MooneyMitch

Yes, I've moved on to old age . 50 years of flying with incredible memories, but time to stop. 76 now. Gave up motorcycles too...........more great 2- wheeled traveling memories for over 50 years. Attached are my Mooney's from the F, to the Ovation, and the final chapter, the little D/C model. I've kept all my years of logbooks and enjoy from time to time looking through and reminiscing. I always made notes about each flight. Fun!!

I must say, Brett got a gorgeous Mooney That’s me in the photo prior to me letting go of the M20D/C to a new owner before Brett purchased . Have a great time with your beauty Brett!

Complete satisfaction with Blackstone for my former Mooney’s and autos as well.

Yep, intermittent is the worst for sure. Spent many years at our west coast missile launch facility and running across an intermittent was frustrating.........until it raised its head and you could finally cut it off!!! Patience and persistence..............it will reappear. Something is grounding that left mag..............

Drifting away from trying to help this gentleman get his C started, here's an interesting story regarding the Slick Start Booster on my Mooney [previously installed by others]. I installed mags on my D/C model after 500 hour inspection. Engine would not start until I'd release the START motion [limped into starting] Checked and re-checked all installation over and over and over, thinking I'd done something incorrectly........ wiring, timing, etc. All appeared correct........hmmm! I discovered in start position, there remained a left mag P lead grounding with the P lead disconnected from the mag...............WHAT?? Eventually, hours later, I discovered that during the Slick unit installation/modification, certain wires are to be removed from the ignition switch. One wire had not been removed from the switch during the modification. That wire had been left in the aircraft wiring bundle and coincidentally began picking up a ground which was grounding the left mag P lead during the start procedure ! I disconnected the wire from the switch, taped it up and all was well again.

We are all really trying to get you started....... With my thoughts on grounded P lead during starting................... 1. render your engine from being able to start [disconnect battery lead at starter is one way]. 2. disconnect P lead from left mag. 3. with volt meter, set meter to DC voltage. 4. attach black meter lead to disconnected P lead. 5. attach red meter wire to 12V DC . 6. turn on Master switch and verify meter registers 12V [this means your P lead is correctly grounded as it should be in this configuration] 7. activate starter switch to START and voltage should disappear. [P lead should no longer show as grounded] 8. this method will verify that your P lead wire/starter switch grounding feature is correct. [no foreign grounding from switch or frayed wire]

In addition to Hank’s information, a faulty ignition switch could be applying a ground on the left magneto P lead wire during the starting phase. Or possibly a bare wire point along the left magneto P lead wire path from the ignition switch to the left magneto could be picking up a ground too.

I meant type hypothetical, not hypocritical. I’ve corrected my post. I still need to do better at proofreading

My experience, landing on a smooth surface [LPC Runway 25], on the center line with the gear retracted, my Mooney continued in a straight line as it came to a full stop. Again, who knows what would have happened in this Fullerton situation with a possible bump or something else in/on the road, and whether the pilot would have struck the road straight in the center, or whether he would have touched down smooth without a bounce ................. All unknowns indeed. So fortunate they are.

My opinion, the airplane will stop in a shorter distance with gear retraced. In this situation, who knows. Again, second guessing on this is hypothetical at best. And with seconds or less to make the decision and retract the gear under the circumstances the pilot was experiencing……wow!

Wow! So fortunate. Flew in and out of FUL many, many times over the years. No place to go on departure or landing other than runway. In another video, a fellow says he went up to the plane after crash and asked if 2 occupants were ok. They responded yes and they stated they lost power. Split second decisions, always hard to second guess. I'm so glad they survived that impact.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/small-plane-misses-runway-fullerton-california-airport-wraps/story?id=116220018

Just for fun and a thrill….. occasionally, and with no other traffic in the area or in the pattern, I would descend into the pattern at high speed, reduce throttle all the way back, activate the speed brakes and eventually lower the gear at 140 kts…..

I’m sure glad I never wound up on our wonderful MS as a pilot that did something really stupid ! Maybe that’s why I stopped flying !!

I was told by Paul Loewen several years ago, the cowl enclosure did nothing to enhance speed or cooling. It was purely for asthetics.

Remember the Hindenburg !!!!

It was love at first sight when I saw one up close when I was 7 years of age……. Eventually I discovered what great airplanes they truly after I bought my first one!

Oh, happy day !!

My comment is not directed at anyone in particular……. but, this discussion does remind me of a joke I heard……… Wife says to her friend…. I knew I’d marry Mr. Right….I just didn’t realize his first name would be Always !!

So good to hear from you!

Thank you for sharing your adventure in your Mooney. Brings to mind some great Mooney flying adventures for me along your routes. Enjoy each moment!

Courageous !

That would make my skin crawl…..I’ll be looking at my tool box differently now !

My opinion, based on previous experience with 500 hour mag checks, I’d have shop replace capacitors during the process.

Here's what was happening at Central Coast Airfest 2024. About a 50 minute video, but super duper it is!! Love that P51 Mooney style wing!!!