PTK

The KI300 is primary for attitude and advisory for air speed and altitude.

It will probably come in at <6K$ with FD capability. But even at 6K$ I don't think it's exorbitant. Consider it's a digital ADI that directly replaces (by a comparatively simple swap) the KI256 with its associated OH costs and enables the removal of the vacuum system. I don't know of anything else that can do this for less than 3-4x that figure. I agree that it was a wasted opportunity...for Garmin who failed to give us AP support in the G5. In this exact case BK is still the King in my book!

There must be a slight variation among the different models. Which airplane are you guys referring to? My POH (M20J) shows 1.8 nm/1000 ft which calculates to a glide ratio of 10.9 : 1.

I went out to shoot some approaches and exercise my string of horses. All 200 of them! Departed around 10:00 or so and came back around noon. I didn't see anyone. Did anyone show up after that?

I don't know what I woul've done if anything because I wasn't there. Were you? Maybe I would or maybe I wouldn’t. And being in health care I’m fully aware that the good samaritan law is geared towards protecting health care personnel from being sued. However if I felt my own life would be endangered I wouldn’t. My family and children are much more important to me and I to them. Aren't yours? That's how my parents brought me up. Sometimes all you can do is call 911 and pray for them. You want to do more but just can’t. How many times have you heard of an SAR being called off?

Let’s not be so quick to criticize. I don't see someone dancing around a dying man. That’s ridiculous! On the contrary I see someone extremely distraught and shocked. He inquired about calling 911 as was done. He most likely felt he didn’t know what else to do if anything and how to help. If he did something wrong he could’ve been found liable if he failed to do the right thing and caused more harm than good. Also maybe he was afraid of an explosion risking his own life. Who knows what was going through his mind? I certainly don’t know because I wasn’t there. I do agree it’s a shame that's so easy for some to criticize. That's the real shame.

Stated insurance value has everything to do with objective market value. If you find the need to "convince" the insurance underwriter to write a policy for some other subjective value you are missing the point. The better approach would be to run a valuation of the aircraft and insure it for a nice round number at that level. Going forward update the valuation on an annual basis about a month or so before renewal. The understanding is that we always underwrite some risk ourselves and can't depend on the insurance for 100%, and logic dictates that the case of damage beyond repair is extremely rare.

They will let you know if you try to insure it for too high or too low a stated value. They require your signature if you try to insure it too low. For your protection.

I respectfully disagree. The insured stated or agreed value has everything to do with a realistic market value. There needs to be an objective baseline of what it would take to replace the aircraft. This is an accurate market value and should be reviewed and adjusted periodically if necessary.

What do you call a pregnant flight attendant? Pilot error.

This accident illustrates the inherently flawed design of the Icon. The canopy swings up to open. Halladay found himself inverted under water and trapped. There was no way he could've opened that canopy in time to try and escape. An aft sliding canopy like the Searey is a much better design.

And their own christened "test pilot" did the same thing in the May accident. The poor fool put on a flight suit and a helmet and thought he was a test pilot! But why not? Above all it's about the marketing message. All image, no substance. "The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's mistaken entry into a canyon surrounded by steep rising terrain while at a low altitude for reasons that could not be determined." /NTSB

The marketing message ICON is pushing has proven to be dangerous and irresponsible. They are doing a huge disservice to their customers and to GA. Their target demographic are young and inexperienced weekend adventurers who think flying a plane is sexy and hip. It’s the same crowd who when they were younger took daddy’s car for a joy ride and wrapped it around a tree. Similar mentality. Unfortunately they don’t know what they don’t know but take the bait and proceed to kill themselves...with mathematic predictability. And of course we all pay higher insurance premiums each time one of these goof balls crashes. It’s getting old.

My apologies in advance for this slightly off topic question. It seems to me that, at least in the pictures of strip/reseals that I have seen, old sealant is cleaned out and new sealant is brushed on the surface at the seams. Isn't it important to sandwich sealant in between overlapping seams? Wouldn't that be more leak proof? Which is only possible to do when tanks are assembled initially at the factory when the plane is built? Because this can't be done is a strip/reseal and brush on new sealant just a compromise because there's no other option? Just curious.

My Mooney adheres to P+P=P, (Power+Pitch=Performance.) As I'm sure other Mooneys do as well. Prop full hi Rpm (GUMPS) pitch to hold an airspeed (S IN GUMPS) and power to manage descent. Maintaining an adequate airspeed and descent on the approach with P/P will enable the airplane to smoothly transition through the yellow zone rather than linger in it. I have found that the yellow caution zone is only relevant and will cross my mind and I'll glance at it out of habit for a very short time on short final when power must come off for the transition to ground effect.

Na!! can't be, no way!

A very beautiful airplane. Something about those graceful composite wings. It’s mesmerizing!

It is definitely crucial for a buyer to have someone who knows these airplanes help navigate through the process and avoid the traps. The op had a good experience with Maxwell and that's great. In his opinion he is “the Mooney King.” However, imo, we have to be careful and refrain from bestowing an absolute title such as this because there is no one Mooney King. It is based on opinion and is thus entirely subjective. There are other excellent Mooney specialists who would deserve it as well. For example, in my opinion and based on my experience, that title would go to Ronnie Kramer and David Behrens at Dugosh, Dorn Clare at Weber and Dave Mathiesen at Air Mods.

ADI stands for attitude director indicator. It's an attitude indicator incorporating a flight director in same instrument. The flight director provides the computed pitch and roll commands from the autopilot required to fly a certain flight path for the pilot to mannually follow. Or if engaged the autopilot will follow and satisfy. Example: the KI 256 is the ADI in a KFC 150 autopilot.

Coffee...and you'll throw in a cookie??!! Such a sweet gesture!! Not so fast! Coffee just doesn’t cut it I’m afraid! The appropriate and customary beverage for these circumstances is indeed... beer!!!

Flaps increase lift and add drag. Takeoff flaps increase lift to get the airplane off the runway quicker while adding minimal drag. For more than take off flaps the drag increase overwhelms any lift benefit. As speed increases so does lift and the need for flaps diminishes. Therefore I'm not in a great hurry to clean up takeoff flaps. A white arc with a Vfe of 115 KIAS is very generous. I retract them when speed is well on its way and has safely increased in the climb. Typically around 1000 feet or so.

Has anyone come across a quick and accurate method of determinng cloud tops? Something quicker than calculating it from IR satellite imagery?

The GTX33 ES is SOLD. The KT76A is still available.

Two questions: Did the OP even attempt a high perf. takeoff? I did not read that he did but I may have missed it. How do you get a GPS log? Is there an app you use?

I have a KT76A in good condition ready to install. 650$ shipped. Rack and connector included, or slide into your existing.