Seth

Funny - My first Mooney, my former F model, did have bladders. This one I knew at some point would need a reseal as it does not have bladders - however the long range Monroy tanks can't have bladders (unless there's an STC I don't know about). Regardless, update: I checked the streaks when i was at the airpark a few minutes ago after last Sunday's flight and as it tunrs out, NO NEW STREAKS. So - fuel is not leaking anymore, yet there is still fuel in the outboard tanks: Fact: 1. Only had streaks when below freezing 2. Only had streaks when nearly completly topped off with 98 gallsons (full one side, 3 gallons missing on the other - from the short flight). 3. No streaks when 75+ gallons are in tanks 4. No streaks when above freezing (though, some of the nights since have dipped below freezing) Possibilities 1. Sealant had issues but expanded back when it wasn't quite as cold 2. Sealant is not working or has leaks on the top of the outboard/extended tanks on both wings 3. Pressure of 95+ gallons of gas caused the seal around the transfer tubes from extended/outboard tank to main tank ot leak during cold weather. My gut is it's number 2 - that the top of the outboards need to be patched/resealed. I admit, in the past, I often to not leave the full 98 gallons full in the hanger, as that cuts too much into the useful load (588 lbs full fuel, 1067 useful load = 479 full fuel useful load). However, I have often filled it all the way prior to flying home or flying somwhere, and if there was a leak I was unaware of, I burned the fuel off fast enough to notice. So, we'll see what they say when they take a look at the annual, but right now, with 75 gallons in the wings, she's not leaking. I did reach out to Paul at Weep No More and should I need a reseal, that is indeed where I'll take it. He knows the airplane from the broker who was invovled in the sale to me and sent a great email. I will be in touch with him soon as he is familiar with N1165N. I have no pictures of streaks as there are not any at this time - but I cna always top her off, let her sit, and see what happnes again . . . but I'm not going to right now. -Seth

I'll get some pics if the leaks continued after Sundays flight - I cleaned them off before the flight. Both wings were leaking midway down the wing, right between the inboard and outboard tanks. Yes John - both sides. It's about a foot outboard of the Landon gear - all of it came from the same inspection panel on both sides. I'll post some pics after I get back to the airplane on Sunday (or tomorrow after work). Thanks for the good wishes, I'm already in touch with Paul at weep no more for quotes in case it's a reseal. -Seth

After my LOVELY flight to College Park, Maryland a week and a half ago, I topped off with fuel at their good rate. My Missile has the extended tanks, so I took off with the full 98 gallons on board. It was a short flght back to GAI where I touched down very softly, as I usually don't land with 90+ gallons on board. When I opened the hanger this past Sunday, to my disgust, I had blue stains on the underside of the wing running from about where the connection between the tanks run on both sides. So, it has been FREEZING in DC/MD/VA the week between the flights, and thus, the "leaking" fuel may have not been evaporating as quickly. OR, with the cold temps, the connections/seals between the extended tank and the main tank may have expanded/contracted, etc, and some fuel leaked. It could also be that I filled the tanks completely, and the tops of the extended tanks may be leaking a bit. I've flown 250+ hours on this plane and have never had a fuel leak that I noticed (at annual last year, a small amount of residue and very tiny leak was noted in the connection between one of the extended tanks and the main tank - it was a very easy fix. The plan goes in for annual in about a week and half, so I'll have that issue looked at then. I do not think it is a leak in the mains, as the streaks are coming from more outboard than where the mains are located. If the Monroy tanks are leaking completely, I may have to patch or reseal them. Not what I wanted, but I know Mooney's and know it's something I'll have to do for the entire aircraft and some point. -Seth

Haven't purchased it yet . . . I will in 2014

I know - just playing with the idea - i really hope your Mooney finds a new home. Hopefully it will sell during the holiday season - great looking bird - but should it not, does the "holiday discount" expire and the price goes back up again? For $91k, someone's getting a sweet ride. -Seth

That is GREAT news!! So from what it sounds like, Mooney has to authroize it, and they will, which means the cash infusion is . . . working. -Seth

I have really come to love the ipad - Mine did however overheat once when it was left in a sunny part of the cockpit on a hot day and lower level flight - we never made it to cool air. So it shut off for heat, and i put it on the floor behind the co-pilot seat in the shade, and gave it about 20 minutes, it was fine after that. I've determined for that reason that my next ipad - the Ipad mini retna, that I'll get sometime in 2014, will be a white one, to help ensure it reflects vs absorbs heat (I have a blakc one now). -Seth

I too use the Logitech keyboard/case with my iPad2. I resisted the iPad but then flew with a buddy who had one. I was spending more than $300 per year on charts, so the way I looked at it, even with a $75 subscription (no, I have not yet gotten the GeoReferanced Plates but really need to) Foreflight after two years + iPad = charts. So, I have my charts, and a free ipad, which I've really started using for other business items as well. I keep all of my phone call messages in there through a notes program (Ghost Writer) as opposed to a small notebook that I used to carry around in my briefcase and with the keyboard, I can respond to any email in wifi range even faster than my work computer. If I'm not in wifi range, I just use the keyboard wtih my iphone as it's a bluetooth keyboard and then it's just as good and quick to respond. I agree with you that Apple products are inflated in price, however they do work very well. I have not yet convinced myself to get a macbook as a computer, and I'm again staying the PC route for my next laptop, an ultrabook, either the Sony Vaio 13, Acer S7, or Dell XPS 13 (only if our Tech guy can get a REALLY good deal on it through office bulk orders). -Seth

Dave- Congratulations on your sale - i know it's a hard but smart deciscion. Have you thought about a T-6 Texan as your next plane? you can pick one up in the $130k range, fly it for a few years, and it's one of the few classes of airpalnes out there that appreciates with time. You can sell it for equal or more in a few years. It's slower than a Mooney, a heck of a lot of fun to fly, has two seats, and with some sweat equity you can really clean one up if you buy it right. It's a stick, taildragger, and holds a whole lot of history behind it. Two seats, not four, tandem, and good enough for some cross country. Just a thought. -Seth

I had heard a while ago that there were no new MSCs because there was no new factory training going on and the process to authorize new MSCs had been put on hold. However, due to the new infusion of funds in Kerville, maybe this has changed. OR - as stated in Bob's post, maybe this is ViaJet with a new name, but with the original MSC certification and it's being brough back. That's the more probably explanation, however, to hear that a system is back in place for new MSC certification is HUGE if it is indeed not ViaJet. Still - glad you'll have an MSC in the seattle area. -Seth

I have a secret effect when purchasing aircraft. In 2008 when I purchased my First Mooney, it was an F model - I looked at two F's and one E. The F I purchased was suggested by my local MSC. I closed the deal in July 2008. The market then CRASHED. in 2011, I sold my F and Purchased the Mooney Missile. I walked away from a 252 after a pre-buy went bad, and my offer didn't get accepted on the first Missile - The Second Missile, the one I purchased, occured in July 2011. The Flash CRASH occured soon after with instability in the market. So, when I buy an airplane, the market crashes. Best leading indicator out there. I looked at three different airplanes and walked away from a deal with a prebuy on a 252. It happens - that's what pre-buys are for, you spend a little to save a ton. You'll find your plane - keep looking - see what is for sale here. What is your price range and what are you looking for mission wise? IFR? VFR? Light IFR? How many passengers? Etc . . . -Seth

I think that's a great idea and would be willing to help: 1) Get forms singed by FSDO near BWI (about 1.5 mile drive from the airport) Specific hours - I'd have to look at the paperwork but I think 9AM to 3PM or something like that, with a lunch break where they don't sign. 2) Get fingerprints completed at DCA - in the ops area - you park in the parking for the airport and they stamp your tickets you don't have to pay - also very specific times, usually starting at 7:30 AM, not open for lunch, and only for certain timeframes in the afternoon. 3) Drop off the paperwork at CGS - they are open from morning until evening, even on weekends. 4) Call the phone number to activate your figerprints once a week until they show up in they system and get activated Steps 3 can be done any day of the week. Steps 1, 2 & 4 are only during the week Steps 1 & 2 must be in person. Thus, I would suggest to knock this out in one punch, flying into GAI (near my home) or BWI (more expensive), getting the first form signed at BWI, I'll drive whoever comes to DCA, we'll get the fingerprints, and then to CGS where we'll drop off the forms and then head back to the aircraft for departure. This would have to be during the week or there is no point, as 2 out of 3 physcial locations will not be available. I'll find out the exact timing from the FSDO and finerprint office and then post a topic. -Seth

Congratulations on your new fire breather!!! The Bravo is a good buy right now. There is a lot of support here by Bravo fliers. I love my Missile, but I do agree that the nose is much heavier on the six cylinder big bore models. Those long range tanks are fantastic. -Seth

Back to a way early thread on this board, how many of us had a BMW e39 M5? I think the count was 8 or 9? -Seth

Good luck and please let us know the outcome . . . as well as what you think we should know about similar situations. Glad you kept the flying bug. -Seth

Wings field, LOM is pretty old too. CGS, college park, was used by the Army to have the wright brother's teach thier pilots how to fly their purchased aircraft. Here's an offer. Any pilot here on Mooneyspace, or if you know someone that's okay too, who needs to get "vetted." Come fly to GAI and I'll help you transportation wise get around town so that you can get the paperwork done. Signature at (near) BWI (really the FSDO), Fingerprints at DCA (in the airport), drop the paperwork at CGS. CGS is walking distance to a metro stop and can take you right downtown when visiting the area. They also have less expensive fuel for the area. The lineman let me know the airport really wasn't making money anymore as traffic is a fraction of what it was pre-9/11. However, it's county owned and has a museum and historical significane, and he doubts it will be shut down. Unfortunatly, no student pilot training is allowed at this airport as it's in the FRZ. (Flying with a CFI is allowed once you have your license, but no pure non-licensed study pilot ops at the field). -Seth

Though I became "vetted" to fly into the FRZ and land at one of the oldest airports in the United States - CGS - College Park, MD, I finally used my super secret code, filed, and flew, an FRZ flight plan yesterday. The best part . . . I finally flew over my current home, childhood home, my office building, high school, and basically where I have always wanted to fly the past 10 years but have not been allowed. I know everyone tries to and most succeed early in their flying career to view their home from 1000 feet, but I finally did after 10+ years and 920+ hours yesterday. VERY COOL. We are grounded by snow today - hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. -Seth

Seeing that I joined MooneySpace in January 2009, nearly 5 years ago, and about six months after aquiring my first Mooney - a 1967 Mooney M20F, I have with this post reached the 1000 post mark. I have learned a lot about flying, added about 800 hours to my log books, earned my IFR rating, sold my F and purchased a 1983 Mooney M20J Missile 300. Over the last five years I've averaged 200 posts per year. Here's a poll - how many posts do you have on MooneySpace? Thanks again Craig, great website. Thank you to all the members - great knowledge - I'd have a $100 burger with all of you. -Seth

I'd say a mix of both. I love flying just to go fly. However, I have also taken a lot of trips. I think close to 700 of my 920 hours are logged as cross country, but again, those can include a burger run or lunch meet up. I have used my Mooney for transportation for work many times, as well as going to see clients, or take clinets up for a spin. I'd say easily 60-70% cross country and 30-40% local. -Seth

Ahh, that makes perfect sense. -Seth

At least he didn't touch a wingtip like that A320 in europe a few years ago. -Seth

Never mind - this is what Bruce Jager says to use. This issue tends to come from when you fill up in a humid warm area like New Orleans and then fly high quckily into cooler weather (like flying accross a front up high and landing in Minnesota). The suspended humid drops of water can freeze during flight and then block the fuel drains and lines and thus, stop your engine. Don't use too much prist or isopropyl alcohol or it can hurt the seals - there was one pilot who overused it and his seals started having issues - he swears it was a direct relationship but there is no proof. -Seth

Bruce Jager is a big supporter of Prist. I don't fly way up high in the 20s, but if I did, I'd probably use Prist as well. -Seth

Remember, she flies a Cirrus if I recall correctly. I think its great for aviation that the news is out there that Brad Pitt has purchased a Spitfire. I think it's a lovely plane, but I too would pick a Mustang. Question - in a dogfight of equal pilots, which aircraft is superior in dogfighting? The Mustang or the Spitfire? I realize there were many models of both, but let's say end of war P-51D vs Spitfire Mark (I'm not sure if it's the IV, the VII, Spitfire fans help me out here). Could the Spitfire turn inside the Mustang? Could the Mustang outclimb or outspeed the Spitfire and just make pass after pass at him? -Seth

Amazing trip Mike!