Buster1

Google found some things, but it seems that the old laws have been canceled...thankfully...I hope. At least for "cheaper" aircraft, I think we're in the clear, but NY tried last year to impose a Lux Tax on the below items...guess it failed. As a result of federal legislation, effective January 1, 1991, a new federal excise tax is imposed on "luxury" items over special dollar limits: 30,000 for passenger autos $100,000 for boats $250,000 for aircraft $10,000 for jewelry and furs

motorhomes

Thanks in advance for the help, someday I hope to repay this forum with more answers than questions. What, if any, Federal Taxes do you pay on an airplane? Is there a luxury tax of any kind? I know some people who buy boats or motorhomes sometimes have to pay these taxes. Thank you, Happy Holidays!

Interesting. Some of my friends birds and one I am watching that's for sale haven't shown up on Flight Aware for 6+ months. The seller tells me it flies regularly...but it's most recent Flight Aware sortie was 6+ months ago. I thought it had something to do with IFR flightplans, or VFR flight following.

Maybe he's upgrading to a nice mid-year Mooney for his annual travels? I'd buy it if it has NDH, not sure if the listing mentioned that.

Is everyone in Texas okay? I heard Longview and some other parts were hit pretty hard yesterday and last night.

Craig and guests, I belong to another online forum (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/index.php) that is very well put together. There is a lot of traffic over there and a ton of great info and advice and resources. I would love to see our forum here, grow and become even better. My humble suggestions for a few other discussuion areas are below, And maybe we could even begin to pick up some sponsors and such too. Events/Regional Off Topic For Sale Dealers Parts Just my $0.02. I'd love to see MooneySpace get bigger and better.

That's cool. I've been trying to find Mooney mechanics really close to the seller. Guess it's up to them how far huh?

Jeev, awesome! Cruiser / Ken...those places are pretty far from NC. Will a seller take the plane that far for a prebuy, then sit there and wait?

Quote: Jeev If you want I can E-mail you a copy of the sales agreement for reference. I'd be interested to see the Basic Pre-purchase Agreement, or anything else that would help me build a solid written "plan" that the seller and I can work from. Side Note: Looks like the move to Vegas is happening sooner than we thought. The Air Force told me to expect April! So now we're starting to try to sell the place here in UT and start looking for a home in Vegas. Once that dust settles, I should be ready to make an offer! Got my name on the list for sunshade at KVGT last week!

Okay, so I'm not quite ready to buy yet, but have been reading a lot. Seems that the standard process is to put down a refundable deposit on the bird of choice, then have someone do a pre-buy inspection. I am eyeing some Mooney's all over the country. How do I find someone who is an expert in Mooneys (and that type, J's K's etc) to do the inspection? Will he/she travel to the airplane, or should the seller fly it to the inspector? There is potential for buying the plane sight unseen...that scares me a little. What were your experiences? Things you would do different?

Continuing my research on 231s and am liking what I find. Though everything seems to point to heat problems leading to early overhauls with the GB/LB engines. Some of the birds I am looking at don't have intercoolers, but some do. Does anyone know much about getting an intercooler installed? One article even says a GB/LB engine past 1000 hrs is on "borrowed time" due to heat problems that Mooney eventually solved with the MB engine which came with an intercooler. http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/mapalogarticle.html

Congrats, i hope to be there soon!

Can you put "aftermarket" TKS in a 231? Would you want to?

No that's good to know. I need to know if this idea is already done, or worthy. Part of my thought would be to have verifyable experts on the field for Mooneys with user written critiques on the services...I know AirNav has some of this too.

I'm contemplating developing a webpage for pilots to use for mission planning. Without giving away many details, what are your thoughts on the utility of this tool? Would you use it or not? I am breaking a lot of info down into an easy to use and see format that would allow you to 'see' different airports, if they have food/restaurants on site, types of fuel, maintenance for your type of plane, and maybe lodging. All that info is out there ( I know, AirNav), but I am streamlining the way you get and see the info into a simple format. The theory being maintenance experts for say Mooney's, that would allow you to filter airports to those that only have Mooney mechanics on site. I also have some 'secret' ideas for making a small business with it, and if it grows, having FBOs get involved too. Ideas appreciated?

Food for thought. In the F-16 (single engine of course) we train to get the aircraft to a glide-able position to a runway in the event of an engine malfunction. (you should always know where the nearest airport is...always). If that doesn't work, we eject. Realizing that in the Mooney, ejection is not an option, I would surmise that if I can make it to a runway, I will put the gear down and land it. If I cannot make a runway, I will leave them up and take what I can get. I am not a Mooney pilot (yet), but from 300+ hours of GA experience and just looking at the Mooney gear system...they just don't appear to be built for off airport use, especially in an emergency. I think you are asking for trouble by putting them down during an Off Airport EP. The gear are made for a runway or other compatible surface.

Jeev, I'll be moving to Vegas this summer and leaving the F-16. If you're serious, we can set something up. I may be visiting down there from time to time this winter and spring, I'll let you know when I know more. If you feel like flying up, let me know, I'm 5 minutes from Ogden-Hinkley KOGD and my rental Cessna!

Neat vids! May I ask why you have to sell her? You seem like you love that plane. Sorry bro.

Larry, if you ever swing thru...you got a deal! I'm looking strongly at 231s...so I'd love to get some experience.

Very cool. I think that DIY stuff is great...especially in the face of overpriced GA "gear." Nice work! Someday, I'll try a few lightbulbs in the bay too. Seems that that would be a good way to shave off a few degrees safely.

When I was teaching in the T-38C, I had a student take a vulture in the canopy. He ejected and survived, the IP in the back seat did too, but was injured badly. I will pay any cost to strengthen the windshield in any GA plane...they are not very strong IMHO. ANR headsets are great, but they don't protect from birds.

Any Mooney drivers around Utah? I seriously want to get some Mooney experience, will pay for fuel or trade for F-16 sim time...really. Ok, not a literal trade, or for logbook time. I was mearly suggesting that I could put you in the sim as a friend for the pure experience...it would not be legal instruction or count towards your logbook time. Respectfully....... ~Buster

Reading that article now! I'm interested too. Need to find some trips to show the wife how great it is to own a plane...after I finally get one.

It's HOF....hair on fire;-)