Amelia

I was a little shocked when you mentioned the "mistake" of sending work to AeroComfort. Then I realized the "mistake" was costing you for four gorgeous seats and Euroleather. My bet is that you'll find that decision to be one of the loveliest "mistakes" you've made.

May be worth shopping around, if you don't need to be in California. My experience with AeroComfort in San Antonio was just great. All of the above- Two-tone top grade leather, custom-designed, Ultra-leather covering over panels and headliner, all French-seamed, leather glarescreen, excellent quality carpet, window frames, pockets, top-quality foam, windlaces, re-coated yokes, seatbelts (these last two by the people who did the annual) for a bit less than $10k, all told, including installation and shipping. Took less than a month, and the workmanship is mighty nice. I'm still smiling every time I slide in and take a deep sniff of all that pretty leather. Now I'm wondering what took me so long!

Sure would love to have a gathering of Mooneys there, so all you Mooney drivers, plan to join us in beautiful historic Edenton, NC on September 25, for a fly-in/community open house at Northeastern Regional Airport. It'll probably run from 10-5 or so. We hope to have area military big-iron, both static and fly-over demos, RC demos, food vendors, free airplane rides, exhibits from charitable flight organizations, etc. Camping and airplane parking are (as always) free, though you'll need to bring your own tie-downs. If camping and fair-food isn't your style, reserve a car with Enterprise, and book a room in one of the wonderful B&Bs in and around Edenton. There are some excellent restaurants, too. If Mama would rather tour the colonial historic sites and shop than talk airplanes, we'll find a ride into town. I'll post more info and reminders as time draws nearer, but put it on your calendar now. Hope it will provide a good excuse to meet some of y'all. ... And show off the prettiest airplanes ever built.

I generally print out paper charts for the most likely approach(es) on a flight I'm planning, but on many occasions, I've been cleared for an approach I didn't print, or changed my mind about an intermediate stop. I find that between PocketPlates on AnywhereMap (on an HP handheld) and the Garmin 530W, I'm fine-- the plates are current, readable, and the Pocket Plates feature that shows my position on the plate is nicely reassuring, too. Sure beats a box full of approach plate books and I can't say I miss filing Jepps, either!

I generally print out paper charts for the most likely approach(es) on a flight I'm planning, but on many occasions, I've been cleared for an approach I didn't print, or changed my mind about an intermediate stop. I find that between PocketPlates on AnywhereMap (on an HP handheld) and the Garmin 530W, I'm fine-- the plates are current, readable, and the Pocket Plates feature that shows my position on the plate is nicely reassuring, too.

Here's a hearty second to Put-In-Bay, Ohio, just north of Sandusky. No place I know of quite like it. A lot of years ago, back when the 25-foot-wide runway sported a decided dogleg in the middle, we landed there one Friday evening, pitched a tent under the wing, hiked into town with our little ones, observed a wildly enthusiastic summer weekend bar scene, took a ferry boat over to the Lonz Winery on Middle Bass- now sadly gone, I understand, and drank truly regrettable Lake Erie wine with new friends until last call for the ferry home, as our children and theirs chased each other through the nearly empty bar. We were happy to find a golf cart going our way back to the airport, with just barely room for two more hangers-on, and their kids. No-night-ops, we learned after drifting off to sleep in our wee tent, did not apply to medevac choppers, of which there were several that night, with attendant spotlights and earthshaking clatter. Great weekend, though. It's DIFFERENT, that's for sure.

Sure- be glad to, next time I'm out at the airport.

Consider Coshocton, Ohio. (I40) for a charming, laid-back stop. Last I looked, they were very hospitable, have a courtesy car, nice hotels/b&bs nearby, rental cars good restaurants, and cheap-ish fuel. It's some 60 miles south of Cleveland, but there's a neat reconstructed 19th century canal village (Roscoe Village) with good restaurants and cute shops. It is just a short drive north to Holmes County, with lots of old-order Amish culture. (Don't bother landing at Holmes Co Airport, 10G, though- no transportation and fuel's too high.) If you'd rather see Cleveland, itself, BKL, Lakefront Airport has a nice runway along Lake Erie- sort of like Meigs used to be. If I recall, there's a modest landing fee, maybe a not-so-modest ramp fee, and rather high fuel price, but you can walk into downtown Cleveland for shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and such. (Me, I'd prefer Amish country and Coshocton's small town hospitality, but despite its reputation, Cleveland's got much to recommend it, if you like cities.)

I bought one of the beige foldable cupholdlers from Amazon, screwed it onto the center console (?)just forward of the fuel selector in my 231. Works just fine, fits all size cups, folds out of the way. There was only room for one there, but it's just as well- favorite right-seater finds he's happier doing without on those 4.5 hour legs.

No proof-- except for the smug grin still on my face, and FlightAware saying I went from MOB to EDE two weeks ago in 3.4 hours, but the ground speed readout at 11,000 feet was 212 kt for most of the trip, at 12 gph. (Of course, the trip down that way into headwinds took longer, but such is life. STILL got there in well less than half a day.)

My (female) CFII, to my nonpilot husband who'd expressed surprise at the cost of some minor IFR necessity: "Darlin', you ought to know by now-- exciting women are expensive!"

Oh, dear! That IS quite a price. I hope it is just beautiful, and that you're thrilled with the job. I know I am, every time I open the door and the smell of new top-quality leather wafts out. I'm so pleased with the newly refurbished seats- I feel at least 3" taller as a result, and the Oregon Aero booster seat has been retired to the back. THAT's what you should have gotten for your investment... at the VERY least, I should think. Surely the interior shop MEANT to replace the old foam, and surely they're honorable enough to offer to re-do properly it at no additional charge, even covering your costs to return the seats to them. That just seems a most peculiar place to cut corners. Foam's just not that expensive in the overall scheme of things. If they won't, you'd be justified in being really mad. The web is a fine place to tell other people what you think-- it's got to be hard on business when customers find they've been cheated, and spread the word. As for MY big internet mouth, I hope Hector's phone at AeroComfort, Inc in San Antonio is ringing off the hook with potential customers who insist on a first-class job with a very fast turnaround.

Arggh.... NOW you tell me!

Well, I don't suppose I could reasonably hope that this paragon would have been located any closer to NC than Ontario! And so, the search goes on, for somebody near-ish, who LIKES Mooneys, and doesn't mumble ugly threats against my beautiful bird every time he skins his knuckles.

Do you know a GOOD MSC? Do share! And how I'd love grow to 5'6" with a 30" inseam!

I'd be interested in user experience comparing the Aera and AnywhereMap's new Quadra. Of course, if you believe AWM's propaganda, looks as if the far-less-expensive Quadra blows the Aera out of the water. Specifically, I'd like to know how sunlight-readable is each one? The Aera has had some poor reviews on that score, and I know my old AWM on an HP handheld has problems with bright sunlight readability, though I do like the many features it offers at a fairly low price.

Haven't flown across our continent in a couple of years, but the last time we did, we were aiming for Calgary on our way to Vancouver, and due to wx, ended up in Edmonton. What a neat city! If it's not more than a day or so out of your way, it's worth stopping, if only to enjoy the fine hospitality. We arrived during the week of summer- couldn't have been lovelier. Flowers everywhere in town, and wheat field from the outskirts to forever. Rented car, drove Ice Field Pkwy down the ridge of the Canadian Rockies and back... - gorgeous! And if there's a stronger word for 'pretty' than that, apply it to the flight over the top of the glaciers on our way west. Happy for turbocharger that made that hop easy and smooth at FL200. Alaska? Someday, I sure hope, but my Mooney ain't landing on gravel if there's a paved alternative and the engine is still working.

Somewhere it wouldn't look silly when you're all dressed up? Somewhere that it wouldn't sag too ludicrously when you're a wrinkly old man? But, on second thought, having a hidden tattoo, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? As my grandpa used to say, as pointless as winking at a pretty girl in the dark-- you'd know, but nobody else would...

No clue.... sorry.

Looks very similar to the drawing I have. The 3" ones are more involved than the simple little 1.5" flat plate I have, but if you opted to use his pedals, it would be fairly simple to install-- I think. Hey, it's only $26-- (and three days to go.)

On second thought, I think the plan is to mail them to Ned Gravel, who can pass them along digitally to anybody who wants to see what all that money will buy- besides a nice little shipping carton with LOTS of room inside.

I'll give that a try. Quality isn't great, but at least you can zoom in on the big file enough to read it.

Wow- I feel SO popular all of a sudden. Unfortunately, the drawings are not electronic, and the pages are big- regular drafting paper size, so hard copy is all I have. And I have three people- so far- who are interested in them. If I send the 1.5 drawings to one guy, the 3" ones to another, could y'all then pass them along to whoever else wants 'em?

I have the drawings for both sizes, if anybody wants them to see what comes in the factory kit and what's involved in the installation. I admit I was surprised to see how very little hardware I actually bought for my $$$-- and how long it took to install just the simple ones. Of course, the JB Weld holding the old pedal cotter pins in didn't help. The single most valuable tool turned out to be a hemostat, oddly enough.