mikefox

Well, here's my procedure for an M20J (basic procedure works well in other aircraft as well though you might have to modify settings: 1. Vectored for approach or before FAF: MP 16" Prop 2500 RPM. this gives gear speed comfortably in straight and level flight 2. Intercepting GS (wherever it occurs): Gear down, MP 14" (precision approach). This gives about 100-105 kts IAS 3. 2 mi or so to threshold, flaps to 20 deg 4. Runway in sight, flaps full (or as appropriate) power to idle

My greatest heartache is folks talking about "it's already 5 years old"! I hate to think that the panel we invested in is out of date already - we have a G500 PFD/MFD (not the Txi), a G5, and a GNS430W GPS/Nav/Comm. For the first 20 years of my flying career nothing ever went out of date - it just needed occasional repair. Now my fervent hope is that Garmin continues to support our "old" equipment for 20 years! Sorry for the rant!

Thanks! I'll broaden the question to whether anyone has any recommendations for good shops in Southern CA for an annual inspection on an M20J?

Anyone have any recent PIREPs on Mooney maintenance at Coast? Thanks in advance!

Hi! CFI, CFII in San Diego, experienced in M20C,J,K.

Hopefully the carbon cowl for the J can fix the annoying modal (flexural) vibration issue which cracks the paint on the top cowl!

Yes, you can log PIC time in a Mooney without having the complex endorsement, as long as there is someone on-board who can "act as PIC" for the flight - in other words, take responsibility for safety of the flight. You are logging PIC time as sole manipulator of the controls in an aircraft for which you are appropriately rated, and rating does not include endorsements!

Congrats!

Great questions! The antennas in #1 are COMM 1 and COMM 2. Antenna #2 is transponder or DME - they are both small blade antennas like that. #3 is definitely strike finder. If ever in doubt, the length of the antenna is inversely proportional to the frequency - that's why DME is smaller than COMM, for instance!

Anyone have any experience with the latest LED landing lights from Whelen or AeroLEDs? Since we have an M20J with a single PAR46 in the cowl, the AeroLEDs Sunspot 46LX with both landing and taxi optics is attractive. Thoughts? Anyone try the latest Whelen Parmetheus Pro PAR46 light yet?

Ok, I'll pile on - it is a valid point that we should understand the reasons behind recommended operating practices, so that we can adjust as needed with an understanding of the risks, rather than be dogmatic. Having said that, barring unusual circumstances, I do the following: Positive rate, out of usable, gear up Climb stabilized, obstacles cleared (if any), flaps up Safe altitude (usually but not always ~1000 AGL) - pump off, prop 2600 RPM, power as required

I always turn off my ANR pre-landing. Not just for the tires, but in some aircraft, the ANR mutes the gear warning so much you might not recognize it for what it is!

We have also had excellent experience with fine wire plugs. Never had to gap them after installation because they don't erode! We have never had fouling problems and always smooth as silk. I wouldn't use anything else.

I think I'll avoid H2 - think "Hindenburg"!

Wet grass can increase the drag, especially if the grass is long. I have seen some mountain flying handbooks and other info that recommend no takeoff if the grass is long and wet. Landing roll will obviously be longer as braking effectiveness will diminish on wet grass. I would not call myself an expert backcountry pilot either though I have some experience, enough to know to be careful (especially with an aircraft like the 20J)!

A friend of mine had this in his aircraft. Very subtle vibration that would last for a second or so, and was accompanied by slightly increased EGT on one cylinder during the roughness. Turned out to be oil ring that was broken, and when the gap lined up with the other ring gaps, oil leaked into the cylinder, changing the combustion process (hence the EGT indication).

I've operated my J out of grass strips many times - a well-maintained grass strip can be preferable to pavement! Just watch out when the grass is wet. Even morning dew can substantially increase your takeoff roll and decrease braking effectiveness. Enjoy, and be careful!

This is fantastic news! I look forward to their certification!

Contrary to some of the comments listed here, the aircraft cares about IAS. IAS is a measure of the dynamic pressure felt on the aircraft surfaces, which is what they care about. So in the equations for lift and drag, hence Force on the airframe surfaces, it is dynamic pressure which matters. For incompressible flow (low Mach number) this can be expressed as 1/2 * density * velocity * velocity. When we pilots talk about "True airspeed" it is the velocity in the equation that we are referring to. The reason true airspeed and IAS differ is when density is not standard density (29.92 in Hg, 59 deg Fahrenheit). Remember, the airspeed indicator is telling us essentially, DYNAMIC PRESSURE. So regardless of altitude or outside air temperature, if you exceed Vne you have become a test pilot!!

I always climb at full throttle and at a safe altitude back the prop just off the stop into governing range. No issues ever and no limitations in the M20J.

Yeah - the Century 2000 is fantastic when it works! When it doesn't it is a pain.... We had some bizarre issues with the pitch axis which were solved by replacing and then fine-tuning the brushes inside the AI, which send the pitch signal to the autopilot computer. Many AI overhaul shops don't adjust these very effectively.

I can't believe I am reading some of the comments in this thread! I hope they are pure sarcasm!!! As an aerobatic pilot and Mooney owner, my sincerest advice is to buy a Decathlon, get some good instruction, and enjoy getting upside down! Keep the Mooney shiny-side up unless you are Bob Hoover....

Regretfully won't be able to attend due to a cracked Hartzell spinner bulkhead! Anyone ever heard of that? Big chunk of aluminum missing!

I'll vote for 4/14!

I'd go to PRB but won't be in town on the 17th. Could do end of March or early April!