and based at Bresso airport (LIMB) near Milan. Pics of the aircraft are available on Airliners.net http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=I-HUPF Stefano's plane has been modified by changing the original seats (both front and back) to car seats, maybe more comfortable but definitely much much heavier. Stefano says that he could save up to 100 pounds should he have the original seats back in Papa Fox! We would need to get in touch with people knowledgeable on the older Mooneys to get advice and hopefully find the original seats. Our local A&P has tried to reach Mooney but nothing came out, unfortunately. If anyone has experience on the M20s, please get in touch with me. Much appreciated. Thanks for the great initiative Jolie and Mitch, looking forward to meeting you on my next trip to SoCal! Ciao, Luca Milan, Italy (often in Pine Mountain Lake E45 when in California)

I grew up in an "aviation" family as my father was a trainer in the Army Air Corp. He flew at Rankin Field in Tulare, CA with the likes of Tex Rankin and Sammy Mason. He met my mother on a blind date, and took her for a ride in the Stearman. When she was able to tolerate some aerobatics, he decided she was the girl for him. When I came along in 1962 by Dad and brother had already rebuilt a Champ. Later we had a Bellanca, then onto the M20C in the mid-70s. I grew up going to airport days with my parents. Every year we would fly across country to Indiana to see the Lucas side of the family. That was in the days before headsets. And as well, we would often times fly from California up to the Seattle area. I remember flying into Tulare, my Dad started letting me make radio calls "N6619U on base runway 31 Tulare". My Dad used to land and then say "another successful flight of Haywire Airlines". My father used the utmost care in deciding when to take his family in the airplane, what routing, weather and we never flew at night. He is and will always be a hero to me. He served our country, he instilled in me the love of aviation and he is very proud of the aviatrix I have become.

Ken, very sorry to hear about the loss of your chief flight instructor. It might be helpful as a learning experience for you to post details as appropriate when the investigation continues. I am sure you all are in shock.

2nd Mooniacs Fly-In Oxford An EMPOA event not to be missed Check out the photos for all the details, as the original press release was in french!

Better late than never Russ. Look forward to meeting you and your beautiful A model in Colorado Springs!

13.5 for me in Hood River, Oregon. It was a beautiful day, hardly any wind, just lovely. I remember I had the BEST landing. I just hooted on the radio!