KSMooniac

I don't think that system is even offered for sale any more, but I could be mistaken. You might contact Bevan Aviation in Wichita, KS for help with your Century... They can likely give you troubleshooting steps to isolate problems, and then you can send the faulty equipment to them for a bench repair. Unfortunately there aren't any great options on a budget. Maybe the Aerocruz but reviews are mixed in terms of installation, but performance is good. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

I'd bet money that it should work fine. J/K are pretty much identical behind the firewall. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

Correct... the installation is a ton of work since it connects to (typically) 2 coms, 2 navs, overhead speaker, 2-4 intercom jacks, and maybe some unswitched inputs as well as power & ground and perhaps a dimmer circuit. You can probably download an installation manual and look at the schematic to get a full sense of the task. It is further complicated if you have no service loops in the existing harness (like mine!) and need to add or replace a pin or two in a 50-pin connector that is not accessible behind a Garmin tray. It is a buy once/cry once decision IMO... just skip the intermediate steps and try to bring it up to modern greatness in one operation, including wiring your jacks for stereo, maybe adding a hardwire music input or two as well. It is worth it.

Audio quality is the best in the business. The soft keys work fine IMO, but I don't fiddle with much, honestly. The intelliaudio (3d spatial) can be configured easily, but doesn't need adjustment after. I upgraded from the GMA 340 and it is so much nicer. Newer Garmin has some extra features, but I think their audio quality still lags noticeably. You can demo at OSH or other shows and do A-B testing and really tell. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

It's that easy. Actually it is even easier... One 3/32 captive screw! Get the PS Engineering! Way better than Garmin. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

Concorde's eligibility list does not seem to break anything down by serial number. The RG24-15 is TSO, although they have an asterisk indicating potential fitment issues. The RG35-AXC had the same warning, but dropped right in to my 14V battery box just fine. I suspect it is the same for your newer J. Aircraft Eligibility list

Concorde RG-35AXC Edit to add that I retired my previous 2 of these after 7 years in service, each. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

In the US, you can order all of the records on-file with the FAA directly from them for a modest cost, like $10. They'll burn electronic copies on a CD and mail it. But they frequently don't have everything! Was your plane in the US when it was modified? If so, that might be a good place to start. I have no idea how other countries handle issues like this. If it was a field approval, then a 337 Major Alteration form should've been filed too. The FAA website also has a search engine for STC's so you can find everything that was available at one time or another there. I remember seeing IO 360 swaps when I searched everything related to Mooneys many years ago, but your variant doesn't stand out in my mind. The most unusual was the TCM IO-360 swap IMO. There is no such search for random field approvals, though. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

I've not yet attended a Summit as the fall is typically a lousy time for me to make a trip that direction, aside from the always potential hurricane issues. Winter seems like a fantastic time of year for a FL event, but maybe the rest of the country thinks so as well and makes it difficult to book something? If there is something in Jan/Feb/Mar (before spring break crowds) I would very likely attend.

Blackstone has an extensive database and is likely what you're looking for. They'll show the last few measurements for your engine (over time, of course) along with their database averages, along with some human commentary in the notes. Your engine must be an STC or field-approval replacement on your F and not typical of any factory Mooney, so I don't think you'll find any others here with their own data. It might be close enough to the -A3B6(D) models on the J for oil analysis comparisons, though. I used to do it every 2nd or 3rd oil change when I was a new owner, but quit doing it after my cam failed without any indication in the analysis reports. YMMV

One of the many tests they did years ago involved pulling bladders out of salvage yard airplanes that had been sitting outside for years, and then testing them with G100UL. I've not read any of the technical reports that went to the FAA, but read a lot on Beechtalk over the years about this evolution. They even got some WWII surplus bladders because the warbird community is very motivated to get rid of the lead as well. (Imagine cleaning 56 spark plugs per side, as one example!)

The Century you currently have installed is likely repairable, although there are far fewer experts and shops these days. We have resources in the US if you want to troubleshoot via correspondence to start, and then potentially send components over for repair. Bevan Aviation in Wichita can very likely help, and there is a consultant for troubleshooting, Bob Weber, that is reported to be very helpful with diagnostics before you start spending more money on repairs or swapping components. I forgot to mention in my first post that I spent quite a few hours trying to remove all of the KFC 200 brackets, components, wire harness, etc., and that was with a disassembled airplane, and in the case of the roll servo, a cut-open wing. Installing these things in a Mooney is very, very tedious with difficult access in many places. If you do have a legal path to install an as-removed autopilot system, I would encourage to try to find a salvage J with the system if you have the ability to buy the carcass and do the transplant yourself. Getting it approved is a difficult task, though, but perhaps you have a way. I made some money when I bought my salvage plane and acquired upgrades and spares for mine, but that is accounting for my labor as $0/hr and not paying any extra storage (long story). It was a worthy exercise for me, but obviously not for everybody. I imagine there are not a lot of salvage Mooneys in Europe, though, but there would presumably be less demand to purchase them and perhaps it could work out if you can find one.

@donkayemight be one of the first Mooney owners with the STC and even had a cameo in the video at GAMI's first CA event a few weeks back. Perhaps he can contribute a PIREP of his experience so far burning G100UL?

Not to rain on your plans, but I'm not sure that will be much of an upgrade, considering how old all of those components are and it does not seem you have any installation documents or drawings to assist. You will need all of the brackets and other accessories, not just servos. You would also need an STC Authorization (at least in the US) and I doubt that can be issued these days. Perhaps an avionics shop might have some original documents in deep storage somewhere, but I suspect you will not have much luck. I would also add people upgrade autopilots when their old system becomes unreliable, so the chances of finding working components is far below 100%. The only modern upgrade options are the Garmin GFC 500, Dynon, and BK Aerocruze 100 as far as I know today. Installation labor will be similar for any new autopilot installation, even an old Century system, so in my opinion it makes little sense to spend so much installing old equipment. If you have your heart set on an old Century, your path might be to buy a complete salvage Mooney that has that system so you can get everything you need, and you would have a pattern to work from during the installation. 10+ years ago I bought a salvage J with a KFC 200, but was not even remotely tempted to transplant that system into my J with a less-capable, but simpler STEC-30. Good luck with whatever you decide. I think it would be wiser to spend more for a modern option.

Correct, although there is an STC to put the TCM IO-360 on some vintage Mooneys so you might see one out in the wild now and then. Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk