FlyDave

Your post, not your video, reminds me of when I took a friend flying in my Bravo after I had about 35 hours in it. We were landing at KMYF on 28L (~3400') in a fairly strong/gusty crosswind. Well, I don't know what I was thinking but I came in with full flaps, crab and kick, bounced about 3' in the air and promptly went around. When you do that you don't have to turn your head to see your passengers eyes bug out of their sockets and touch the windshield - they're in your peripheral vision at that point. I really don't think your landing was a bounce, but that's just from my PERSONAL experience.

I finally got my original iPad Mini moved over to the right yoke and the new Air 2 on the left yoke. For the Mini I used a short extension from the mount below the yoke to keep it more out of the way of people getting into the right seat. The Air 2 required the longer extension (3" I think) for an appropriate viewing angle for me. The Air 2 is absolutely FABULOUS (compared to the the original Mini I've used for 3+ years). Pics comparing the two attached.

I think we had 8 transient planes on the ramp and 2 residents in the hangar. It's nice to put a face and a name with a MS name. Thanks to all that made it. Weather was clear and a million at o69 this morning (see picture) - VERY unusual!! I picked up my IFR clearance in the air and never flew though 1 cloud. We all departed WVI VFR and my wife and I were VFR the entire way home. Darn weather forecasts! It would have been nice to have more planes but better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air then in the air wishing you were on the ground! Attached are some pics.

Airport management told me they have arranged parking for the 37+ airplanes between transient in front of the restaurant and the adjacent jet parking. Airport operations will be marshaling us to parking. KWVI is "an overflow airport for the Superbowl" and will be using us to work out the kinks for their "Really Big Shew" around 2/7.

Quick update: Fuel: They will have 2 fuel trucks running on Sunday for us. If you plan to get fuel there please request it from the truck right after you park. We may have as many as 37 planes and if everyone lines up at the fuel island before departure some may not get out until 8 PM . Restaurant: The fuelers should be distributing business cards for Ella's to people that purchase fuel. Per the airport manager this will get you a 10% discount on the pilot's meal only. When I talked to the lady at Ella's this afternoon she kinda sorta said if multiple meals are on one ticket they'll probably give the 10% on the entire ticket. My take is I'm not worried about 10% off on food ($1.50 each?) as they are working with us on the ramp and in the restaurant. Just my $0.02 (or $1.50, depending on how you look at it). The weather looks VFR over most of CA on Sunday. Right now NOAA is showing mostly sunny and 57 dF for Watsonville on Sunday - doesn't get much nicer than that on a winter Sunday afternoon! See 'ya Sunday, Dave

Sriram makes a good point. Be sure to monitor CTAF 15-20 miles out and be patient. I'll be there by 10 so if people generally plan to arrive between 10 and 11 traffic shouldn't be much worse than normal for Watsonville. The traffic pattern there can get pretty crazy without our 37 planes arriving so eyes outside the cockpit! The weather looks great for Sunday - nice VFR break from the storms we've had. See y'all on Sunday.

Perilous, How many people in your party? Dave

Notar, I installed Nu-Lites in my previous planes. I really liked them and had not problems with them. The big difference between the Fiberlight and Nu-Lite systems is that Fiberlight has 1 light source that is distributed via a fiber optic connection to each instrument. The Nu-Lites have a light source at each instrument and and electrical connection to each instrument. The difference being if you loose the light source on the Fiberlight you loose lighting to all instruments. If you loose a light source on the Nu-Lites you still have lights on the other instruments.

Wow Lance - that's scary! I change my oil every 25 hours and each time pressurize the exhaust system and look for cracks with soapy water. I haven't found any cracks or leaks yet. I hope I would find one long before it get's that bad.

I think most people are planning to arrive around 11. I'll be there by 10. Weather looks good right now: Sunday Mostly Sunny

I've been watching this thread since it started - interesting problem. If an issue moves randomly from one cylinder to another with the same symptoms, from my troubleshooting experience, you need to back up to the last common potential source of that issue. I don't see the mags/harness/plugs as a potential because each mag drives one plug in each cylinder (cold cylinder means neither plug in a cylinder is firing). Having both plugs or high tension wires or mags randomly fail at the same time in different cylinders is statistically highly improbable (though not impossible). I think it's the spider and FOD either moving from one port to another (I don't know what these things look like inside) or small pieces of FOD are breaking off upstream of it and lodging somewhere to block fuel flow to different cylinders. This is just my $0.02 but it will be interesting to see what finally resolves the issue, that is if they find a smoking gun.

David, Are you saying you are a student pilot - not a licensed ASEL rated pilot - with only 12 hours of dual in the last 4 years and 35 hours solo in the Mooney? If so, it appears you are taking your 3 small children flying with you - am I correct? Dave

Wow George! That's a lot more ice than I've ever seen. And the run back looks a bit hairy. With that much ice did you notice any difference in the handling or airspeed? There's another current thread about Icing and I think a discussion of your experience could add to that discussion:

Dan, Can you share your icing curriculum with us? Thanks, Dave

That's why I never look at the terrain page

PIREP: I flew 2.5 hours with Garmin Pilot on Friday night and this change made the iPad Air 2 usable at night instead of a blinding nightmare.

I spoke to the restaurant manager today and she said they can accommodate 55 people and she believes they can do that all in the same room. I guess we'll be an even closer knit bunch if everyone shows up. See 'ya in a week! Dave

Bob, I have had up to 1/4" of rime ice on my bravo with no noticeable degradation in airspeed. But one time, climbing out of Portland I accumulated at least 1/4" of clear ice in approximately 15 seconds - that got my attention. There were no airmets/sigmets for ice and the ADDS icing page ( http://aviationweather.gov/adds/icing ) forecast no ice. In my limited experience I have found what others say to be true: Ice is where you find it! Here is the M20K evaluation that discusses airframe ice - but that's a turbocharged plane: http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20K231%20Eval%20Files/M20K231_Eval.htm Dave

All, As of now we have 37 planes and 53 people attending. 2 people have not replied with the number of people in their party (mikefox and thinwing). We'll probably get a few no-shows but this is a pretty good turnout and I'm hoping the restaurant can support a party this large. I'll call them tomorrow morning. As things always go, a few people probably won't make it for one reason or another but, again, for planning purposes at the restaurant, please post any changes to your status here and/or PM me. As kmyfm20s stated above, right now the weather looks pretty good - let's hope it holds! See you a week from tomorrow, Dave

My wife and I went from o69 to KCRQ and back today to visit family. 2h10m there and 2h35m returning. Doing this in a car is impossible! Doing this on a conventional airline would not be pleasant. Doing it in a Mooney - Wow!! Icing on the cake: for the first time my wife said she was really comfortable in the plane with a blanket she brought from home and that the blanket was staying in the plane. She also said "you woke me up on final and I was so comfortable". Wow!! (again). That blanket IS staying in the plane!!!!

My wife says you and I are both a bit "disturbed".

Thanks for the update Brian. I'll keep you on he roster in case they get it back together in time for you. If they don't maybe you can get a ride from one of the other Reno attendees. Dave

I spoke to Rayvon the airport manager at Watsonville. We are all set up with him. If everyone that is signed up now shows up we'll have 35 planes and around 50 people. That will be tight in the restaurant but we'll make it work. Ravon has made the following arrangements: KWVI mgmt & Ella's-at-the-Airport confirm discounts for your Mooney Fly-In on January 10th @WVI. Fuel is $4.75/gal off the truck and the restaurant will provide a 10% discount off individual tabs (have to show fuel receipt) Discounts require your group consist of at least 20 aircraft flying in. I will follow up with Rayvon on Monday and again later next week. PLEASE POST HERE OR PM ME WITH ANY UPDATES TO YOUR PLANS. Thanks and I'm really looking forward to see you all! Dave

I called Arapahoe Aero in Colorado and they had a new arm in stock. The are overnigting it to me and it will be installed tomorrow. As long as I keep the fuel level below the leak I should be OK to fly the plane temporarily. I'm going to arrange with Greg at Troutdale to get it patched in the next couple of weeks. So I shouldn't have a problem making the altitude chamber ride in St. George or the get together (see my next post for an update).

How many in your party?