NewHeights

Well, I came out to look at all the planes listed above. I'm going to go with the Red 1996 MSE, the last link I posted (the one on ASO). Purchasing for the asking price, $170k. I think its a fair deal. The plane is in great shape, hope all goes well at the pre-buy. I'd like to publicly thank Parker for all his help, both in talking to me about these planes on the phone, and recommending how I will handle the purchase from this point forward (inspections and delivery).

A big reason for my purchase is to have my own plane to receive my IFR rating. My instructor advised me to rack up a hundred hours or so of flying before going into that rating. I'm basically looking at all those hours, plus the hours that will go directly into the IFR rating, and I feel the right choice is to do it in an owned plane. That being said, I've tried my best to educate myself on all of the avionics options on the market. At a minimum, I am hoping a plane will be IFR current, WAAS current, with at least a 430. Better options would be those with dual 430s, or 530/430 stack. Better yet than that, would be a Garmin 480 with MX20. I didn't spend much time learning anything about the King stuff, and unfortunately, its what most of the planes I'm looking at came with. I guess the reason I have no interest in the King stuff is that it seems so common for people to change that stuff out for Garmins, so I'm assuming its no good. I'd like the plane I buy to be well enough equipped as is, rather than be spending money to add avionics. However, I do think that as long as it is IFR / WAAS current, that I can get anything I need otherwise from a yoke mounted 496, or custom panel mounted 696. The 696 features just look awesome, and I'm surprised noone on this board seems to talk about it. Chris

So I've been looking at so many different mooneys in the past couple months, and I think I'm finally narrowing my search down to M20J MSE models. I'm a new pilot, so M20C/E/F/J make the most sense, and with reliability high on my list, I'm probably in best shape if I buy the newest M20J I can afford. That has me narrowing my focus on the 90s models of M20J MSE. Also, the range, useful load, speed, all meet my mission profile fairly well. I am taking a trip down to Texas this weekend to talk to David McGee at All American Aircraft about a few of the planes they have for sale. They all have their ups and downs of course. Here are a few of their listings: http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/MOONEY-M20J-MSE/1995-MOONEY-M20J-MSE/1147270.htm (This one looks like they are priced way too high, hoping for someone to fall in love with paint and interior maybe?) $195k with dual 430s, new paint/interior, also 0 SMOH, 1250 TT --- http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/MOONEY-M20J-MSE/1997-MOONEY-M20J-MSE/1152971.htm (Still priced too high...) $185k with 196 SMOH, 1336 TT --- http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/MOONEY-M20J-MSE/1994-MOONEY-M20J-MSE/1144732.htm $172k with 1926 TT, 0 SMOH I'm also looking at another plane while I'm in the San Antonio area, for sale by an owner. Can anyone give their opinions on this one? http://www.aso.com/listings/spec/ViewAd.aspx?id=128292&listingType=true&IsInternal=True&dealerid= (I thought price was high considering TT 2100 and 1050 SMOH. 525 hrs on a 3 blade McCauley scimitar. I thought this may be an advantage for me since I may occasionally want to takeoff from high altitude airports. Owner claims it increased climb AND cruise, is that possible?) There are a few others I've called about, but I'll leave this thread at this. Any comments on the above planes? Any other recommendations I should consider in my search for a reliable M20J MSE? Chris

Also: OTHER EQUIPMENT Electric Back Up Artificial Horizon and Standby Vacuum System o FM/CD Player and Intercom System and Satellite Phone o Speed Brakes o Strobes o Aux 92 Gallons Fuel. o All Logs o There is no Airframe Damage History. A recent porpoise on landing resulted in the prop tips striking the runway. An engine teardown was accomplished to check for damage and the propeller was overhauled.

Also Steve said that is is not STC'd for a greater gross weight. Does anyone know the numbers then on this? what the plane weighs now with the conversion, and available payload full fuel (96 gallons?).

http://www.steveweaver.com/n142mp.htm I was looking at this plane today for sale on trade-a-plane, it is an M20L with converted IO-550. Steve Weaver told me that the plane was converted by a shop in FL, I'm assuming he is referring to Coy Jacobs place. He said Porsche offered to help with the cost of these 550 conversions. Does anyone have any more info on that, or know how many other L models have done this conversion? Also, what does everyone think about the asking price of 160k?

I'm in the market to purchase a Mooney, from either a Mooney 201, and considering up to a used Rocket (there are a couple on Controller I inquired about). One thing I do want to maybe take into account is that my girlfriend and I plan to do a lot of our travelling with our boston terrier , if she (our dog) manages ok on a few smaller trips. I've tried looking on Google but didn't come up with much information on flying in a small non pressurized plane with a dog. What I did find, was owners accounts of taking their dogs to high altitude (not in the air), up to 7000 or 8000 feet with no problems. Others stated they had their dogs at 10k elevation, and the dog had trouble adjusting. Does anyone have any input on this situation? If in fact I would only be able to fly 5000 feet or something, I may be less likely to purchase something like a Rocket, where you absolutely need some elevation to have any respectable range. I don't suppose any company makes a doggy oxygen mask.... (just kidding with that..) Chris