legallegend

Did you notice any issues with your compass due to the magnets in the iPad 2? I have one but have not made it to the plane yet.

Is there a site that compares the various models through the years?

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

I live in East Tennessee. Going to the beach I have to overfly the Smoky Mountains, but that is only at 11000 or 12000.

Thank you for the responses. Keep them coming. Are you all telling me that I can get 155 kts+ on 10 gph? You can get 160-165 in a A36 on 12.5. It is interesting that you say the operating costs are a lot more on the Bonanza. Not counting cost of capital, I believe that I can operate a mid 1970's A36 on about $180/hour. What are we looking at on a per hour basis for the Mooney?

Thanks Jolie. Looking forward to advice from all here. A little more info about me. I am looking at a partnership with 2 other pilots. We have similar size families. I have been leaning toward A36s due to the barn doors and a desire for more payload. However, one of the potential partners has brought up Mooneys so I am back to figuring out if I can make it work. It may be that I have to find something that does 95% of my missions and forgo the last 5%.

I have posted here before, but I have been focusing on a Bonanza for a while so I have forgotten most of what you all have shared. I apologize. My missions are as follows: 1) Family trips: up to 500 nm; wife and me (310 lbs total); kids (80 total) - 75% 2) Me and guys: up to 200 nm - I have big friends. It could be a total of 800 lbs of people if I took 4 - 20% 3) Me and guys: up to 400 nm - 5% Can I do missions 2 and 3 in a Mooney? If so, which one? Budget is up to $150K. Thanks

If either of you were in Knoxville, TN, I would be all over it.

Why can't something like this come up in my area. Good luck to you.

Quote: Jeff_S

Inexpensive but effective moving map portable GPS. Includes iFly unit used 5 times, battery pack and Ram Yoke Mount modified to fit iFly. $500 or best offer plus shipping. For more information, visit ifly.adventurepilot.com

Love my Halos. Need to buy the wife a pair.

I got my PPL in May. Since then I have flown mostly XC and have done an 8 lesson aerobatics course. I need to go back and do 1 more lesson to get the tailwheen endorsement. Apparently 8 landings is not enough. My plan is to start IR training later this month in a rental Turbo Arrow III. This will be more expensive than doing it in a 172, but I will get my IR and conplex sign off and will then be able to rent the Arrow. It is not where I intend to end up, but it is better than a 172. More importantly, the complex time will reduce the insurance required transition time and should decrease my initial premium. I am lucky in that this is not a flight school, more like a club. Less than 10 people fly the plane. Less than 5 fly it with any regularity and that is still infrequent. This will suit my needs until I want to take on the expense of ownership.

Does anyone know where I can find a document that has model change information by year. In an effort to narrow my search, I would like to be able to see what change were made during each year of production, what changes were made, what options added, etc. Just trying to answer the inevitable question, which model is right for me. Thanks

Thanks Anthony. I am glad to hear that the family of 4 fits the Mooney. I will have to check out the R's and dream.

You are right on the wide variety of price and quality. Of course we are basing everything on asking price, not actual selling price. I am a member of a Beech message board and it seems that several quality planes have sold in the $140 to $175 range recently. Yes there are planes selling $200,000 to $300,000 and more, but a friend of mine just bought a 1976 A36 with Smith speed mods, full Garmin (340, 430, 530, 327, GDL 69), JPI, 2008 paint, 2006 interior, 4500 TTAF, 1037 smoh, 521 STOH, NDH. This one sold at the bottom of the aforementioned range. It seems to me where the Bonanza's have the Mooney's when I have compared (recognizing we are talking totally different airplanes) is panel. I went out to see the aforementioned A36 today. If you are not familiar with A36s, there is no baggage extention behind the 3rd row in pre-1979 models unless you have an STC (very few of these). This is what got me back to thinking Mooney. If I have to take out the last row to have baggage space (other than between the front 2 rows, and the operating costs are more, and the purchase price (compared to a J) is more, and the useful is not much more, and the Mooney is faster, and I have to carry more fuel since I burn more so lower useful and on and on and on . . . It just has me thinking.

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately, I do not think a M20M or newer model is in the cards. You can get a nice A36 for under $150,000. I have not seen newer Mooneys with comparable panels for that cheap. At bottom, I am afraid that the Bonanza is the better way to go, but there is something about the Mooney that draws me in.

The 4 adult trips would be rare. How uncomfortable would it be for 1 overnight bag per couple on a 2 hour trip? Is this doable? I agree about a knowledgable local mechanic. We have one of those for Beech products. Best of both world - local guy who does most, if not all work, on Beeches. I am hoping to find something similar for the Mooney but no luck yet.

I recently started a thread on M20J Operating Costs. I really should have started with this thread. Please induldge me and give me your thoughts. Is a Mooney right for me? My uses will be: 1) IFR trainer (this depends on how long it is from now until I buy a plane - I may be IR by then), 2) weekend getaway vehicle for family (wife, 2 kids [5.5 and 3 years old]), 3) $100 burgers, and 4) guys trips to ballgames/races (low priority), 5) overnight trips with adult couple friends (only slightly higher priority than (4), and 6) general turning $$$ into HP. I have done W&B calculations for various planes I have found on line. It looks like I could do the flights that I think I might do based on the numbers. Of course, the real world is always different. Another issue is that I am not aware of a Mooney specialist anywhere near me. I am in Knoxville, Tennessee. It looks like the closest might be Joey Cole in Rome. I do not like the idea of being so far from the mechanic if something goes wrong. The other plane I have been considering is an A36. I know that with a Mooney I totally give up the option of taking my parents with us, but even with the Bo I do not know how feasible this would be anyway. I appreciate any wisdom and guidance you guys can impart.

Thanks Ricardo. I am evaluating all of my options including stepping back to a 20F. Does anyone want to chime in on what I might see differently in operating costs. Based on my rough projects (something catastrophic aside), I can operate the 20F within a a few dollars per hour of the 172 (this includes engine, maintenance and avionics reserves) and much less than the rental Turbo Arrow. Oh what to do.

Cruiser - I am renting from a private instructor. No daily minimums. I can take on cross countries at will. I would be happy to continue to rent the 172 for another year to get my IFR and then plan on buying end of 2011 early 2012. I just want more speed for travel. The owner is renewing the insurance and we are trying to see if the 50 hour requirement on the Arrow can be lowered to something more reasonable.

Thanks Jim. Good comments. How many hours did you fly last year? Did the $160 include reserves or just out of pocket costs?

My uses will be: 1) IFR trainer, 2) weekend getaway vehicle for family, 3) $100 burgers, and 4) general turning $$$ into HP. I have access to a 172 for $129 and a Turbo Arrow for $189. I am looking into other rental options as well. Problem with the Arrow is that insurance currently requires 50 hours retract time to solo, which I do not have. I really want the Mooney for speed but I am trying to figure out if I can justify it purely on a dollars basis compared to what I have access to.

What about reserves? Of course insurance will be pilot dependent and hangar will be airport dependent.

Thanks Job. Good post. Is $50/hour a good number for fuel? I wonder what folks are putting back for mx/avionics/engine reserves.