Seth

Congrats on your new purchase Ken. I'm based in Maryland right around DC and once you get your J up and flying we'll have to schedule another Mid-Atlantic Mooney fly in (and of course invite the NJ group). We've got a nice group of Mooney Pilots in this great region and we'd love to see your new bird in person. Happy flying! -Seth

Congratulations and welcome to MooneySpace. We have three (now four) Missile owners on this forum and they have been a big resourse to me. Only 47 or so J's were converted to Missiles and you do indeed have one of the hotrods of the fleet. I sold my 1967 M20F last summer and at the same time purchased my 1983 Missile. Speed control on approach is very important, as is proper rudder use. The adverse yaw in the Missle is much more prominent than in the F. You can dive a 172 and never get too fast (okay you can, but I'm making a point) with the Missile, if you go downhill she gets fast. As a newer pilot, make sure you get a lot of time with a Mooney specific instructor. The Missle is much heavier than the earlier Mooney Aircraft, and much heavier than a 172, but boy do those 300 HP translate the power to the pilot. Remember, GO AROUND if it doesn't look right or if you're coming in too fast. Just over the weekend I was given a slam dunk apprach in Allentown, PA, and I couldn't get down quick enough and though I had a long runway, and could have salvaged the landing, I simply went around, and set up for a much better landing (they had me at 5000 feet 6 miles out!). With the Missile, until you are comfortable and good at slow flight on approach, be ready to go around, it's a powerful plane and boy is the performance great. Enjoy flying, enjoy finishing up your private, and then go ahead and get your instrument rating - with a Missile you're bound to hit weather during a cross country pretty quickly. Looking forward to seeing pictures! Take care, -Seth

Quote: jwilkins Some airports were requiring a 'third lock' in the post 9-11 panic. The way I remember it, it could be the aircraft door, ignition, and then any 'third' lock such as a locked hanger door. At our flying club it was not required but we put a chain and padlock on the tail tie-down of the club aircraft in the shade hangers just to show how security conscious we were. The Aircraft Throttle Lock sold by ACS doesn't fit the Mooneys; you can however custom order the vernier version milled out to a larger ID from the manufacturer. When I was traveling around to a couple airports where the 'third lock' was supposed to be required I bought a Master Lock bicycle cable lock which was entirely plastic coated (including the lock) to put on the prop. It was not high security but it met the requirements. A couple times I forgot to put it on and never heard any complaints / reminders. For some time I carried it in the baggage compartment in case I got 'reminded'. I don't think it's even in the plane anymore. If you wanted to have an inexpensive and visible lock with at least some security there are some heavy duty cable locks made for motorcycles that would work better than the bicycle lock. Jim

Congrats - It's amazing how often the no/go out of caution for a potential 2000 foot layer or unknown clouds enroute turns into a go decision simply due to the IFR ticket - file and fly IFR as much as you can to stay comfortable in the system. Get an IPC regardless every now and then. Take care, -Seth

Hi Mike- I know at certain airports certain safety measures are taken to ensure props have chains or locks physically on them. I do not know if this is for safety of the airport or safety of the airspace - for instance, one of the DC 3 airports (those in the FRZ) at one point had to, and I'm not sure if this is still required, actually have a lock externally on the the prop. Now I do not know if that is still required, but a true theif or troublemaker would not let that deter them - really it's for perception only to a degree. I'm guessing the "lock" of the prop knob is similar, but realy that is only speculation. Required by the terms of the lease on the tie down / hanger area, or due to specific operating procedures for security purposes. This is a very unofficial answer, just speculation. Take care, -Seth

When I had the engine overhauled on the my Mooney Missile at purchase, I had the following worked on at the same time: -Engine mount overhauled -Prop flushed (it had recently been overhauled but there may have been metal contamination in the oil - as we found metal contamination in the filter) -Prop governor overhauled -Engine monitor installed JPI EDM 830 I'll look up my logs and see what else we did. -Seth

You may also want to make a deal to have someone fly it on a periodic basis during that timeframe. Other components also have issues when left alone and not exercised for a period of 6-9 months. Maybe someone you trust to operate the aircraft? Bring on a short term partner for a period of time that you can have leave the arrangement upon return or a letter at any time? -Seth

I noticed in the picture in the link that the oil door on the cowling is open. Do you think that is normal procedure for the fire department after a crash, maybe after the FAA inspection since both the baggage compartment and cabin door are also open (as in open up everyting so we can take a look and make sure there is no fire/fluids) or, do you think this leads to a reason for the emergency landing? I've never noticed the oil door open in other emergency landing/hard landing type situations before, but then again, I may have just missed it. Thoughts? -Seth

Ouch - Byron - I looked at those pictures from Phoenixavation Salvage. He did a great job walking away with the damage to the wings. -Seth

I have been there once and it was a good trip. It was about two years ago and I was treated just fine. We did not rent a car as I just took a taxi to the hotel. I figured after getting the taxi bill (and using a taxi one of the evenings) that I'd rent a car next time, but after hearing the prices of the car, it looks like I made out ahead with the Taxi. Fuel was expensive, but I was not charged a handling fee - I may have even had one night of parking waived due to the fuel purchase, but again, that was two years ago and a lot has changed. -Seth

I had a similar issue in my 1983 M20J Missile 300 during the prebuy. I noticed that the electric elevator trim simply "skipped" or "skidded" around and was not "smooth." It turned out that the the trim "clutch" had to be rebuilt/overhualed, and the cost was similar to what FBCK quoted. So that amont was reduce from the offer price and it has worked flawlessly since the repair at the time of purchase. Take care and good luck. -Seth

The attached picture is my Grandfather with his crew and the original Lady Luck. Well, it didn't attach, I'll load it into my picture section. The site is being buggy, I'll load the photo another time.

The B-17 you flew in is Texas Raiders and it just recently (well, maybe in the last few years) came out of a major restoration. Glad to see her flying again. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is located right near Savanah/Hilton Head International Airport KSAV. I need to make a point to get down there and see it as they are restoring a B-17 for static display and also have a specific section set up for the 401st Bomb Group. I'll try to attach a picture I have of my grandfather and crew. -Seth

The B-17 is my favorite airplane. You are so lucky to have gone up in one. My grandfather flew B-17G's in WWII. 8th Air Force, 401st Bomb Group, based in Deenthrope England. I was fortunate enough to visit Deenthrope in the late 1990s with my family - one of the runways is still in operation. When I was younger I used to watch reruns of the old TV Series Twelve O'Clock High, which was a TV series based on the Movie. The movie especially illustrates the stress of the great air war. Memphis Belle is another good B-17 movie. My grandfather died of a heart attack (his third) in 1971 - he was 50 years old. No on else in the family is a pilot (except now my cousin on my mother's side who I got into flying - he's now a regional first officer with American Eagle). I also have an uncle who was a Bombardier on B-24's in the Pacific theater. Irving, my paternal grandfather, flew 48 combat missions over Europe. His first aircraft was the Lady Luck, and was shot down over France. He bailed out and was returned to base. His second aircraft was the Landy Luck II - which he had to ditch in the English Channel. He finished the war in the Lady Luck III. That is why my former, 1967 Mooney M20F was the Lady Luck IV, and my current 1983 Mooney M20J Missile 300 is the Lady Luck V (also know as "Hank" due to the previous owner - yiou can PM me about that). I'm pretty sure I've got some of his flying blood in me. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to all these years later take him up in my Mooney. In the early 2000s, I was fortunate enough to fly in the B-17G "Fuddy Duddy" in Geneseo, New York, when the Geneseo Air Museum owned it before it was sold to Mr. Lyons in California 2005. One of my long term goals is to get a SIC type rating in a B-17. I know those are offered in the B-25. Another goal is to one day own or be a part owner of a T-6 and get my hour or two in a P-51. Glad you enjoyed your ride and thank you so much for sharing the video. Take care, -Seth

Congratulations on becoming a Grandfather! The IFR Rating really does open up the sky. You finish a lot more flights without having to worry about routing around a storm or passing through a cloud layer, getting stuck on top, etc . . . It turns your airplane into a true traveling machine - but remember, especially as a Grandaddy, don't push a bad situation and if you can't make it due to weather, wait until the next day. Again, congrats! -Seth

I had this mod on my previous '67 F model - It was on there when I purchased it. From what I have gathered from PIREPs of others, it does help ever so slightly with cooling and maybe a speed gain. A better speed gain, or better said, drag reduction, would be to rotate the brake calipers - another Laser mod - very easy to do. The brake calipers will not hang as far into the slipstrem when you do this and indeed will give you a knot or two speed gain. -Seth

Great design Parker - I like them both!

Good luck with the O2 issue parker - separately, you mentioned your 252 is going in for paint . . . did I miss the design thread? How do you envision 252BH looking in the near future? -Seth

Hello Tom and congratulations on your Mooney! I concur with Scott and Parker - try flying with the manual trim for a while. Though I do have electric trim in my current Mooney, my first Mooney, a 1967 M20F, had no autopilot and not electric trim. I hand flew it everywhere but it was easy to trim. Unless you are dead set on electric trim, only add it if a newly installed autopilot requires it (for the reasons stated by Tom and Parker). Again, congrats on your purchase, and welcome to Mooneyspace. -Seth

We live in a great contry where we have the freedom to fly. Have a great 4th of July and be safe out there tonight. -Seth

Just keeps getting better and better. Great third issue - Looking forward to the fourth. -Seth

Had a cross country back from Massachusetts to Maryland after attending a 4th of July BBQ in 2009. My girlfriend at the time and I knew we were going to miss the fireworks in Maryland so I told her to keep her eyes alert. The sun set and literally small fireworks explosions occured 360 degrees around us for the rest of the flight. We were up at if I recall, 6000 feet, so they were WAY below us, but it was neat that in every single direction you looked there was a small display of fireworks going on. We were closer to 3000, and 2500 near Baltimore when vectored to W00 (Freeway where I was based at the time) and that's just about when the fireworks stopped. That was a good flight, a great day, and a fantastic memory. As others have said - very different view and pretty neat. Most fireworks do not exceed 1000 AGL, but I'd get a briefing as they'll give you the information on NOTAMs that have been filed regarding many official displays. Maybe figure out where they displays will be and then chart a path to fly between them so you have good displays on all sides of the orbiting aircraft. Take care, -Seth

I'm sure everyone here is aware of the power outages from the crazy storm that hit the east coast on Friday (and much of Indiana and Ohio). Wind gusts of 91 MPH in Ft. Wayne, and 70+mph at IAD and DCA. I'm based at GAI and the weather was quick and very destructive. One row of T-Hangers had the roof peeled off and I know the flight school had a 172 flipped over (total loss - second total loss aircraft that is in my logbook!). A lot of trees down, a lot of debris, and continued widespread power outages. Anyone else have any damage? -Seth

I have the 2011 study materials for the commercial exam and am finally getting back to studying. I'm glad the 2011 and 2012 were not that different. If anyone gets any updates for the commerical exam, please let me know. Take care, -Seth

Congratulations David! You will always remember your checkride flight! Happy Flying! -Seth