healthfx

Great advice here. I've flown my M20C for just over 500 hours, in all conditions. Regardless, I always aim to enter the ground effect with full flaps and from 75mph over the numbers. Once I'm in it, I hold slow flight for as long as possible and the let the plane transition. The yoke is all over the place, flailing for air. If I'm too fast and short of runway, it's go around time. If I'm too slow and dropping like a safe, a touch of power helps slow the descent. If altitude density a factor, a touch of power is a must. Same at full load.

Im looking to put the 450 into my M20C while in annual! If still available, please private message me!

See the before and after pics at http://www.mooneyland.com/pilot-articles/ That “slap-in-the face” waiting at the end of the runway always seemed to be staring at me for too long…But, I thought it was normal. Looking deeper, my mechanics found the problem in my brakes. Old hydraulic fluid. It had oxidized and expanded, causing the pads to close ever so slightly and restrict movement. They added new fluid. Now, I takeoff like I stole it!

Flying a plane and buying one are two totally different things. A plane owner has to be able to effectively budget for maintenance. Penny pinching makes flying dangerous. I fly a '62 M20C - about 100 hours per year. Including my hangar costs, I budget $15k per year for costs. If you buy a C model, you must look at tanks, landing gear, exhaust, avionics and corrosion. That's just the start. Most of teh engined based on time are out of TBO...Switches are important too, cause age can cause them to fail...My master switch failed over San Diego while flying my family to Mexico. I lost all electricity. If you are serious about buying a Mooney, you need this guide: http://www.mooneyland.com/the-complete-mooney-knowledge-pack/

I'd love to take you, but I have a C model...Just let me know. Im close by and fly weekly.

I chose my Mooney for the safety and economy it offers for flying the family. We travel in the C model. Love it! 150 hours last years. Get the free report at www.mooneyland.com to learn about finding a good bird!

I like this post...Especially the underlying message of never being too confident with your plane. I was on a cross country form Los Angeles to Durango, CO with my family. We stopped in FLG, AZ to fuel my '62 M20C and to let my little guy stretch. I was expecting the typical crosswind landing at 00C, and told myself if it was too fast I'd opt for the larger runway 5 miles East. 30 min out I listened to ATIS, a bit nervous, like awating a sentencing. 29 knots, directly across. Shit. My fearless 10 yo daughter was up front, my 5 yo son and wife in back. I took the GPS off my yoke for full control and danced on the peddles like an athlete stretches before the big game...Not typical, my wife asked what I was doing..."Crosswinds," I replied curtly. Once in the pattern, it got really bumpy on base leg. I set up to come in high to avoid downdrafts. On final I pumped in full flaps so I could set down nice and slow on my Mooney legs (standar procedure)...I was all over the place at that point, but hoped it would smooth out in ground effect. If not, I was ready to go full power, gear up as quickly as possible and reminded myself nose down for airspeed, not nose up for altitude (full load and high attitude don't mix)...Almost down I flaired but gust pushed me over the grass...Plan B...The jolt of power instinctlively forced my wife to yell, "what happened." Daughter calmly said, "we are doing a go-around, papa was off the runway..." Bigger runway was sounding nice...But I wanted to see how the plane handled on downwind and base leg with no flaps...Once there, the plane settled in much better...on final, I felt the remarkable aerodynamics of Mooney fist hand. I was sticking my crab into the wind like velcro at the higher speed and sharper configuration, which showed I didnt need the larger space. Straightened out and nailed it. Wife wanted to marry me all over again...Still though, I was out of my comfort zone/safe minimums...My instructor taught me that such conditions are a game of statistics and that exceptions never make rules. So still today, for me, its all about my glide slope and handling on final, not about whether I've done it before...I think if he had not taught me that, I may have had a skewed sense of reality. I'm sure glad I wasnt in a Cessna.

Richard's memorial will be April 21, at Turkey Cove on Canyon Lake from 3-5pm. If questions, feel free to email me at liveyoungnow@gmail.com

Im selling my GPC 96C, the yoke mount and the zipper case on Ebay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170816052096&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123#ht_500wt_951 Great deal here! If any other pilots are looking to sell their used gear, PLEASE post here.

Richards memorial will be held in San Antonio on April 21. Will post time and place here soon.

Zephro was my mentor, helped me find my amazing '62 C. Miss you Richard! He worked hard for Mooney fans, for decades. He even has a new site coming to life in the near future! ...He was that passionate about keeping pilots safe!

Thanks for the tips. They really helped. The problem was a cracked exhaust valve, and a burnt one. Once pulled we looked closer at engine. No corrosion, as also show my constant oil analysis. Rebuilt cylinders. Putting on now. Will be running Marvels Mystery oil. Looked into overhaul based on years on engine, and only having 400 hours on it. According to Lycoming any engine that is over 2000 flight hours or 12 years since overhaul must be overhauled. Using that criteria the engine is over TBO. That being said this is something mandated by the manufacturer, not the FAA, so it is not required for part 91 operators. Updated pics coming soon! Anything I should look for in particular when flying out of this annual for the first few times?