Seth

Happy Birthday! -Seth

My flight hours per year dropped when I got the Missile and my landings per flight hour increased as I covered more ground in the same time vs my finer M20F. That said, my F was still fast compared to any non Mooney.-Seth

It creates exclusivity which is a driver of want. I can't fault that and it is not an attack on Mooneyspace. -Seth

Not exactly what you asked but I looked at this data extensively about 2 years ago. my switchover point was around 600 hours where I had more hours than landings. Before due to training/proficiency, it was more landings than hours. Now closing in on 2000 hours I have many more hours than landings. Probably about .65 landings per 1 hour of flgint. -Seth

If there is an accident/incident on the expired temp CPL, the cause of the accident will be flying without a valid licenses. -Seth

In my K cowling on my M20J Missile, I have two PAR 36 spots. Thus I used two Aero LED's. One landing light, and one three position taxi light. So the landing light is on or off solid, and the taxi light I have set to be on, off, or blink. Usually during almost all operations the landing light is on. During taxi the tax light is on. During takeoff/landing/climb decnet, and cruise during the day I pulse the taxi light. During night ops I have it solid. I would go with the Aero LED version that has the pulse feature (three way switch) so that while in the air you can pulse your light - much easier to pick up. Of course, for 1/4 the price to go with a good LED bulb - that's not bad either if you are fine with not certified parts - which may of us are. -Seth

Correct - parts through MSC’s and there are still plenty of them. -Seth

Do you use this on your Mooney? If so then yes! Separately I may use this on my car. -Seth

2020 is NOT what we planned. So, many people had their aviation goals changed. What are your aviation goals for 2021? What did you accomplish in 2020? 2020 Goals: All goals failed -Get my Mooney back up in the air and report on 4 blade MT Prop (soon!) -Assist in holding largest Mooney Summit ever at new location in Tampa (postponed to 2021) -Earn a new rating, maybe two (ATP, Tail-wheel, maybe ground instruction, maybe written) - Passed ATP Written, completed ATP Ground Course with sim time -Depending on timing, maybe bring my daughter to Oshkosh for a day or two (she'll be 5) - Not going to attend Oshkosh period until likely 2022 2021 Goals: -Complete ATP (practical exam is all I need, likely in a Seminole or Baron) -Get my Mooney back up in the air and report on 4 blade MT Prop -Assist in holding largest Mooney Summit ever at new location in Tampa -Earn a new rating, maybe two (ATP, Tail-wheel, maybe ground instruction, maybe written) -Fly my daughter to FAA and walk aviation holy ground once it's safe to travel -Complete written exams for CFI -Earn taildragger rating -Pass 2000 hours flying time (closing in on 1900 now) -Reinitiate breakfast Mid-Atlantic flights (mainly Mooney but any aircraft accepted) as soon as COVID allows. Likely quarterly (used to be monthly). -Get my kids MD and VA "passports" to airports so we can start getting stamps when we land places for the first time. -Seth

My typical hours for 2020, 2021 Goals, and 2020 goals achieved/reached, etc Topics will be set up soon. However this is a different topic. In the UNPRECEDENTED 2020 with COVID, what Unplanned Aviation Achievements did you achieve? Let's hear some unanticipated feel good stories for the end of 2020. -Seth

We should take a funny picture when we touch up the paint again! We’ll get everyone out to the airport and take a picture with 12 people working it. -Seth

Thread creep occurring but I completely agree. I know a continental now United Captain who had two heart surgeries (one at 50 and one at 60) that would have otherwise led to heart attacks and death due to routine AME 1st class medicals. I know another friend who is also just recently a commercial pilot in the 135 world as his second career in his 50s and the “keep ‘em flying” AME told him he had a serious issue with his heart and he had surgery a few weeks later that likely would have killed him. He’s back up flying with a clean bill or health. it’s a fine line we dance with medicals. I also know a regional captain who was grounded for about 9 months due to a tech not conducting his EKG properly and then going through all sorts of tests to get his medical back - he was perfectly fine the entire time. -Seth

I use myflightbook.com too. I've slowly converted about 60% of my paper logbooks to the online system. I plan to keep both paper and online because I'm me, but new generation pilots are doing everything digital. I'm still in my 30s (late 30s) but love the physical logbook. It's really neat to see my tracking month to month, patterns of when I fly, etc. -Seth

I had them lose two samples, but likely it was USPS never delivering them. Both of the lost samples were sent from the same shop, one I used for a while to change oil, but not the shops I use for other services or when i send it in myself. After learning what I read here, I'll likely send it in a regular box moving forward. Separately, I learned this recently: Unless you send items priority mail through USPS they sit at a warehouse waiting for room on trucks. If sent priority, they get on the truck. Regular packages NOT priority only get on the truck if there is space. Otherwise they sit there. I had a piece of art sit in Chicago for over a week because it was a large box sent regular an not priority. It wasn't until both the shipper and I called numerous times that it magically was put on a truck heading out of that shipment center. Yes, this was recent and during COVID (not holiday season). It ended up arriving over 10 days after it was initially estimated due to lack of space on the truck for a regular package. -Seth

I purchased a used stratus 2 from a fellow Mooneyspacer. If you are not using the ADSB signal yet - grab this. It's a great piece of engineering and also a great backup if you a have another system. Mine is rarely used and in my flight back but I bring it as a just in case. -Seth

It's now been approved for FAA Pilots and Controllers - 2 days grounded after the Phizer vaccine to ensure there are no negative/abnormal reactions and then you can fly again. -Seth

But both of mine are not really silly airplanes.

I also always really liked the Meyers MAC 145 - I admit I'm particular to the Meyers name . . .

Jack Bally's Bally Bomber 1/3 B-17 that can seat a person in it! Glad he got it to Oshkosh in 2018 before he passed away in 2020. -Seth

I was asked how many different types of airplanes I've flown, not N numbers, and I have a question for the group: What do you consider a different type of airplane. There are many ways we could go about this but it boils down to three main ideas (there may be others): Here are some questions and though processes: 1. Is a Mooney M20 considered 1 type? Or do you count yourself as flying three airplanes if you fly an M20C (short-body carbureted 180 HP), M20J (mid-body fuel injected 200 HP) , and M20V (long-body turbo fire breather 280 HP). They are all M20's but they are different sub models with different engine types, horsepower, and handling characteristics: M20C, M20J, M20V. 2. Do you go by the ATC identifiers? M20P / M20T (which I heard many have changed/may be changing) 3. Do you go by what you put in your logbook type certificate? Beechcraft King 200/250 Air is a BE20, but that could be many different models I'm curious. No wrong answer, but if someone asked how many different airplane types have you flown, would each 172 (M, N, S, etc) count as a 172, or would each, like Mooney example above count? Or where do you draw the line? Just curious. Thanks! -Seth

Months - My order from MT took months, way longer than the state backlog. Of course it occurred during the early stages of COVID and thus that may have caused some of the delay. I'll write this up when I give my full review on what I've done with my Missile. The reason I went with MT was due to: -Smaller diameter -Lighter (both W&B and mass for startup) -Removal of full feathering prop (saves failure point and weight) -Newer technology -Better runway performance -Better climb -Nickel leading edge designed for turboprops (instead of the stainless steel leading edge) which is even harder -Equal or better speed up to a certain altitude (TBD) I have a 300 HP normally aspirated engine thus no turbo. The four blade causes more drag, thus at low power settings it will be slower. In a back to back comparison over a metal three blade, a Cirrus SR22T turbo was faster at all altitudes. The NA SR22 was faster until over 13,000 feet. I rarely go that high so I went with the 4 blade I'm worried about long term maintenance and paint issuses. Will explain more in my write up. I'd look at the TOP Prop. If you go into short runways a lot, look at a three blade for runway and climb performance advantages. Your cruise speed will likely be fastest with a two blade. -Seth

Glad you are okay! What altitude did the engine quit? -Seth

Well that’s not good news! I just literally in the last two weeks replaced my 8.5 year old concords with new ones proactively and for other reasons to be discussed soon. Hopefully these two will last as long as the first if not longer. I have a 14V system and 2 RG-35A’s in the Missile. -Seth

I'm sure post pandemic someone here would love to have a reason to fly and help a fellow Mooney owners drop off/pick up their bird. -Seth