scottfromiowa

What do you think about ADS-B? Chime in on the poll and post your comments...

I'm still a generator guy. I have replaced BOTH the belt AND generator since purchase, but believe the generator was NEVER replaced prior to mine and that was 1900+ hours and 36 years! I also replaced the voltage regulator when I installed an HID landing light. The EI voltmeter is between 11.7and 13.3 (volts) in cruise and shows discharge while taxing under low power. I LIKE knowing what's going on with the EI digital indicator. Also fun to see what everything is drawing by switching to "amps". The HID landing light is amazingly efficient in current draw and reduced heat over OEM landing light...besides being WAAAAaay brighter and having amazing lifespan. i cruise with landing light ON.

I ALWAYS check oil level before flight and add if below six quarts. If 5.5 on dipstick I add a whole quart...to 6.5. If 5 quarts i add a quart to six. I routinely fly with six quarts of oil. ( I have NEVER registered below five quarts after a flight. If I add over this amount the oil is just ejected and a waste of oil...others may argue with this practice, but i routinely monitor oil temps in climb and cruise and my plane has never been out of the green on oil temp. I had the oil cooler re-built with major overhaul 450 hours ago. I don't do aggrressive climbs. I cruise climb full rich and max power and 2700 rpm with airspeed at 120mph. I am covering ground, improved visibility in climb and cooler oil and cylinder head temps. We don't get 100 very often in Iowa/Wisconsin where I routinely fly, but we regularly get 80's and high humidity.

I think Job and Jim are right on. I did the "hanger queen" investment too and would NOT go this route again...was in my initial purchase price area and had low time so...then the fun starts replacing EVERYTHING firewall forward...thankfully the "breaks" and need to do's were spread out so I could fund them....and once you do get the plane mechanically sound...UPgrade siren begins to call...buy me....buy me...BUY ME!!! I don't figure the REAL expense because I just don't want to know. It's a labor of love and the convenience and ease of getting somewhere that is 6.5 hours by four wheels...being 2.0 on three retractable ones.

Sigh...I honestly get a little tired of reading about "how tight" Mooney interiors are. It is physically the same or really close to a Cherokee (for width of cabin)...the bottom line is you sit stretched out...like a sports car vs. high...like a Cessna. It is easier to get in and out of a Buick than a Mooney...or a sportscar...but I PREFER the sitting position as it accomodates height well. If you are in the 90th percentile for height and weight you will fit in a Mooney. If you are 10 percentile for height (short) or size REALLY large frame you WILL have problems...like in the majority of single engine airplanes, but if you don't like a tighter cabin (talking aesthetics vs. actually fitting) you probably won't be happy in a Mooney. Buy a V tail Beech for space and speed. Buy a Mooney for speed and economy. I really don't think there is much difference between an Arrow/Cherokee and a Mooney...regarding comfort/view in the cockpit.

I also have the inline Sky-Tek. I believe it to be the NL. I had a failure after about a year...When the core was sent back they said it was "their problem" and replaced for no charge...but I ate the removal and install. The starter has worked great for three years and running since replacement...My secret on "Hot start" in my E is to run fuel pump for 3 seconds at Mixture cut-off...to pressurize, but NOT add any primed fuel. Don't touch anything and turn the key. I have had EXCELLENT results with this method...from 1 minute to one hour...give it a try. I also throttle up to 1500 prior to mixture cut-off/shut down...With aggressive leaning IMMEDIATELY after start up I have had NO mag issues or plug fouling (I have massive vs. fine wire plugs)

Looks great George. What is the large screen (top right of panel?)

Good reason to buy a multi-probe...Mine has movement too, but Not from zero to green...just a little sway instead of steady. I rely on my GEM for individual temp of all cylinders vs. the one in the gauge pack.

Sorry to hear this Parker. Hope it works out... I am also extremely careful about allowing my plane to be towed. (I try and watch whenever it is done) Mooney's have such a shallow turn radius and the denting of the nose gear on a sharp turn either way under power is SO EASY. I have paint off my nose truss on both sides, but NO DENTS! I had a little shimmy,so installed the brass insert in my gear a year or so ago. Not much you could do if they are re-positioning multiple times...regarding supervising your aircrafts movement...Bummer.

Yes, but IF you don't fly weekly and want to significantly reduce rust and improve lubrication...give CamGuard a look.

I did the same AeroShell. I switched to Phillis XC with CamGuard and have been very happy. I am about 450 hours into my major. I go about 6 hours between adding a quart.

Just back from a nice weekend in Northern Wisconsin at Cabins...80's over Memorial Weekend...and I'm 30 minutes from Upper Pennensula...! Great to be sipping beverages on our flotilla with comfortable water temps. Nice tail wind at 6500 gave us 160 knots indicated ground speed for whole return flight. I flew full power and 2500rpm with ram air open and 50 degrees rich of peak...all cylinders at 300-325. Looking forward to having Fuel flow...It's shipped and coming soon. George, glad install went smoothly. I run LOP a lot and am interested to see JUST HOW MUCH FUEL FLOW is reduced vs. reduction in speed. Hoping to find a perfect balance of speed and flow in my plane...plus management of fuel remaining at a higher level.

Any updates George? Hope install went well.

Beautiful Parker...Pardon my drool.

My dad (an artist) would just say "Their taste was all in their mouth"...

Yes, the true "201 panel" has the two wings left and right side and is taller than pre-J left right and radio center stack panels. I will get my 201 panel sometime...if I ever get a 201 with a vertically adjustible seat.

I have my winner...EI FP-5L. I was going to buy Mike's FT 101, but called to find price on a transducer (as they have a projected life san of 1,500 hours and this one is used) cough, >.4AMU...so guess I am getting a new unit that has GPS interface and gallons to destination...and matches my volt/amp EI unit. A special thanks to Dan for info on Gulf Coast special. Significantly LESS than Spruce right now...and noone beats Spruce when I have checked in the past. Safe flying Memorial. Heading to cottages (D25) Manitowish Waters, WI sans kids...with watchful grandma making sure house stays in tact. BEAUTIFUL weather forcast in Midwest.

Thankfully our Mooney's live...and unthankfully, so do the 70's colors

GPS or Loran from what I have seen. A couple have said they workon portable units too...

I don't know about the window trim, but those seats are YUMMY Parker! Nice

Thanks Barry. I'll check out the JPI model too

I saw Gary's panel while looking through photo albums. It IS REALLY WELL DONE. I planned layout and the mods were done on the CAD program and Hendricks cut and engraved the panel. I had painted (local body shop) and installed (local avionics shop). The most time consuming aspect was removal of ram air (cable must be removed and pulled through panel to remove) as the panel extends through yoke/rockers. I was quoted the 1AMU price and although probably took about 15 hours of labor shop stuck with the quote...(I have returned the favor with additional business) and spreading word of the quality of their work in CID. I'm gald I now have standard six pack. There are LOTS of nice panel "re-do's on Pre-J models to get idea's on how you can modify. I have found it very rewarding to see the progress and the "vision" of what you want in the plane for function and look come to fruition...slowly...step by step and AMU by AMU Again, I wish I would have had MooneySpace while I was searching...and the current market in which to search. Have fun!

I'll check the EI out Dan. Thanks.

Hi Scott, Yes I have a GEM that works great. I agree that if I had no GEM 602 that is what I would do. I think I can find the panel space for a small unit dedicated to fuel flow.

I am interested in a BASIC Fuel flow and totalizer. What happened to the Hoskins FT101? I am looking for simple...tell me what I'm burning NOW...tell me what I have left based on GPS and what I input as on board. I am looking for LOW COST...How about UNDER $500 for a certified unit?...and also tell me about the over the top units as I am interested in hearing what is the best of the best...NOW. If anyone has an FT101 laying around, or knows where I can find one. I'm INTERESTED