mooney27239

I have a 396 with weather. It is pretty accurate. Most of the times I see the weather before the controllers see it. It does take a little getting use to because it shows radar returns so it might show rain but in actuality the rain isn't reaching the lower altitudes that you are flying at. I still like it and wouldn't want to do without. Thinking about upgrading to the 696 so I can have enroute charts and approach plates.

Seth; I forgot to mention that there are some patients that fly into GAI for treatment. In fact I have a mission scheduled for next month that I will pick the patient up at GAI and return him home to Galax, VA. He recieved treatments at the University of MD Shock Trauma Center for a gunshot wound to the face. I have flown him before.

Quote: Seth Tomorrow morning I'm conducting my first Angel Flight. Any pointers? The two passengers have been on many Angel Flights in the past (cancer treatment evidently), but besides ingress and egress, is there anything else that one normally wouldn't think of or has experienced? Thank you all in advance for the advice and suggestions. -Seth

Congrats. You now have a license to learn. Enjoy your ticket. You've worked hard to earn it.

I fly 125-150 hrs. a year. I have had the plane for about 3 years. In my expense figures I include the interest I pay on the plane loan but not the amount reducing the principle. My costs average just slight less than $150/hr and I am proactive in my maintence program. I would suspect this amount will start reducing because the plane had done alot of sitting (25-50 hrs/year) by the previous owner. My insurance runs around $1400.00. I use Sutton James Insurance, 500PIC and about 300M&M time.

Quote: Lrn2Fly Does this happen even while you are PUSHING the PC disconnect button (i.e. not in the pulled out position)? This was happening to me. One side of the PC was still retaining vacuum, causing one servo to pull on its respective aileron. If there is water in the vacuum line to the servo, or if the disengage valve is faulty, the servo will in essence act like an altimeter as you climb and descend. In my case, the lower I went, the stronger the pull was to the right. This was after being at 9000' for several hours, then descending. As always, your mileage may vary.

I have a recently developed issue that neither myself or my A&P can figure out and I hope someone here can help with. On my '65E, when I am in level flight and have the wing leveler on the plane flies true and straight. When I disengage the wing leveler the plane starts banking right rather quickly. This all started after I had washed the plane one day. Prior to that the plane would fly straight with the wing leveler on or off. As far as I know, I didn't hit anything while I was washing it to knock anything out of adjustment. Perhaps the washing is unrelated but this problem arose for the first time on my next flight. Anyone else run into this?

The coil spring on the retractable step on my 65E is broke and my mechanic isn't having any luck finding one. Can anyone help me with that?

For everyone's info, my AP called yesterday and said he had called about rebuilding my generator. They told him they had one set of brushes left and no more brushes were being made so my generator would be the last that they rebuild. Not sure if this is just true for this particular rebuilder or for everyone. Not sure who he called either. If true for everyone, this debate will become a non-issue, we will all be running alternators eventually.

My generator failed today on my '65E and I am faced with either rebuilding it or going with a alternator conversion. I would be interested in hearing from others who have been in this position and their decision. If you went with the conversion what did it cost, any unexpected bugs, etc. At this point I am not sure which way to go.

I plan on being there.

I have decided to sell my E model if I can get a reasonable price. I have the opportunity to go into a partnership in a bigger plane. Here is a link to the listing on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180559812919&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT If I don't have any luck selling it I would be willing to look at taking on a partner. If anyone is interested email me at wsb1471@yahoo.com

I have listed my Mooney M20E on eBay if anyone is interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180559812919&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

T-A-P...Trade A Plane. Hadn't woke up yet evidently

Quote: KLRDMD

I have flow my '65E model for about 2.5 years now. I usually fly around 150 hours a year. I flight plan for 150kts TAS and it's right on the mark consistently. I usualy see 9.5 - 10 gal/hr fuel burn. The E model is all I have ever flown but even with the shorter length it works fine for me. I regularily haul 2-3 people in it besides myself on flight that are usually around 2 hrs. long doing Angel Flight missions and I've never had anyone complain although that may be because they are receiving a free ride. I am thinking about selling it to get a larger plane for the Angel Flights but if I were normally flying myself and one more I would not consider it.

Asheboro, NC $4.26/gal.

My insurance renewal date is coming soon and I have a question. In the past when it was time for renewal I would get the agent who currently handled the insurance to start working on quotes. Then I tried calling others like Avemco or AOPA and once they found out that someone else was getting quotes for me them refused to provide quotes. Has anyone else had that experience? I currently have Sutton James has my broker but would be interested in getting quotes from others.

Quote: WilliamR Jim, count me in. I have always enjoyed visiting Jekyll Island and especially the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. To the prior poster with the bad experience, clearly there is some confusion on what the airport offers. RedBug is not an FBO, they rent carts. That's it. Asking RedBug for a free ride is like asking Avis for a ride, but you don't want to rent a car. As far as shuttle service goes, the Club Hotel has always been happy to pick us up at 09J. Make sure you tell them Jekyll Island Airport. Otherwise they may go to Brunswick instead. Whenever I have stayed at the Club Hotel, we call when exiting the airplane to be picked up. By the time, I push back the airplane, tie down, and unload, the van is there. They load the bags up in the van and deliver them directly to your room. Last time I was there, I wanted to play some golf. The Club Hotel was happy to take just me to the course at my convenience. When I was done playing, I simply called the hotel and they picked me up in under 10 minutes. They do the same for people wanting to go to the beach. This is a historic 4 diamond hotel. They know service. Well, I could go on and on, but I won't. Jekyll is one of my favorite destinations. The history, the views, and the food all have great appeal. Looking forward to August.

Thanks for the info guys. I have also registered for the class on the 10th. I sure hope they get enough people signed up to hold it. danb; The gentleman I spoke with told me they would notify me when they either had enough to confirm the class or vice versa. I didn't get the impression that I would get a confirmation until then.

Someone please provide me with the info on the class next week in NC. This is the first I've heard about it and am interested in attending.

I had a bad experience at Jekyll Island FBO last week. I had to fly in on a business trip and had called a couple weeks ago about transportation. Red Bug runs the FBO and their main business is renting the electric carts. I explained that I didn't need to rent a cart, just needed transportation to the hotel. They agreed that they would provide me with transportation. The day before my flight I called Red Bug back to confirm transportation and give them my arrival time. Again, they said they would provide transportation. Upon arriving at 09J we met a representative from Red Bug (surly gentleman) who quickly stated that Red Bug didn't provide transportation and all he could do for me was rent me a cart for $75.0 per 24 hours. I told him of my previous calls and he said he didn't know who I spoke with, it wasn't him, and he wasn't going to take us anywhere. Fortunately the hotel where the conference was being held agreed to come pick us up even though they don't have a shuttle. I definitely have a bad taste in my mouth for Jekyll Island and particuiarlly the FBO.

My guages have never been accurate either. During my last annual my A&P worked on them, thought it was a ground problem. Sometimes they will seem somewhat accurate. At other times I can have a full tank and the guage shows full, fly for 15 minutes on the right tank and the right guage will go to 1/2 full. Fly another 15 minutes and it is showing almost empty. It doesn't bother me to much because I guage the fuel by computing flying time. But it can be disconcerting for passengers who are unfamiliar. I do alot of Angel Flights so I continually have different passengers. At next annual I intend to install the fuel guages in the following link if they are still available and mark the instrument fuel guages as inop. http://www.donmaxwell.com/publications/MAPA_TEXT/Wing%20Fuel%20Gauge%20Retrofit.htm

Ron Did yours fly straight and level with the PC disengaged? I am thinking more of a rigging problem than a PC/servo problem because it does it with the PC disengaged.

I have had my M20E for about 3 years and the whole time I have had it I always have to lift the left wing in flight. Yesterday's flight is a good example. When I took off I was full of fuel, had my wife in front right seat (135#) and myself piloting (210#), have the roll trim all the way clockwise (Right), wing leveler disengaged, flew on the left tank for 1 hour to try to reduce the pressure on the yoke and even after the one hour I still had to lift the left wing slightly to keep it flying straight. Engaging the wing leveler doesn't help. I have tried bending the end of the aileron slightly and can't see where that helped any either. I have heard other Mooneyacs talk about the wing leveler keeping the wings level in non-turbulent conditions. Has anyone else had a situation like mine? Is it out of rig or is the wing leveler not working properly? I know the wing leveler is working because when it is engaged it takes alot more force to turn the yoke. Just can't keep the darn thing flying straight.