Chris White ex-N205KD

We lost the GPS signal on our recently-installed 530W (installed March 2009) a number of times right after we put it in. Signal would be gone 5-10 minutes. Tim Mathison, the avionics tech at Gann, had me write down the freqs we were on when it went out. Gave him the freqs, he installed some kind of filter, and we have not had a problem since. Took about 5 minutes to fix and cost $0.00. From my very limited understanding, certain frequencies will interfere with the GPS signal, which the filter fixes. Make any sense to anyone? See attached pic for the error screen on the 530W.

I'm in at at anything less than what these coverted projector bulbs cost!

We had a '68 F for two years or so before we got 205KD, a 1987 J. When we went to start up and taxi 5KD for the first time, I remember distinctly the stark difference in smoothness and just *niceness* between the two. Even though 5KD had a 1600hr motor compared to the F's 300hrs SFRMN, it was the difference between a tractor and a Lexus. I turned to my partner and just said "Wow". But, it ain't free. All It Takes Is Money . Parker: 5KD's useful was 833lbs when we got it! GTOW increase and avionics upgrade has taken it to 1013lbs. Not bad!

You can install an Aspen PFD for $10k OR LESS with the rebates out there right now. And get an EHSI, GPSS, moving map, backup GPS, etc, etc, etc... Wonder how L-3 thinks they're going to sell any of these at $15k?

WOW! Very nice, Scott. Looks like a 2010 J-model! I'm jealous...

Gann Aviation in LaFayette, GA 9A5. It's a super smooth IO-360.

Great flight into Wilmington, DE today (hell, does it even matter what the destination is?), and thankful not to be job searching. Gave a curious line guy a tour of the Aspen at KILG. He was suitably impressed! His father is considering a glass install in his first-gen SR-20, while the son flies twins for a charter whenever possible. Taking my hangar neighbor, who's a brand new student, to breakfast in the morning via Mooney Air. He's a retired State Trooper (he retired at 13 years - I have more tenure than him!) who went to the dark side aka law school after OSP. We should have a lot to talk about, but I bet it will be airplanes, not law. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N205KD/history/20090909/1925Z/KILG/KVTA

Have you checked Anywhere Map? They have great tablet offerings, and I have been a satisfied customer (with a PDA version) for 5 years. Their PocketPlates for the tablet are high-res, geo-referenced, and can show terrain AND weather on the plate. You can also write on the plate with your finger, if you're one of those who like to make notes on your plate. My PDA (Dell x51V) runs the Anywhere Map program along with Pocket Plates. I do print out the plates for my destination, but I practice using the PDA plate all the time. It is very doable. See some pics I have of the PDA PocketPlates here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mooney205kd/PocketPlatesAnywhereMapMay152009?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmohpKVhILiDA&feat=directlink At Oshkosh, the CEO said that they are updating the PDA software for the end of the year. The Plates will be high res and I think display weather. They will also have the option of having actual sectional maps overlaid on the Anywhere Map GPS software. While small, it was VERY impressive running on their ATC (and cool)!! Check 'em out. Good company.

Holy schnikeys! Check out the duration of this Mooney flight: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N6577U/history/20090821/1155Z/KCJR/KLXT Registration says it's a '62 C-model. He's in the middle of a nearly 6-hour flight right now. And I thought my 6-hour trip to Naples was long - with a 4-year old!

Update! I talked with Darwin Conrad at Rocket Engineering's Oshkosh display this year. He's the owner and engineer behind the conversions. According to him, the FAA required him to provide support for the conversion for 17 years, else they would not give him the STC. He also said they still actively support the Mooney conversions, as they help cash flow for his turbine products. Claims to ship parts every other day for Missiles and Rockets. Finally, he said the company would STILL do a conversion right now if you want! All for the cool sum of... (drum roll plase) $129,000. Gulp. Quote: mooney205kd One really big negative, in my view, is what Rocket told me when I was looking at a few of their conversions in 2005. I asked how long they would continue supporting these, as they are now discontinued. Their rep said "oh, 10 years maybe?" That was 4 years ago. Keep in mind that there are quite a few Rocket (and Missile) - specific parts in the conversion that only they make, so upkeep in the next decade may become sketchy. Also, I think they only converted a handful of J's to the Missile, like 20 maybe? Very limited numbers. Another consideration, as Jim said, is the extra weight on the nose gear. Be prepared to replace the doughnuts frequently, and be mindful of the condition of your nose gear. It is now supporting much more weight than it was designed for. I've heard pilots who've flown these say that it is sometimes difficult to get enough nose-up trim for landing, too. Having said all that, I wish Rocket were still doing these. We just did an overhaul on 5KD, and if this conversion had been available, I betcha we would have done it! It would have made for a screamer! But, fact is, it's an orphaned conversion, or at least will be soon.

Good point, Scott. I guess I was assuming it was BOGO half off the last price they listed, $12.5k, which would make them $9.375k each. I could see them pricing it back up to $18k then doing this, making the price more than before. I'll ask on Thursday at OSH. If anyone else at Airventure can ask before then, be sure to post the answer.

We'll be there Thursday morning. Anybody else going?

Quote: KSMooniac We'll see. I don't think I would ever add TKS to my 201, even with a TN kit. Mine is great right now as an economical XC ship that can carry 2 guys and 2 girls (of reasonable size) and some light baggage on a 400-500 mile trip. I don't want to eat into my useful load so much that it turns into a 2-person traveler...not to mention the 40 AMU+ cost of TKS makes even less sense on a 100 AMU J than any of my other pipe dream mods. I have been stranded due to ice and had a few other drips delayed or canceled, but not enough that would convince me to add TKS to my plane. If I lived further north I might sing a different tune...

Quote: JimR I'm weathered in in Kentucky as I write this, en route to Dayton, Ohio from Florida to visit the U.S. Air Force Museum over the weekend. One of a million weekend destinations that would be impossible without the Mooney. Like Patton said of war (at least in the movie!), God help me I love it so.

Quote: Mcstealth What would be the usable load with the FKI fully filled?

Quote: airfoill Do you know which parts are specifically made by Rocket? I was wondering if those parts are something a good aircraft fabricating shop may be able to make. I've had to to take some of my "orphaned" parts from the Rajay turbo system that I have to a fabricating shop to have repaired/remanufactured.

Nice! I know you'll be pleased. And, hey, All It Takes Is Money! ;-)

One really big negative, in my view, is what Rocket told me when I was looking at a few of their conversions in 2005. I asked how long they would continue supporting these, as they are now discontinued. Their rep said "oh, 10 years maybe?" That was 4 years ago. Keep in mind that there are quite a few Rocket (and Missile) - specific parts in the conversion that only they make, so upkeep in the next decade may become sketchy. Also, I think they only converted a handful of J's to the Missile, like 20 maybe? Very limited numbers. Another consideration, as Jim said, is the extra weight on the nose gear. Be prepared to replace the doughnuts frequently, and be mindful of the condition of your nose gear. It is now supporting much more weight than it was designed for. I've heard pilots who've flown these say that it is sometimes difficult to get enough nose-up trim for landing, too. Having said all that, I wish Rocket were still doing these. We just did an overhaul on 5KD, and if this conversion had been available, I betcha we would have done it! It would have made for a screamer! But, fact is, it's an orphaned conversion, or at least will be soon.

Gann Aviation in LaFayette (luh-FAY-it), Georgia - 9A5 identifier - did my install in February of this year. They charged me $10400 installed. This was before the current rebates. Right now, there are at least $1000 in rebates for the PFD, taking it down even more than when I did it. I highly recommend Gann. Excellent workmanship, great personal service. Tim Mathison is the avionics tech, 706-638-7921.

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

The first of the "tall" panels was on the '88 Porsche. First long-body, but with short windows. The '89 TLS followed.

Quote: alun Allow me to clarifty.... the dogs knackers - ie. the. Dog's bollocks Meaning Excellent - the absolute apex. In other contexts the word bollocks (meaning testicles) has a negative connotation. For example: - 'that's bollocks' -> 'that's rubbish' - 'give him a bollocking' -> 'chastise him' - 'He dropped a bollock' -> 'he made a mistake' The reasons why the 'dog's bollocks' are considered to be the top of the tree aren't clear. It may be linked to an associated phrase - 'stand out like a dog's balls', i.e. 'outstanding', although I can find no evidence to indicate that phrase as being earlier than the 'dog's bollocks'. Dogs do enjoy licking their genitals of course but again, there's no evidence that links the coining of this phrase to that. It is most likely that this is just a nonsense phrase, coined because it sounds good. In that, it would join a long list of earlier nonsense phrases, e.g. 'the cat's pyjamas', 'the bee's knees' etc. Origin The word bollocks, meaning testicles has been part of the language since the 18th century, but didn't become used to mean nonsense until the early 20th century. The 'dog's bollocks' seems to have originated in Britain in the first half of the 20th century. Eric Partridge recorded it in Edition 3 of A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 1949: "Dog's ballocks, the typographical colon-dash (:-)." That printer's term, although graphic, didn't have any associations with excellence and probably isn't the source of term as we use it today. It is more likely that the origin lies in a late 20th century reviving of the post WWI period outbreak of exuberant coinages. Strangly I do also have an uncle called Bob.. and an Aunt Sarah. "Bobs your uncle" is indeed when things reach a satisfactory conclusion or as an alternative.... "Robert's your fathers brother"

Quote: Terry Here is a question if not too personal, is one about insurance. If this has been beat up in another thread please point me in that direction. How much (ball park) and with what company do you cover your Mooney? For a base line and to try to keep it apples to apples I would like to narrow it down to a 201 with a hull value of $80k +or-. To start things off I have gotten a quote from Avemco (they have had my C-170 for 15 years) for $1682/yr. This is full coverage and hangared. My Mooney time is less than 10 hrs in a M20C but many hrs in V-35s, T-34s, and all the Cs and Ps and a few others. My total time is somewhere over 25k. This sounds to me like a good price, my 170 is $1000 with 1/2 the hull value. I have had no claims in the 15 years I've had the insurance with them. Can one do better price wise or find a better co. than Avemco? Terry

Quote: Parker_Woodruff And I was about to buy yours until you decided to keep it! You've got a nice ride. If you need any help with anything down here between San Antonio and Longview let me know! Sorry to hear the deal on the F fell through...I hope Gary's doing ok! If I could finish my darn CFI I'd do your insurance checkout! On another note I know of at least 3 other guys who can.

Quote: LFOD I was working a deal with a friend of mine to purchase his plane, but there were issues at the pre-buy and it fell through. I have talked to Jimmy at All American about this 1984 M20J and she has everything I'm looking for. Im excited to possibly own an aircraft that isn't older then me (last plane was a 1967 M20F). 1984 M20J We negotiated a price well below what it is advertised for. Any thought/comments would be much appreciated. Matt