Seth

I know there are many variants of Aerostars and numerous upgrades. I'd like to concentrate on the pressurized versions. One of my wife's requirements for the next aircraft (way down the line, I'm keeping the Missile for a long time) is pressurization. So the 601P, 602P, 700, the Superstar upgrades (701P, 702P) and anything similar I'd like to hear experience about. The good, the bad, and your thoughts. And yes, it's cool we have the Mooney tie in to Aerostars for at least a few years. -Seth

This is a separate question to the previous thread about airpark communities. And not specifically for Mooneys (it could work but be careful). In general, if you were to operate an aircraft out of a private strip on your property, or be part of an airpark community, would you favor a paved hard surface strip (asphalt, concrete) or a turf/grass strip? If you owned your own property it could be an improved meadow as well. It's a different question for a landing strip on your private property vs an airpark community, so please give the answer to each. Especially if you have firsthand reasons and experience, but this is open to everyone. I do know it's less expensive to get and operate a helicopter than to build a hard surface runway from scratch. Thanks, -Seth

We are actually looking at something kind of different - I'll explain later in this thread or a different one, but I am indeed interested Airpark communities or single residences with a landing stirp in the mid-atlantic as far west as West Virginia and as far south as North Carolina. Preferably Western VA or West Virginia. My wife does not want to be near a lake or ocean, but she does want a mountain backdrop. So the Shenandoah Valley could be perfect, and there's a house for sale at Eagle's Nest right now. But this is a longer term project. We're here - right here where we live, unless something drastic occurs, for at least the next decade. I was not aware of some of the locations noted: I know of Kentmorr very well, as well as Dogwood in VA near Stafford, and Eagle's Nest in the Shenandoah Valley. However, please do indeed name every airpark community you are aware of in the mid-atlantic, VA, WV, and NC. Maybe even PA too! Thanks, -Seth

Tom- I may very well take you up on that post COVID!! Thank you so much. -Seth

Fascinating Parker - thanks for the update! -Seth

I always have a ton on my mind Long term plans in this case. -Seth

Please share your experience if you live on a property with a runway of your own or as part of an aviation community. Is it grass? Paved? Length? Thanks! -Seth

That's what I was going to do with my M20F - we had spent so much troubleshooting and getting it working again 3-4 times over 3 years that if it happened again I was just going to order an LED - that was in 2008-2011 when they were more expensive too. I admit - Even though my Missile now has strobes in three locations and thus doesn't require the beacon, and I also have LED lights all over including a pulsing taxi light and separate landing light in the nose (Modified M20K cowling on the MIssile) - I miss having a beacon! Especially at night in big airports when the strobes can bother other taxiing aircraft. I have my taxi light on and nav lights on in those conditions. -Seth

Can you describe the procedure? Is it just a level slip at X airspeed? Thanks, -Seth

The turnbuckle inside my door snapped in 2013 with my wife on board (then fiance at the time). The door was not held shut entirely and the aerodynamic forces caused the bottom portion of the door to be pulled open about a half inch. She was cold during the flight despite full heat so I handed her a blanket I kept on the back seat, and she put it over her lap, tucked it toward the door, and it was instantaneously sucked out. She calmly explained to me what happened, I asked her if blanket was hung up on the horizontal stabilizer and it was not. So there' s navy blanket that was given to a property in virginia somewhere via air delivery. I slowed down knowing I had a problem, landed at Shenandoah Airport, had her go to the back seat, and used the seatbelt to double secure the door closed for the remainder of the flight. I had to have the turnbuckle replaced. It was not calibrated correctly at some point thus causing the overload and snap. Someone familiar with Mooney doors may be able to better adjust your door so it's easy to open and close but also stays closed. I've had the door pop open twice in flight - once before, and once after that. Both times its when I had a passenger close the door (who had demonstrated they could) and I didn't check it. Last time was about 5 years ago and I just check it was closed every time now myself regardless of what passenger is on board (except my wife who knows it cold). Have a mechanic familiar with the door take a look at the turnbuckle and make any appropriate adjustments. It should be easy to open and close. -Seth

Anyone know how to change a poll you already answered with the new MooneySpace setup? Yes, I answered my own poll incorrectly. Truth is an absolute defense -Seth

I noticed in different threads some of us have first hand experience in other aircraft. Not to detract from Mooney at all, but those who have first hand experience, please share your personal encounters with these other than Mooney aircraft. I'll slowly start threads on other airplanes. For now, please share your personal experience with the Cessna 140 and 140A taildraggers. Thanks! -Seth

I'll have to ask about the C140 at some point. Actually it gives me a couple ideas for different threads . . .

Foot surgery slowed me down a few years back - sat right seat while I had some fellow Mooney Pilots fly the Missile to keep her going. Hope you get to fly the RV8 more this year! -Seth

Happens a lot with Cessna's actually. Whenever it snows a lot or ices. They just want to be taildraggers for a day! -Seth

I've spoke with Darwin over at Rocket about it. Nice idea - not going to happen. Maybe if and only if 10 J owners lined up - BUT the price would be over $100k per ship for the upgrade, in which case they should sell and get a Bravo or an Ovation. Now, if the Mooney factory wanted to build a mid length body with a larger engine in it with a carbon fiber cowling . . . now you may be getting somewhere as the airplane would be lighter, and you'd get some useful load back. -Seth

As usual, I post a year end survey to see how much we have flown for the year. I realize 2020 was a different animal. As some of you know my Mooney didn't fly in 2020. I cannot wait to give a report on it soon on Mooney Space. I did get some time in Mooney Aircraft however in addition to my duties in the 135 world flying Cirrus SR22/SR20/SR22T and some professional training in class D level sims prior to COVID shutting down training. I received a few more multi hours as well in real airplanes. TT: 93.6 ME: 5.6 Mooney: 4.4 Cirrus SR20/SR22/SR22T: 83.6 Level D Sim (737 and CRJ): 52 I increased my overall time, received professional training, and passed my ATP written. I'm looking forward to many more Mooney hours in 2021. I love Aviation and am thankful to have the chance to fly. -Seth

Congratulations. Enjoy getting to know her. -Seth

Bump

Thank you! I actually did start a 2021 aviation goals thread but a few days early. I’ll bump that one However keep rolling with this one! It’s all good. -Seth

Thank you for the update Jimmy. Happy New Year! Any Missile's sell in that giant 72 bunch? You and spoke earlier this year and I'm simply curious. Thanks! -Seth

There's a shop in TN that, forgetting the name but I'll go find out, that has a wall with all the major AP components in GA aircraft built in. Kind, Century, etc. Bring your airplane there, they'll pull the different units and plug them in. It takes them not that long to isolate what the issue is. It may be worth it to go that route to figure out what's wrong. Then again, with the new AP's on the market, it may be worth it just to pull the old system and install an new one. Do a price analysis after calling this shop in TN. I'll update this post soon once I do my research and name the shop. Update: Pretty sure it's Carpenter Avionics near Nashville: https://www.carpenter-avionics.com/ They are located 10NM SE of KBNA at KMQY And yes, I recognize this is thread drift. However they also overhaul avionics so the OP can call for a quote as well. In addition they have used avionics for sale which may include a unit that works in your system. -Seth

Rocket is alive and well. They converted the M20J and M20K into the Missile and Rocket. They still hold the STC for both and still support both. And Rocket gave the largest gross weight increase in the Missile and Rocket than any other STC. You are correct that many of the STC holders are defunct. -Seth

I'll be your pilot. -Seth

Here’s to a better 2021. Hopefully the Mayan’s didn’t mess up 2012 and it was really 2021 they were predicting with 2020 as a wake up call. I hope to see many of you in 2021. -Seth