flight2000

Once you go twin, you never go back....unless you're Ken... I wouldn't fly half the missions I currently do (night and usually over mountains) if i didn't have that other engine turning out there. Thankfully, I didn't have the need for the lift capability of an Aztec or Baron, so targeted a Travel Air instead. I got lucky finding this one, a very clean example. I've found nothing overly expensive above and beyond having the second overhaul requirement. Compared to the IO520 I had to overhaul last fall, doing 2 O360's isn't all that much more, maybe 20% tops. Cheers, Brian

I always liked using this website. Just plug in your starting airport and a distance you'd like to travel. Not sure how complete it is, but it's a good resource. http://www.fly2lunch.com/results.php?apt=KDAB&radius=200&onApt=1 I punched in KDAB and 200 NM's in the link above. Cheers, Brian

Hey now, don't be pickin on the good folks that live in Chautauqua County, New York.....just happens to be the birthplace of Chautauqua Airlines in the early 70's. Cheers, Brian

Wow, lot's of space between those aircraft. Hmmm, the mystery deepens as to when Mooney went to the split removable seats.

Now that you mention it, I saw this 1981 on Controller. Serial 24-1219 and it has the split seats. https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/33395537/1981-mooney-m20j @RogueOne, what serial number is your Missile? Cheers, Brian

Yep, he even mentioned that at some point towards the back of the video. Even with two engines, I still carry life vests when going over extended periods of open water. Brian

Also keep in mind that the max weight you can put into any Mooney baggage area is 120 pounds. It's 270 pounds for the 33/35 Bo's (not sure what it is in the A36's) and the later models have much bigger doors for easier loading. My kids were bigger when I went from the M20E to the E33A, so removing the bench seat or using the rear seats for baggage in the Mooney was a non-starter for me (would make perfect sense if it was just my wife flying with me). No issues with my CG in the former Bo (or Mooney for that matter) as my family is on the, ummm, feather side of the weight spectrum. These debates really do come down to your mission and how many butts are going to be in the seats regularly. Now, I remove one back seat from the Travel Air to get more space if needed since I'm down to only 3 people with my son departing the house for his own adventures. You can do the same with any Mooney that has the split back seats. Think those are found on the 1981 and later models. 1968 E33A UL = 1190 Full Fuel UL = 746 Range = 992 NM's, but that was to zero fuel and 6 hours. Most of my missions were in the 3-4 hour range (550 NM)

Great, I just drooled a little on my keyboard...very nice!! Only thing I can see that might need some work are the yokes. Maybe upgrade to the '67 style or go full monty and the later "J" model yokes. I know it's not easy to convert, but it has been done in the past by some on the board. Should be a fun trip flying back across the country. Cheers, Brian

That's an apples and oranges comparison. Phil won't let you order a Halo unless he has them built and in stock. Yes, you have to be patient and wait for him to post them on the website, but your money isn't tied up like GeeBee's case and then left to wonder when the product will ship.

Shoot, fly over the Great Salt Lake to get some really weird views and colors coming off the lake. Lot's of cool stuff to see out west. Cheers, Brian

This is a great place to start: I flew my 67E out of Reno for about 15 months and had a blast doing it. My routes back east involved going Reno to Salt Lake City then through Wyoming basically following I-80. Fly early in the morning to avoid the thermals and bumps until you are clear into Nebraska or heading across eastern Colorado. Furthest north I ever got was Yellowstone, so not familiar with flying up there unfortunately. The M20E did fine, all the way up to 14,500 which is where I stopped. Didn't have a reason to go any higher, but I'm sure she'd have climbed all the way up to the service ceiling if I asked her to... Cheers, Brian

I agree it's not marked well, but the one time I used rwy 7 they had me taxi from the ramp via D -> E -> G -> F -> rwy 7. You just stay on G if going all the way out to rwy 32. Only ones I ever saw using D in front of the Air Guard ramp was the military. Everybody else went via taxiway G. May have been a new controller as well. i was always told to make sure I turn at E. That was a couple of years ago though. You can barely see it in the photo I posted on page 1 (I was on taxiway E going towards the ramp), but there were portable barriers placed across D to keep you from going that way. When the fighters are doing their thing, a crew truck comes out and moves them. Sounds like that policy may have changed or they were getting ready to start operations. Cheers, Brian

Forgot to add that you can also see the big yellow box that TSA uses to mark their security area that @cliffy mentioned earlier in the thread. It's the smaller concrete pad right next to the squadrons ramp. Brian

Most dual use airports will have a red line separating the military and civilian ramps - where the ramp changes from asphalt to concrete is the "line" at KLMT. If you've never been to one before, this can be a severe gotcha type moment. If ground sends you the wrong way by accident and it's a dead end into the mil ramp, it makes it even worse. Took these shots at Klamath Falls, OR a few years ago and you can see the entire squadron of F15's sitting there on the ramp as you taxi by. Could you walk right over to them....yep. But I'd bet there are eyes on those aircraft 24/7/365...and then you'll wish you didn't want to play touch the F15.... I disagree with one of the posts above that said you can't learn from this type of post. Yes, it was painful for Bob to go through, hopefully he just got a talking to and after some back and forth was let go, but there is a teaching moment there for those that have never been to an airport like this before. Fortunately, most Air Guard and Army NG bases have their military ramps squirreled away from the GA side so these types of incidents fairly infrequent. Just know where your going ahead of time is the lesson and have those airport diagrams handy. KLMT's restricted area is pretty well marked on the apt diagram. Cheers, Brian

Wow, super jealous. Very nice! Have fun and the journey begins again. Brian

LASAR is where I got mine back in 2012 and they weren't cheap - $4300 installed and then add another $1K for the Whelen Orion LED lights about a year later. I didn't need to do that mod, but I liked the look better than the chopped ends. I was also in the 156-158 KTAS at altitude - usually 6-8K was my sweet spot. http://67m20e.com/mooney-m20e.html Cheers, Brian

If I remember correctly, it was 3-4 business days from when I submitted to when I got a call and they posted it. They'll try to give their best sales pitch to get $$$ out of you, but just tell them you want the standard free listing, nothing more. It was posted online about an hour after that. Only bad thing is I couldn't make changes (i.e. updating the hours since I was still flying it) after posting unless I called and did the same dance with the sales rep. It was a bit irritating and hope they fixed that since then to allow you to keep it up to date. Brian

Jon is - he's 6'4" and still growing...so yes, blew right past me....lol! He's a Blackhawk crew chief/mechanic now and currently chasing bad guys somewhere in Afghanistan via air... Ben is 16 now and well, almost catching up. Not sure if he'll pass me, but it'll be close. Cheers, Brian

That is correct. This will replace my KX155 once it dies. Brian

I never thought I'd see this day....of course I said the same thing when I sold my E. Congrats on getting a Missile! Well maintained...check. Flies often...check. ADSB-Out...check. What's not to love about this E....nothing. Someone is going to get a nice aircraft. Brian

Never heard that before and still have mine installed in the TA (and it works ). I'm not in a rush to find out, but will keep that in mind if push comes to shove one day and I've totally screwed up my planning. Brian

I have two sets of Halo's and still have no idea what all the fuss is with the mic. Mine stays put, right where I put it and never an issue with the mic pick-up. What am I missing? Cheers, Brian

Chicago Midway would be my vote as well. IFR or VFR doesn't matter, but I'd at a minimum pick-up flight following as soon as you depart from your departure airport. Will help sequence you into the mix, but shouldn't be a problem. Martin Pauley has some videos of him going into and out of Midway in his A36. Cheers, Brian