Seth

Jose- What do you know that we don't? Quoted today: "A senior military officer told Reuters that the plane "changed course after Kota Bharu and took a lower altitude. It made it into the Malacca Strait." "If the plane did head west, that would appear to rule out sudden catastrophic mechanical failure, as it would mean the aircraft flew around 350 miles at least after its last contact with air traffic control, although its transponder and other tracking systems were off." http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-jet/military-cant-say-definitively-whether-missing-jet-flew-west-n49761 -Seth

I personally would monitor approach on comm 1 and call the tower on comm 2 letting them know the loss if contact and let the tower handle the hand off or tell me to stay with approach: That way I'm still in two way communication with approach and can get the tower to switch me over. It may mess up my usual protocol of atis/ground on comm 2 and approach/tower on comm 1. It's like when you are monitoring approach on Comm 1 and talking to the FBO on Comm 2 to call a taxi. If approach calls you, switch the transmit key back to Comm 1 and answer. -Seth

True - I was considering doing the same. Since I earned my IFR Rating in 2009 I've had a few IPC's when the weather is too nice or I'm unable to get a certain number of approaches in. Simply getting the IPC once a year or so is not a bad idea at all. -Seth

After my plane being down for annual and the horrible weather this winter, I finally was able to conduct an IPC as when March 1st hit, I went out out of currency. Touched down at BWI this morning as part of a touch and go on the second approach. Only used half flaps as it was a long runway and the approach was pretty stable - also, this way I didn't have to adjust flaps for the takeoff. For thefinal landing of the day, I used full flaps. I don't normally conduct touch and go's in the Missile, but I thought this one out and decided with the instrutor there, go for it - also, I wanted to touch down at BWI I usually don't take off before dawn, but it was a great early morning flight and I may be making a trip later this week so I needed the IFR currency. It was about half and half night vs day flight this morning. -Seth

Congratulations! I wish you many fun, enjoyable, and safe flights. -Seth

From IRAN???!?!?!

Alan - Did she sell? There are some guys at GAI who may be interested in an F, but are cost conscious, and this may be a good fit for them - unless they need the space of an F. -Seth

The last few trips I've flown into FRG - Farmingdale/Republic and then jumped on the Long Island railroad (quick taxi to the the station). They have a good airport and the prices though high, are not Teterboro, JFK, etc . . . I had landed at Linden once, but it was just . . . odd. -Seth

Kind of like a ME-262?

Also, the March Issue of Mooney Flyer has formation flying information in it. I looked up the Bonanza training groups and here is a localish group already with a planned get together. B2OSH NEBG Formation Clinic Location: Martinsburg, West Virginia airport located in Martinsburg, West Virginia When: 6/7/2014 - 6/8/2014 Host: Thomas Toth Sr. & Woodie Diamond There's also one in Barnes if that's closer to you. Take care, -Seth

George Perry was going to put together a formation training clinic years ago and may still do so after he returns from his deployment. That would have occurred in North Carolina. Maybe it's something NJ / Mid-Atlantic Mooney Group can put on? Get a few instructors and have a very safe environment with a few flights one afternoon to teach the basics with a briefing beforehand and debrief afterward. -Seth

I tend to tap them to stop rotation just before gear up. As mentioned, the rotation of the wheel on the arm of the actuator increases the force required greatly to retract the gear - less wear and tear on the retraction system (actuator or human arm, and components) if you tap your brakes to stop rotation of the main wheels prior to raising your gear. Obviously the nose gear will Continue to spin, but the wheel retracts differently with the nose gear. -Seth

I've had three bird strikes - all at night all between 6-8,000 feet. One in my old aircraft, two in the new one. All three went through the prop and glanced off the copilot side window and then hit the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. Blood streak/smear on the copilot window at slightly greater than 45 degree angle and then similar smearing/debris on the tail. Thank goodness they were small birds. That was a big one in the video. -Seth

I plan to get mine balanced in the next few months

That's great news Erik!!! I'm curious what your actual speed gain was once you test it.

Good response - hopefully the right buyer will come along. Again, beautiful looking Bravo. -Seth

Karl- That is amazing. I may very well order some as I have two switches in that type of shape (broken clip). Fuel Boost Pump and Nav Lights. -Seth

I dined in that 737 at Walnut Ridge in 2011 or 2010 on my way to Oklahoma to drop off a buddy and then to Texas for a wedding. It was my previous F model. Great stop. -Seth

I did that with my 12 year old BMW M5 last summer when the starter gave me a problem a few times before I was able to replace the starter. My fiancé thought it was hysterical that I was parking the beast up hill so if it didn't start I could just get it rolling and pop the clutch. I did this for quite some time before finally replacing the starter. The starter was intermittent - it had a dead spot and about one out of every 8-10 starts it wouldn't do a thing. Sorry for the thread creep. Back on track - the current avionics are AMAZING even since I started flying just 15 years ago. In just 2008 I got my IFR ticket without an in panel GPS and am amazed by the addition situational awareness a 430w or even a portable 396/496 can add. Now with Ipads/tablets - it's really amazing. I'm looking forward to adding some sort of receiver to get ADS-B as well as synthetic vision on the IPAD. -Seth

Good job Erik. That must have made the controller's day. Also, just good work taking care of 8 puppies. -Seth

My grandfather flew B-17's in WWII. His airplane was the Lady Luck, and he bailed out over France. The Lady Luck II ditched in the English channel, and the Lady Luck III finished the war. My first Mooney, a 1967 M20F Executive and was "Lady Luck IV." I currently own a 1983 M20J Missile 300. It is technically "Lady Luck V." However, we call HIM (even though the step is missing) by the nickname "Hank" due to the previous owner (PM me - it's a good story). We often call it "The Missile" as well. So . . . Lady Luck V, Hank, The Missile. http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/35085-/ -Seth

Great looking airplane. Only concern I see that people will have is the engine time. They'll price it as a runout even though the top was only 600 hours ago. How is she running? -Seth

Cessna purchased Beechcraft, so they'll soon control the King Air (C-12/MC-12), Texan II and Scorpion. Low budget air force? -Seth