Ned Gravel

When I commanded a strategic communication squadron in Quebec City from 1987 to 1989, I had my PPL, and would often rent one of the Piper Warriors from the flying school at the Ancienne Lorette Airport for pleasure and some business trips to Group Headquarters in St Hubert or to my communication detachments at stations like Bagotville (home of Eastern Canada's F-18 jocks). One of my Tech Sergeants was an owner of a 65 E model. During deployments of long term comms stations for the brigade rear links, I would often get offers from the local Tac Hel Sqn to fly out to see my deployed detachments - because the Hel Sqn was always doing LO flights between the deployed brigade and the base. One day, Sgt Panaski asked if I wanted to go with him because he had some maintenance to do on the det's radios. So I went with him to see my folks. 150 kts there and back. Try doing that in an OH-58 (Kiowa in Canada). I finally became an aircraft owner in October 2002 and the Arrow was ground looped the following March. I was the pilot. Some lessons learned here included not flying an RG in temps below -25 deg C. Others included not getting into partnership with 10 other people. The last one was about having a mechanical linkage between my right arm and the landing gear. Only one aircraft met that requirement. The following summer, I started looking for a Mooney and I looked at 2 C's and 3 E's. I paid a total of $500 for four good shops to do pre-purchase inspections on them. Three of them were declared unairworthy and one was given back because of non reporting of one of two gear up landings. The fifth one was looked at by Clarence in the Fall of 2004. The owner did not believe the list of things that needed attention until he went to see the aircraft and Clarence showed him the holes and other bits that no longer worked as they should. The owner swallowed the cost of fixing the airworthiness issues. I bought it in January 2005 and Clarence flew it to me in Ottawa in March of the same year. I have owned my E for twelve years.

Chrixxer: Thank you for the nice words. Not finished yet. Would like a CNX 80 or a Garmin 480 to replace my Trimble and Narco 810, and perhaps a JPI 900 to replace my JPI 700 (and the instrument cluster and the two gauges on the right side). As for the RAM mount configuration I used for the iPad, "under" seemed more pleasing by hiding the ram mount bits. It also seemed to ensure nothing blocking my view of the DG and the switches / knobs below the bottom row of the six pack.

Shane:Got it yesterday and I was preparing to install it tomorrow but I ran into an issue. I will PM you.

Clarence: Yes they can. Perhaps yours is not so easy to pass, but I have passed more than one.

Pirep on my Sensorcon: Great customer service. When the one I ordered arrived at the house, I was out of the country. I got home and was unable to try it out immediately, but when I did, it would start up and immediately register between 20 and 30 ppm in the house and outside. Something was wrong. So I called them and, after determining mine was N/S after a simple candle test, they sent me a replacement. I got it today. That took two days - great service. I have already affixed the velcro to the unit and will be putting it on the top of the panel this week. Good product, good company.

If your MEA is going to be 9,000 - 10,000 an F will be fine. If it is going to be higher than that, then a turbo might be needed, especially if you have to fight headwinds over the granite clouds below you. Which takes us back to your question - how much to spend? You will eventually find that you can find a decent F for anywhere from 45,000 to 60,000. Below that, things will be missing which may give you pause (no IFR GPS, engine well beyond midlife, tanks that leak, corrosion, etc). Above that, you will find F models fully kitted out with things that are shiny and kewl, but not really needed for an F to fly from Boston to LA. As well, it is likely that aircraft in that range will be well looked-after and they will show it. Paint and interior are nice, but engine and airframe are what really count. SB 208 for rust on the steel frame. No corrosion on the spar and a stiffener already installed on the stub spar. Tanks that do not leak. An alternator instead of a generator. A skytec starter. An engine monitor. Good luck.

Above 7000'? I do not get a mobile signal above that altitude.

Me too.

I called Fedex and the issue is the stuff dealing with customs declarations to cross the border. Now that you have the package back from them, do you still want to try and ship it? If it is too much hassle, you may wish to reconsider the work involved and that would be OK with me. Just let me know and I can make alternate arrangements with someone like Clarence. My druthers is to get it from you, but the choice is yours.

Thanks buddy. Now that the tracking number is working I can sharpen up my sledgehammer for the installation......

Chocks still here? I am having trouble getting the Fedex number to work. Does it mean the part will not arrive?

It is always easier if you own the company. No need to wait until retirement.

Here is mine, doing what she does best, flying fast......

Naw! Putting a pile of Mooneys on the runway, 2 at a time, with 39 of your bestest friends - that is the way to go to AirVenture. Five minutes from Mooney Lead touchdown to Mooney Tail touchdown. Safest way to arrive. If you don't believe me, ask Princess Buttercup. She can tell you all about the diamond lane. Million times more sane than the Fisk arrival. And getting out? Dawn patrol style. 201er, Rocket, and us. Three ship on 27. Here is Mike (201er) leading at 10,000' crossing the eastern edge of Lake Michigan. Paul (Rocket) is in the number 2 slot.

Really? I can't see them here. Am I missing something?

I flew with him in her once when he was bringing her back from annual.

Dave Morris flew with us in the 2015 Mooney Caravan and his is a 1960 A model. I have not seen him on this site in a while. See http://n1960.com/

Not me. no interference at all. I have a PS 8000 audio panel and it is famous for being well shielded.

I just downloaded the IFD 100 and the first thing it did was ask for a Jepp account login. Hmmmm.

I did the same thing and it is also an Aukey like the one shown by Paul.

Same for me but in Cdn Dollars.

Same as mine.

I use mine for business. See https://www.motiva-training.com/have-mooney-will-travel. Inside 500 nm or so it is cheaper to fly yourself. Outside of that it is cheaper to purchase an airfare. Never assume the weather will allow the flight. Always be ready to leave the aircraft where it is and come back for it later, or wait till weather allows. Make strategic weather decisions, not tactical ones. Don't plan on doing it in the winter or without an instrument ticket. Be careful not to cross the line regarding legal use of a non-commercial ticket. Nothing that will put you in regulator crosshairs that looks like use "for hire or reward." Gas, parking, pro-rated recurring costs, and demonstration of business purpose for every flight. In 2012, 54% was for business, 82% in 2013, 87% in 2014, 67% in 2015, 72% last year. Aircraft journey logs in Canada are a legal document. It is called "use of personal aircraft for business travel" not "business use of personal aircraft". Some clients like to fly if you offer. Others have rules that prevent receipt of such a perk. Good luck.

Just renewed with Allianz Global Risks US and the cost went down $200.00. Don't get it.

CO is lighter than air, not heavier, so somewhere higher (near nose hieight) should be good. Haven't put mine in yet but that is where I am looking.