Rustler

Quote: Mcstealth There is a newish airpark here close to Kerrville. Did you check it out? I know there are some lots up for sale. McStealth

Here's another second--third?--to the fact that a 430W is really the minimum GPS box for serious flying. And I'm biting that bullet this coming week with the installation of a new 430W and GPSS. The GPS steering is pretty inexpensive, as things go in the airplane business, at around $1500, and with that addition, you really have the ability to fly comfortably with backup in most weather. The installation cost for the GPSS is minimal when done with the GPS, and once it is done, that's it. The stuff I read shows more and more GPS approaches with vertical guidance being published at smaller airports and that the trend may well be for the ILS to go away slowly in favor of those new approaches. They cost nothing to maintain, and my experience shows the glideslopes to be much smoother than those of many ILSs. I went around and around about the 430 vs another box, and the Garmin ended up being the most cost effective. I found one (430W) with only 10 hours on it in Shenandoh, VA, that I almost bought ($8995 installed) but couldn't spend the time to have it done. I don't know if that one is still available, but if you're interested, post an e-mail, and I'll put you in touch with the installer. The other candidate was the 530, but I thought it too big for the panel where I wanted to put it. I'd still love to have one and an MFD.

The-Sky-Captain That's one of the things we liked the most. Granted, Arkansas ain't true trout country, but that part of the state sure looks like it would be interesting to explore with a rod and reel. How is yoursummer climate? Having grown up in east Texas, I can't imagine it it all that much different, but I don't know. I've got to fly on Thursday to ASL for a property closing, and I've given serious thought to going up to 2A2 for a visit. Any thoughts?

McStealth-- I say this with fear and trepidation, for fear it represents topic drift. No place is so idyllic as it seems or is represented to be. We like Dripping Springs, but there are things not to like, too, as in any place. I can't say I love plonking down $8000+ in property taxes a year for a school system that I think is fairly mediocre. I also don't like the prevailing political sentiment here that we "owe" it to our neighbors to educate their kids to whatever extent they feel necessary, and in the luxury to which their parents have convinced them is their right. I also have a 45-minute drive to HYI, where I keep 32H. I'd really like to fall out of bed into the hangar.

Don-- Prior to this aviation life, I was a Grumman Cheetah owner. One of the devotees of the Grumman is Les Staples of SkyTech lightweight starters. He lives in Pecan Plantation, and we had a Grumman gathering there once. I was impressed. We met a number of very nice folks and had a good time. I wasn't concerned with the existing runway, but longer is always better. We are flyfishers, which makes Holley Mountain interesting. Some of the Tennessee airparks are also near good fishing water, but some of them are really expensive--read $200K for a lot--and I just don't see that. That said, fishing ain't everything. We also love New Mexico, but I've not found an airpark there that interests me. ABQ seems like another city at this point, while Santa Fe is comfortably pleasant. Taos is high and already very expensive. I did a project there more than 10 years ago and loved it, but the handwriting was on the wall even then. I was into David Wayne Hooks not long ago, and boy! were there some interesting hongar/homes there. Don't know that I'd like the humidity again after living there for a number of years.

To us (wife concurs), the right airpark would be an ideal living environment. Emphasis on "right." Paved runway, lighted, avgas on the field and fire protection are about the minima. Approaches would be nice. I've looked into several places, and there are airparks in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Arkansas that meet those criteria. As an architect, my eye draws me to Holley Mountain in Arkansas. It looks like the site planning is excellent, and lot prices are quite reasonable. Pretty country, too. We're at a point where we could live almost anywhere and work as much as we want from there, which makes a decision to move much easier. One thing I'd look at very closely is the tax structure of the state to which one might move. Will they charge you annual tax on your airplane? Sales tax if it was purchased in a state which does not charge sales tax on plane sales? A bad state structure conceiveably could create a sizeable burden.

The comments I've read here seem pretty consistent with my experience. I've re-upholstered a Grumman Cheetah and am now in the process of re-doing my '80 Mooney J. In the Mooney, I started by removing the plastic myself but taking it to fellow who reupholsters on our field. He has wrapped the plastic with Euro Leather, and it is the single most outstanding part of the job. By doing this, not only do you not have to futz with all the cutting and trimming involved with new plastic, but you get exactly the color you want and a bit of sound conditioning to boot. This included, of course, the arm rests and those horizontal accent pieces that always seem to fall off if not installed properly. We secured the arm rests with bolts, and it really makes for a strong installation. The plastic was re-installed using new stainless screws and finishing (cup) washers, which is a nice touch. Wrapping the plastic was about $800. I am not going to do the seats myself. If the foam in the existing seats is tired, it is best to have an experienced person rip it all out, then rebuild it. Smells better, too. The best part of that process is that you can have the pilot seat sculpted to your body's exact dimensions and have a lumbar support built in if desired. If you're short, as I am becoming, you can also have an inch added to the pilot seat, which does amazing things for outside vision. Quotes here (HYI) are about $450 per front seat and about $700 for the back. Carpet is not difficult. Hope this helps. Michael

I'm a new member of the group and have just returned from a 2000-mile + trip in my new-to-me 1980 M20J. If anything fully sold me on the 201, that trip was it. On average, I was 50-degrees lean of peak and burning 8.3-8.5 GPH and showing about 145 indicated. I cruise at 23" and 2400 RPM and show CHTs in the 340-350 range.The aircraft has 1800+ hours both on the airframe and on the engine, and not a hiccup was to be heard the entire trip. My return trip was a classic example of "higher ain't necessarily better," since winds aloft increased about 15K per thousand feet, so I'd probably have hovered in the flight levels in a 231. For my money, the average pilot on average flights can't do much better than the 201. Operating expenses are remarkably low for today's aircraft, and the speed is exceptional. That said, if one's mission required long hauls regardless of weather, a 321 would be a really nice ride. Would I like 240K? Sure. But I can't complain about 170-200K across the ground, either. Michael

I've got a new-to-me '80 J and see little or no difference opening the ram air. I don't bother to use it. I'm about to make a trio from Texas to South Carolina and Tennessee and intend to use some of the idle time to try to determine whether it is my imagination or not.