RJBrown

Quote: Parker_Woodruff just because there is a single developer doesn't mean they'll be the ones producing it...I'm not too worried.

We can't have a "monopoly" supplier with no pressure to maintain prices. For Gami, or any other supplier, to get a fuel approved and then be the only source for sale we would end up with a expensive product. If the formula becomes a patented or proprietary in nature and has no competition it would become prohibitive in cost to us the consumer.

Lead as an "as needed" additive eliminates the problems with refineries. Solves the "dual" fuel need with one fuel stock. Creates a problem with having to supply a separate and toxic additive. There are those in the enviormental world that want lead out on principle only. Even though there is a negligible need. That said Lead really is a bad thing in many ways. They have taken it out of Paint, Solder and car gas to name a few. There are those that will not stop until it is out of everything. When technology allows it we will no longer use it in batteries. Some day our SCUBA weights will be illegal.

Quote: 201Pilot If you want a go high in a hurry airplane, each of the turbos has its own particular cost: Rockets have high fuel burn and low useful load

I don't think one way looks better than the other. My 80 K was square and looked great after it was painted. My 90 J is round and would look better with new paint. The shape of the windows is not important to me. The only reason I see to do it is to "look" newer. It is not like putting a J windscreen on a F where there is more than just a different look.

I used Kiosks in the mall to make my license plate surround and many hats. They will put anything you want on either. My current hat says: MOONEY N1079V on the front and has my initials on the back. It was a Gift from my wife. My Other Set of Wheels Has Wings N231NH graced the back of my car for years.

Always As a small child in church the programs became airplanes. a nickle was a balsa glider. a dime bought the one with a prop. plastic models filled the sky in my bedroom. As a cub scout I sold Christmas cards off the back of the Boy's Life magazine to get a Cox PT19 trainer. First job with a paycheck was at a hobby shop to pay my U-control habit. It paid 75 cents an hour, I was in 8th grade. Radio control came later when I could afford it. Still have dozens of planes that only collect dust since I started flying for real. Still just a boy with a toy! It's just better toys as I get older and can spend more. The old saw " you can tell the age of the boy by the price of the toy" applies to me and things that fly. As a child in bed I dreamed I could fly, no machine just me soaring through the sky.

Rented a 8 month old 201 in July of 93 and fell in love. It was 13 months and 270 hours after my first flight in a Cessna that I found an almost new M-20J for rent at another airport. She was Hot, Red and fast. It took me another year to buy my Mooney. In that year I logged 140 hours 40 in that Mooney and the rest Wishing I was. At 410 hours, 2 years and an IFR ticket after my PPL I bought N231NH. In the next 8 1/2 years I put 850 hour on her. First 100 as a stock 231 and the rest as a Rocket. If I had known about Mooneys I would have started flying them sooner.

I no longer own N231NH a 1980 231 so I no longer have access to the paperwork. The later model wing mounted landing/taxi lights were installed by Mod Works in the left wing only. It was a great improvement over the cowl mounted lights. I to had many dark landings prior to the install. Mooney Mart shows the modification for $3295 per side. They describe it as M20-L type lights. http://www.mooneymart.com/modifications/114MM.php

Quote: CoachTom Is there a Mooney "kit" to retrofit the 231 with wing lamps as opposed to or including cowl lamps? Or is this a third party mod/STC that can be applied to the aircraft? I can see how there is significantly less vibration in the wing vice the cowl, but did not know if the wing was typical with the newer aircraft or could be retrofitted. Any help into this add or mod would be appreciated. And yes, as part of my preflight I do check my lamps on the walk around power on, but those bulbs seem to blow so frequently and also at the worst of times.

Guilty as charged. I hope he responds also.

I had a 80 231/rocket with the lights in the nose. They were a preflight check if Night was a possibility. The bulbs went bad regularly. I added a set in the left wing when it was repainted. Best upgrade in my opinion. Went 3+ years without putting bulbs in the wings.

There are Rockets out there, that isn't the concern. Finding a new home for N1079V is the first step. Right now there are quite a few Rockets listed. Some are priced in another economy. The one I looked at last week has been for sale for over 2 years and though it appears to be a nice plane I can see why it wont sell. The salesman had told me that they owned it, taken in trade on a Malibu Prop Jet. Their lie led me to believe a trade was possible. In reality it is still owned by the Dr. who bought the Prop Jet and his ego wont let go of it at today's prices.

It took my a year and a half to find the perfect plane to take me through retirement. A 1990 Mooney Special Edition M-20J. Don't get me wrong the J is everything it is supposed to be. On paper it is still the best plane out there, But to quote Ken Reed "Once you've had a turbo, it is really hard to go back. I haven't been able to " I fly over too many rocks and I miss the Rocket. I just bought a home site on Pegasus in Phoenix and I will end up flying Colorado,Arizona and Utah mostly, too many 16500' MEAs not to have a turbo . I looked at a Rocket in Iowa last weekend and would have traded if possible. Too bad the dealer did not own it as they had represented. I am looking to sell, trade, something. Plane is low time 1750 tt af & engine. And is an unmolested original in great shape. I had the prior owner do an annual at our Mooney Service Center Arapahoe Aero before I bought it and then I used them again in May. Ready to go every thing works airplane.

Last Friday I flew to visit my inlaws in Nauvoo Il. After dropping my son and wife off in Keokuk Iowa. My father in law and I flew up to Waterloo to look at a Rocket. The charts I used were printed off the AOPA flight planning website. I enlarge the chart to the 10 mile setting. On that setting it shows all the Airports VORs NDBs Airways and intersections, they even show radar and winds aloft as of the time printed. I printed them off on 8 1/2 by 11 paper. Took 6 sheets to go 600 miles to KEOK and then 2 to go up to KALO. I also printed off both airport diagrams and the approach procedures for both airports. Reversed the order and used the same sheets to fly back to Cenntennial this morning.

At 1750 hours on the engine it still runs right. I top to 7 qts and add at 6. takes 3-5 hours to need oil. And yes the belly does get a bit oily.

Each of the 3 check rides I have taken, PPL, INST & MULTI/INST, were really nonevents. I found that in each case I was so well prepared by my CFI that they were easy.

A prop strike once repaired is a non event as far as future value is concerned. All it involves is the prop and the engine and they usually get fixed better than before. A gear up landing is usually fairly minor from a long term standpoint. In fact most gear ups end up increasing the value. A "normal" gear up where the wings are untouched only damages those items that get replaced. The prop gets new blades and an O/H. Engine gets attention that ranges from a bit of a freshen up to a complete O/H Belly get a one piece upgrade. cowl get repair or replace. nose gear doors new. Any antennaes touched are now new. Though both the Mooneys I have owned never had a gear up it is not something that would cause me to write off considering buying a plane. I know of a Mooney (N305**) that had 4 gear ups before he quit flying it. He got the heavy duty one piece belly with what looks like runners the first time and after that all that got damaged was the prop and the paint the next 3 times.

Quote: Jeff_S I use Flitz on my spinner and don't even bother with a power polisher. That would probably work better, but I just use elbow grease and it works fine with a noticeable improvement. The cloth gets really black, so it's taking off a lot of gunk. As to the amount, I divide the spinner up in thirds and use a glob about the width of a quarter and 1/2" high for each section and that seems to work.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/at150_ar850.php Aircraft Spruce has it new for $384. Ad says it is plug n play for your 500.

I have a building lot under contract on Pegasus Airpark 5AZ3. Now is the time to buy if you can. Lots that were selling for 250,000-350,000 2 1/2 years ago are now in the low 100's. After no sales for quite a while 4 lots have resold for under 125,000 this year. All lots are just over 1 acre.

Great to see an alternative to XM weather. Natural operation of a free market. An overpriced monopolistic service always finds competition. Maybe XM will get reasonable or go the way of AOL. Now if we could get valid competition for Garmin..........

Quote: Piloto I have been using the Citizen Eco-Drive for 7 years without any problems. It uses a solar cell to charge the battery, so you never have to worry about finding a replacement battery. A very handy feature when you travel abroad. It continuosly display GMT time in one of the small dials. Very handy for checking weather reports and others in GMT time. Mine gains one second per month. It can switch time zones at the push of a button without disturbing time settting. Mine has the the Titanium case which I strongly recommend for watches of this size, it makes them much lighter. José

This line of post is really starting to raise my ire. I don't intend to be rude but it sounds like a little bluntness is called for. Any pilot misinformed enough to propose mogas as a solution to the loss of lead crisis should just turn in his license and quit flying now. Because that is what will happen if his plan is followed. Current mogas is part alcohol and as such is UNUSABLE by any current STC. Any plane designed to use current mogas would be limited to the altitudes cars drive at. To achieve this lofty goal would require a complete redesign of the fuel system. Mogas changes! Lindberg's mogas was different than Fonzie's 50s mogas and way different than today's. Alcohol is not compatible with the fuel systems of our planes. Ignorance may be bliss but I see the damage alcohol causes to cars today. If I had a choice I would NEVER use alcohol in any car or plane. An earlier statement "I don't see what is the big deal of using MOGAS. Millions of cars use it every day and you never heard auto engines having problems with it. " Shows how misinformed people can be. I own and operate and auto repair shop, have for 29 years I see the damage alcohol does. Pilots with the attitude shown are part of the problem. We must hang together or we will "hang" alone. Unless every aircraft ever made is refitted with an engine capable of using Jet-A we will need a specialty aviation fuel. That fuel will need to be usable in every plane in the fleet. The bulk of the fuel sold goes into planes that work for a living. Without their sales there would be no fuel for the others. "An old M20C flying on MOGAS would have a higher value than a grounded Acclaim due to no AVGAS". This situation will NEVER happen. ANY fuel that can be used by the older lower performance engines will be a SPECIALTY fuel. MOGAS as currently formulated DOES NOT meet any current STC. Your M20C will need a specialty aviation fuel! Today's mogas won't work no matter how much you "HOPE" it will. The only way you will get fuel is on the coattails of the larger market that includes the Acclaim.