Hank

Tru dat, and both my phone and tablet have a calculator, but I'm not looking down long enough to use it (maybe if it had buttons I could feel?). I read somewhere one time a little thing to approximate the crosswind component: 30° off runway heading = 1/2 windspeed 45° off runway heading = 2/3 windspeed 60° off runway heading = windspeed This is mental math that I can keep track of, and it's close enough to keep me safe. I rarely fly when winds are > 20 knots on the ground anyway, just lucky I guess. (And I've only been to Wyoming in my Mooney the one time ).

Where did you get this? All I've ever seen is the gap test immediately after jacking the main wheels off the ground.

Just saw that myself. The pilot stopped talking to ATC; the transponder stopped; the pilot deviated off course on final; the Mooney landed gear up. I'm thinking there was an electrical failure (I once had a total electrical failure just after breaking out and turning inbound on a VOR-A approach). But he was in controlled airspace; airlines were also inbound to the same airport. I'm guessing he was mentally overloaded trying to stay on approach (one airliner requested ILS; what were ceilings?), and couldn't deal with navigation, worrying about ATC & Tower, worrying about the airlines, that he had trouble with emergency gear extension. But the landing airliner complimented him for being right on centerline!

Next time, ask him if you landed or were shot down . . . .

I've yet to find it. The highest i remember was at KRAP, gusting around 25-27 knots, 50° left of the runway. I took my IFR checkride at KCRW, using Runway 23; seems winds were on the order of 15G23, VAR 230-320. I passed . . .

I guess it's reputation as "forked tail doctor killer" is also known to your insurer . . . Were they still making V-tails in 1975?

Hmmm. May look into this to replace current cable internet at home. Paying well over $65/month for 100MB speed

I have Air Stops in my C, I generally add air twice a year, spring and fall when the temps change significantly. Last week, our highs were in low 60s; early this week was 80; yesterday was 52-54° from midnight until sunset last night: 32° this morning, and will be in high 79s for the weekend. Makes it hard keeping car and plane tires properly filled . . . .

For the RJ, that 1100 fpm was 3Gs. Hars to believe that a 1-wheel landing at 3g made the gear collapse, or that collapsing one main gear would be enough force to break off a wing at the root . . .

My mains (plain Flight Custom) date from the winter of 2011-2012, and are holding up well. Now that I'm based at a field with a taxiway, and don't have to backtaxi before every takeoff and after every landing, my nose tire is lasting more than 5-6 years, too. The current one (Condor) was installed in January '17 or '18, and is holding up well.

I have plain Flight Customs on my C. Upgrading to the -II or -III seems to raise the pricing significantly, and the only benefit I remember from their web page is a higher speed rating. Memory says the FCIII is rated to roll down the runway not only above Vg, but actually at my cruise speed . . . .

The answer will be in your Owners Manual, like below for my C: This was in Section II: Systems Operations, under Insrruments. Your number may be 12", 13" or even 15", I've seen all three listed in various different Manuals. If you have the push-pull throttle, you have easy access to adjust the alarm point, in my C it is inside the throttle quadrant, and access is painstaking.

@Sapphire1, when the circuit board on mine blew, I had just come out of the clouds on a VOR-A approach over WV, and it caused a total electrical failure. My Mooney was down for several months because whatever blew up was completely gone, and no one could tell what it used to have been. I eventually managed to find a replacement board, but no idea what I'll do the next time. @AndreiC, can you post the drawings here? Or send them by PM, and shoot me a copy too. Thank you!

How do you figure that?

Ancient, you say??? He's only midlife! But I miss the little Flight Guide book, it was certainly handy. Now I can't look up FBO details in the air if I decide to change my destination.

I get a faint tick from my beacon. Since I converted from high voltage to LED, it's quieter, but still there. So next time you hear it, vary.the RPM and see if it also changes; if not, briefly turn off your strobe and see if it stops. Then turn the strobe back on. Quick, easy and zero cost.

I've been told the main gear pucks can be replaced using the weight of the plane to press everything back into place, if those are all that you're changing out.

Mine is lightly textured black plastic. As seen on the right panel. I will look into the offerings above, but would still enjoy a dimensioned drawing or CAD file of the panel, since the hole spacing is the same for the overlay.

M20-C has a decorative.plastic overlay.on top of the panel. With that overlay removed (many are broken), the panel looks like this. Note the intact plastic overlay on the right side. My left overlay is in three pieces, having been broken and "repaired" by previous owners. It failed during pitot Static testing when replacing the altimeter, such that I can't really tell what angle the parts are supposed to fit together. (There are left, right amd bottom pieces.) I'd also love a file for this overlay. A nice person sent me a tracing of theirs complete with Aspen installed. So I'm trying to figure out making a good one-piece panel overlay for my side, with no measurements, and just looking at my "WWII combat damage" panel in the meantime.

Here in Alabama, all aircraft are considered (and taxed) as business property, even though I told the clerk at the courthouse that I am not, have not been in the past and have no plans to be in the future, an officer, owner or director of any company. The value went up significantly last year, then down a bit already this year. Seems it was $344 last year. When I lived in Ohio, registration for light aircraft was $20/seat each year. Every state is different. Just remember that out there in Texas, ya'll ain't got no income tax . . . .

Just finished annual and flew her home. It's was just under two weeks, and I didn't quite forget how to fly. The weather was gorgeous, mid 70s, clear skies until I took off; that haze was surprising after the clear winter days, and surprisingly low as i flew 20-odd miles home at 3000 msl, right in the brown yuck. And who doesn't like a video? My wife did this on my first takeoff, around the pattern and down, to make sure everything works right. Check out those fast gear moving up!

Check your local trophy shop. For a small fee, I can carve it in cherry, walnut or mahogany if you give me the final size (preferably not too small).

Do you think people take risks in an 800K plane that they wouldn't in a 300K plane?

I've heard of airboats doing that, but wasn't sure if it was due to operational reasons or theft prevention.

Just don't drop one of them on the tarmac!