fantom

Just in case anyone needs a graphic of the restrictions:

The weather isn’t cutting NASA any breaks, not even for the last space shuttle launch. Forecasters say there’s a 70 percent chance that rain or thunderstorms will prevent Atlantis from flying this Friday. The weather forecast improves slightly over the weekend, so we may not be impacted on Saturday for our FL luncheon fly-in. This will be the 135th and final mission of NASA’s 30-year shuttle program. Four astronauts will ride Atlantis one last time on a supply run to the International Space Station, after which we must rely on the Russians for a lift, and pay very big bucks to them. Up to a million people are expected to jam Cape Canaveral for this historic liftoff. Should be crowded in the air also, so ATC will have their hands full. Launch time is planned for 11:26 a.m. weather and shuttle willing. The launch of the final manned space shuttle from NASA, whenever it happens, will mark the sad end of an era.

All three post above are spot on.

"It would be great if anyone can show me a reference where 1.2 Vso is a recommended approach speed." If you don't trust Mr. Kromer's "old rule" (???) come fly with me, my friend!

Look forward to seeing you, Nick!

At our last luncheon we had 8 Mooneys and 1 Super Cub delivering 21 people to Ormond Beach for interesting dicussions and good food. Our next event will be this Saturday, July 9, at High Jackers Bar & Grill located on the Flagler Airport (XFL). Future Events are all on the second Saturday of the month starting by 11:30AM: July 9, Flagler (XFL) Hi Jackers August 13, Lakeland (LAL), Air Harts Runway Cafe September, 10, New Symrna Beach, (EVB), McCharacters Bar & Grill October 8, Spruce Creek, (7FL6) . Please E-mail Dave (daveanruth@aol.com) by Thursday night to let him know if you're going to try to attend so he can alert the restaurant of an approximate head count. Hope to see you this Saturday, Dave, Ruth & Gary

The POH is very specific in NOT labeling those speeds on the first chart as either "suggested" or "recommended" because they aren't. FAR and the Pilot's Handbook have lots of good general data, and if that's your source for determining Mooney landing speeds, and it works for you, then so be it, but you're coming in too fast. Some slow flight, just above a stall, and maybe holding it off at 5 feet all the way down a runway with a Mooney experienced CFII will help. As I and others have suggested, try 1.2 X the stall speed shown on your second graph as your over the numbers flair target, and you'll get safer landings, fewer teeth jarring touchdowns, shorter rollouts, less stress on your landing gear, lowered chance for fuel leaks, less probability of a prop strike, and still be able to impress your passengers with greasers. I guarantee it. Suspecting you don't believe me when I say your dragging it in too hot, maybe Bob Kromer, former Mooney test pilot, Mooney President and MAPA Director can help you: http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20J%20Evaluation/M20J_evaluation_report.html Good luck, and come to a Florida luncheon again so we can discuss it further.

Quote: Becca Recommendation: Stay 4 more days and see last Space Shuttle launch ever.

I believe those are approach speeds used for simple, and conservative, landing distance charting purposes only. Nothing recommended about them, and they are fast! At 2,500 lbs gross weight, with gear and flaps down, a decent Mooney driver IMO can touch down at 1.15 of the 53 KIAS stall speed, or just over 60 knots. At 2740 lbs, same configuration, and 1.2, that's still about 65 knots. Seems to me that it isn't so much what speed works for the plane as it is what speed works for the pilot. YMMV.

How about my favorite twin Mooney? http://www.aso.com/listings/spec/ViewAd.aspx?id=135342&listingType=true&IsInternal=True&dealerid=

Congrats, Ken.....I hate you, cause now I'm looking at them ;-)

"Crazy as it seems some people have been known to retract the gear rather than the flaps due to distractions while on the runway or turning off." Yes, but probably not in Mooneys given where the flap and gear switches are. Once you've gone to the flap switch a couple of times right after touchdown, it's quite helpful and very easy. The last time I witnessed an accident, it was a Piper whose brakes had locked up after the tower requested him to attempt an immediate turn off the runway for departing traffic from a crossing runway of all things. The Piper wound up in the grass after doing a 180 and had some damage. Whomever was instructing you to always exit the runway ASAP wasn't doing you any favors, Dave. A 200 hour CFI, perhaps?

...but some folks who have to fiddle with 2 or 3 panel mounted GPS's; 1 or 2 yoke mounted GPS's, a couple of glareshield antennas, and a kneeboard iPad just don't have the time to look outside. I've flown with a couple of these people, but only once!

That jerk was neither a USAF pilot or a Mooney pilot.......

OK.....OK....in case you can't figure it out

Ummmm....when things go to poop, GPS service is turned off and VOR's are gone, you may miss that good ol' reliable and simple radio beacon. YMMV.

Thanks for listening, Craig. Very nice addition!

Flew with Parker this AM in some crappy SoFL WX, and both he and the 252 did great. A very smooth ride and a kick in the pants when that turbo kicks in.

Just because he's a non PC jerk doesn't mean he should lose his job and livelihood. Out of place - yes, stupid - sure, offensive - no doubt. A lot worse is said every day by some members of ALL the groups in question, BUT adequate discipline is not to fire him, or them. Trying to force altered attitudes, better behavior, enlightened views, or different values on others' via threat of job loss or civil legal action is, IMHO, just as wrong as what the pilot said, and doesn't work anyway.

Parker is getting to pad his post count due to this SW bug ;-)

Amen to that sentiment.

...and the real early M20 was made of wood ;-)

Yeah....but those hours were in a J for the most part, not a high flying, in the clear, K. Actual instrument time for you will be harder to come by in the future......you lucky dog!

You make a good point, Parker. So you don't want to get some good WX flying experience down low in the clag, while you build your hours? ;-)