Seth

The GFC700 is the best AP I've flown behind (different aircraft). Hopefully I won't have to do a thing for years! Just glad there's now another solution to drive the KFC200. -Seth

That's pretty amazing that the GI275 does drive a KFC200. If so, I hope they come out with the guts of the GI275 in a slightly larger format closer to the G5. But I have a solution now should i not want to move forward with a KI256A when it becomes a problem again. I purchased a used KI256A from Alan Fox which has been great so far (was a better updated revision of the one I had). Cost less to do this and calibrate an an avionics shop to my airplane than overhaul my old one. But next time I'll price out removing the Vacum pump, removing the standby system, and putting in two GI275's or a GI275 and G5, or whatever the avionics available are at that point! -Seth

Nice. I’ll have to look into that at some point. -Seth

Has garmin created the piece of equipment at this time to allow a G5 to control the KFC 200 autopilot? It is drivin by my KI256 I'm just thinking for down the line. What about the Gi275? Thanks, -Seth

Congratulations Paul - You have a great mentor and boss in Parker. -Seth

Good job. Amazing job. you kept your cool and dealt with a drastic situation. -Seth

Very cool Mike! Last time I was at EWR after dropping off a pax I was 17 in line for departure. Regarding BOS - they are friendly. However they get you if you come inside the FBO. They charge you a big security fee to go through their metal detector to get back out onto the ramp. If you drop someone off and they pay for you, and you never go into the FBO, but do park. Yes there's a handling fee but no crazy high security fee on your bill as you didn't use the metal detector (no joke). So, if you go to the FBO, and call in to pay, and never go inside, your bill we be less than if you need to go back out to your airplane - good knowledge to know before going to BOS. -Seth

Sales were down something like 30%. Every other liquor company is up (and this may have been stated already but I haven't read all the pages in this post yet). Somehow certain people think the two are related. -Seth

WIth so many airlines retiring aircraft types, what will be flying post COVID19? Retired or retired early due to COVID19: 747 (numerous varients), 757 (200 & 300), 767 (200 and 300ER), A380, A330-300 (with A330-200 later this year), some 777's, some E190's, CRJ200's So what will still fly: 737 (numerous) A320 A319 A321XLR will fly (replacing the 757's) 787 will replace the 767/A330 A330Neo A350 777X Regional Wise, CRJ550/700/900 ERJ 145, E170/175/190? Airbus A220 Correct everything I've missed if you can please! -Seth

I stand corrected. Still, the market is much higher than it used to be for M20J's and the vintage Mooney's in general due to the 172 and PA28 supply/demand curve due to flight training increases until COVID19.

Agreed fully. However, the reason the planes on the market are priced higher is indeed a supply/demand curve. That said, right now, demand has dropped due to the economy grinding to a halt. However, as noted, the lack of 172/PA28 airframes available, or thier bubble, causing M20C/E/F models, and thus J/K models to be purchased by those normally not interested in Mooneys, well, it's part of the reason for the lack of supply AND increased prices. It is kind of satisfying the real secret of how good a Mooney is for the former price is getting out. -Seth P.S. Dad Joke: What manufacturing plant creates okay product? A "Satisfactory"

It may be ever so slightly high like you said, however it's not that high. It used to be high. -The 172 and PA28 aircraft have been scooped up the last 3-4 years for flight schools to get pilots into the system for the pilot shortage that was real until COVID19, and will be real again in a few years as retirements continue and demand picks back up. -The high price due to demand of used 172 and PA28 aircraft caused those buyers to go elsewhere for their first airplanes as they could get a $50-$60k 172 or PA28 . . . or a M20C/E/F. These aircraft have since increased in price due to not as many good ones being on the market. In turn, people started buying M20J's, and those have jumped up as well. My Missile as an example is an 1983 M20J-300. Just a few years ago I'd say it was worth $135,000 to the right buyer, would sell in a short time for $125,000 and I'd give it away for $115,000 tomorrow if needed. Now, that's just not the case. With it's new prop and overhauled engine, it's worth every penny of $150,000, likely closer to $160,000 for the right buyer. Thus a 1994 J without the Missile mod, 11 years newer on the airframe, one of the last years the M20J was produced? $135k may be a touch high, but for the right buyer, it's in the ballpark and thus justifies why I think my airplane is now worth more. The good airplanes are not seeing a price reduction during this downturn. They may soon, but for now they are not. -Seth

I understand. I have two growing kids young kids, now a dog, and we've had two miscarriages in the last 7 months. So . . . the Mooney may be not enough cabin for me at some point. That said, maybe I'll just get a piece of something larger and keep the Mooney for when it's me or when I don't need 6 seats. Fun flying, shorter flights, etc. I keep eyeing Aerostar's and Chyenne II's. I'm also looking at PA-46 and PA-46T. My wife said pressurized if we buy a bigger airplane. I've always been amazed at the space in a PA-32 Cherokee 6 after flying one. A later Saratgo, or even a Lance may check the boxes as well. The Bonanza is a great airplane as well. If I didn't own a Mooney, I'd likey have a Bonanza. Another plug for a faster Mooney: Jump up 40 knots like I did from my F model to my Missile. It makes longer trips so much shorter. You actually log less time because you get somewhere faster. But, you get there sooner, without a fuel stop - it makes a difference block time wise especially. The 180 knot plus Mooneys, they are quite a step up from the C/E/F (I know as I did it). I was borrowing a 158 knot J while mine was in annual 4 years ago, and on a trip to North Carolina and back, and on my trip home, I felt something was wrong. I looked down at my watch and saw I had just clicked 2 hours and I was still 30 minutes from landing. Then I yelled at myself for noting "I'd already be there by now" when flying a really nice borrowed free of charge M20J truing at 158 knots. The big engined Mooney's if set up right can really deliver some speeds that change the game. As noted, if your kids move on when they are older, it'll be just you two flying again. A share of a larger aircraft while enjoying your personal Mooney is not a bad play either. The Bonanza TC is a good choice as you mentioned. It does have seats, you don't just do the $100 hamburger run ($200 in that airplane), and it gives you the speed you want. All I can say is also consider a PA-46 for pressurization. That may be what I do if I don't go Aerostar or Cheyenne II as an airplane either alone or with one or two partners. That may allow me to keep my Mooney. Or, get a big plane, sell the Mooney, and get a RV-8 for the fun flying. -Seth

Try contacting Parker Woodruff at Airspeed Insurance. 214-295-5055 He's a mooney guy and also is very active with underwriters right now. He's able to get aircraft covered as quick as a day or two. http://airspeedinsurance.com/ What are the two airports for the short flight? Good luck! -Seth

I plan to replace my 2015 I pad mini 2 with a Ipad mini 5. -Seth

I wrote about this in another thread, but decided to create a separate topic. My wife's headset is a Bose A20, and I prefer it over my Zulu and Zulu3. It fits my head best of any aviation headset I've worn. I learned may airline pilots fly with a Bose QC25 headphone & NFlightMic/UFlyMic transforming the headphones into a aviation headset/baby brother to the Bose A20. The Bose QC25 is no longer in production. It is a wired headset and is powered by a single AAA batter. It's lighter than the QC35. No bluetooth. I Purchased one on Ebay for $90.00 The Bose QC35 series I is no longer in production and has the same noise cancelling as the QC25 and QC35 II. It has a built it battery that you charge, it has bluetooh. The QC35 II has a google assist button. They go for $350 new. I purchased a QC35 series I on ebay for $107.25. I'm going to see which one works best with an NFlightMic or UFlyMic. The bluetooth is disabled when you plug the wire into the QC35. https://nflightmic.com/ https://uflymike.com/ Has anyone used the NFlightMic or uflymic? Any others to maybe use with ten QC25 or QC35? The case is much slimmer for storage as well. Especially if you need to bring the headset with you from aircraft to aircraft. Thanks! I was going to wait for an Oskosh deal to purchase the mic, but that may be some time off. -Seth

It is sad indeed. The video sure looks like there was an issue and the pilot tried to climb to get to a possible ejection altitude. Thoughts and prayers to the family. -Seth

I was actually going to start a thread - and still well, about using the Bose QC25 or QC35 headphones and a NFlightMic. It's not quite as good as an A20 from what I've heard, but they are darn good, and half the price, and you can then use the headphones for other purposes (phone calls, netflix, youtube, music, etc). I'm also going to consider using this setup for my kids in the backseat vs the numerous headsets we have. I have over the past twenty years picked up quite a few headsets . . . and haven't sold any. -Bose A20 - best I've used. They are my wife's, but since she doesn't fly as often since we had our first child in 2015, I use them almost all the time. -Zule 3 - upgraded from a Zulu 2 I purchased as part of a trade in on a 1970's David Clark given to me by a retired ATC guy. The ear seals were shot, it was heavy, and I wasn't going to use it, so it went toward a pair of Zulu 2's. When they needed a repair, the repair cost was $100. The upgrade to a Zulu 3 and a 2 year new warranty was $200, so I upgraded them. -Zulu 1 - purchased in 2010. -David Clark - Purchased 2004 - since modified with a smaller headband and oregon aero ear seals in 2018 for my kids (was my 4th headset) -Some generic $90-$115 horrible headset I purchased in 2005 so I could have a second headset for when people flew with me. It was headset #5 a while ago and I loan it out as an emergency headset if someone needs a headset. It's a head vice. I plan to sell this at some point. -2 child headsets given to me by friends. One is noise cancelling which is nice. -My daughter after trying them all on including the bose likes the Zulu 3 and Zulu original most - which is fine with me. However - I just bought a used pair of Bose QC25 headphones off Ebay for $90. They are AAA battery powered and lighter than the QC35 series (also bought a pair of ebay of the QC35 Series I - bluetooth no google help button, and internal battery to be charged for $107). The QC25 is wired only and lighter. Same noise cancelling. So, if you pair one with an NFlightMic or UFlyMic or any other mic, it becomes a Bose headset, lighter, and half price. Many airline guys do this as the cockpits are quieter than our Mooney's. That said, I need to test it out. If it's good, or nearly as good as a Bose A20 it's a win. The review's I've seen say it's on par with a Bose X or Zulu original, which is FINE. I can see this as a backseat passenger headset no sweat. Or maybe what my kids may use with the carseats. We can also simply plug in a table if needed for travel using these. So, we'll see how it works out. Go with what fits your head best. Try a lot. Too bad you can't go to Oshkosh this year to see multiple headsets and vendors in person. Ranking wise for over ear headsets I'd say from my experience: 1. Bose A20 2. Zulu 3 3. Zulu 2 4. Zulu 1 5. Bose X However, I'll let you know how the Bose QC25 and NFlightMic/UFlyMic/Some sort of other mic works out. -Seth

Guys, my wife told me long ago, this is NOT a man cave. It's a MANGAR -Seth

That's scary. Good job keeping your cool and not turning into an NTSB report. -Seth

Good to hear Mike! And good Dan for sharing your story with the world. You have made a difference. -Seth

1226 is what everyone squawks when departing or entering JYO, Leesburg, on the NW corner of the SFRA in Virginia outside DC. This way they don't have to be in touch with ATC once airborne to get out of the SFRA. They enter code 1226 into the transponder, and it's like flying VFR out of the airport as long as they head out to the NW. Same when coming back. Wish they had a code for GAI - but instead for VFR flights we have to get a discrete code prior to takeoff and be in touch with ATC until clear of the SFRA. That said, on busy days, I like having the controller's set of eyes looking for conflicts. I'm used to it, I have not problem with it, I just sweat when squawking 1200 - and shouldn't. -Seth

You tell ATC that "ABC Approach, FlightXYZ, as advised changing squawk code to 7500." And the controller says, "FlightXYZ, we copy, you are now squaking 7500." And then they take a deep breath, say some curse words, and hit the alarm bell/pick up the red phone/get a supervisor. -Seth

You have a ton of good advice here already. Congratulations on moving toward an aircraft purchase. Airplanes are all of a sudden less expensive the last two months as the market has taken a hit with COVID19. Top aircraft are not going to move much price wise, though you can likely negotiate a bid harder as there are not as many buyers willing to part with captial during this crisis. Do understand insurance rates are on the rise and can be a bit of a shock for those with low time in type. I suggest contacting Parker Woodruff. http://airspeedinsurance.com/ He'll help you determine your protection contribution. The money you save due to COVID19 will help offset the first year of insurance. Once you build some time in type the rates normally tend to go down a little bit. However, with the insurance market tightening, I'm just hoping rates don't increase too badly. You are going to really enjoy transitioning from a Piper to a Mooney on cross countries. Take care, -Seth

We are very open to this as well. Individuals have already suggested this and if they want to can do so when they contact Rick. We just thought with the current circumstances, it wouldn't be prudent to simply announce that. The generosity of the attendees of the Mooney Summit is humbling. -Seth