Bennett

Two good wide runways - 6000’ and 4700’ with clear approaches. Lots of wineries and tasting rooms in the area for those who might want to stay overnight. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just to suggest a few dates: March 17 (St Patrick’s Day), or March 18, or the following weekend: March 24th or 25th. The idea of a BBQ instead of a restaurant should allow for more socializing. The Estella Museum itself worth the trip. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To be absolutely fair, I have seen automobiles wrapped to perfection, and with deep metallic colors I doubt could be accomplished with paint. I just think autos may be a better object to wrap than Aircraft. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It was hysterical when I landed in Key West and I and the custom’s lady could see remnants of my “removable” 12” N numbers steaming from the vertical and horizontal stabilators. The numbers felt secure when I placed them in position, but I guess 200 Kts was too much for them (this was my 261 conversion). On other aircraft I have owned I used some elaborate vinyl graphics, and I had a very difficult time dealing with rivets. Ultimately with a heat gun, pins, and a razor blade, I was able to bring about acceptable results. My current Mooney is all paint, and I am glad it is. For what it is worth, my prior airplane, a DOVA LSA had huge amounts of factory applied vinyl graphics. Even though it was a brand new airplane, I had all the paint (and graphics) stripped off the airframe, and new paint applied. I would do that again given the same circumstances.

KPRB is a great choice. I used to fly there often when there was an earlier “white table cloth” restaurant there. Slow service, but good food. I stopped going there when the restaurant closed, and some sort of deli took over. Good to hear that a new restaurant has taken over. Hey, a free BBQ sounds wonderful. Just pick a date, and I’ll be there - even glad to contribute to the costs of the BBQ. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think I read that Don Kaye installed Voice Command for his Garmin GTNs. I am considering doing the same, but I am curious if this is really useful, or just a gimmick because they can do it. Adding another button to the yoke shouldn’t be difficult, but is there real utility in doing so. All opinions are welcome. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aircraft Designs at Pine Mountain Lake uses their proprietary inserts in the side panels to gain additional elbow room. I really notice the difference. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I see between 1/2” and 7/8” increase in MP with ram air open at 7500’ at most temps aloft. The LoPresti cowl ram air is a beautifully built box, as is the rest of this incredibly expensive cowl. I’m glad I have it for my J, and even more glad that the former owner had it installed. I’ve seen the prop blade extensions, but I didn’t know they were developed for the Comanche. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From my experience (two of my kids did their grad work at SLO (Cal State) and I flew there frequently), it was rare that there was a marine layer that far inland by 9-10 AM. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I second San Luis Obispo. I often take guests there. Park at the base of the restaurant (Spirit of San Luis). The terminal at KSBP has all the major car rental companies, and many motels to stay overnight. The town of San luis Obispo has many shops and restaurants. Great place to overnight and explore. Short drive to Moro Bay on the coast. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Some years ago I was driving a Mazda Tribute (clone of a Ford Escape), equipped with shoulder belts, and in dash air bags. I was sliding down a mountain road covered in black ice, and I hit a snowplow head on that was also sliding in the opposite direction. The closing speed between the two vehicles was about 60 MPH. The front end of the Tribute simply collapsed (as it was designed to do). The airbags went off for myself and my passenger. To say that we stopped short is no exaggeration. My passenger was wearing a necklace and the light piece of jewelry on the chain caused the chain to break. The snowplow blade was noticeably dented. Neither I, nor my passenger had any injuries beyond light bruising from the shoulder belts. The airbag sulfa smell was overpowering, but three of the four doors still opened. At $2500 for a set of two AmSafe airbags, I’ll be at the front end of the line. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Coy Jacobs received a fair amount of bad press and criticism over the years, but he was always honest in his dealings with me. He did the complete Trophy 261 conversion to my 231 many years ago, and it ended up a beautiful totally refurbished aircraft I owned for about 16 years. The Trophy 262 was the same conversion, with all the same mods so far as I know. I have no idea why the change from 261 to 262 occurred but it might have been a rivalry between the Mod Works (Tim Cooms) and the Mod Squad (Coy Jacobs). The conversion essentially created a 12 Volt 252. Great airplane. The other Trophy conversions were equally well done - many mods, new paint and interior, etc. Coy really knew the Mooney airframe, but some folks didn’t understand him, or perhaps misunderstood him. If you were willing to pay the price asked, the results were outstanding, at least in my experience. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is AmSafe’s representative still monitoring MS? AeroNews reports that AnSafe is developing a “generic” air bag system that can be installed with a 337 form. Is this true? Details? I want them for my J. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Among many sports cars I’ve owned over the years I had a twin cam MGA, roadster (most twin cans were coupes) mostly built in aluminum; one of 100 “homologized” for racing. This thread brought back many sports car memories. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That would be fun. I’ve also have the LoPresti cowl, the one piece belly pan, and most of the available speed mods. I wish I was your age to justify some new of the newest Gamin avionics. I will add the voice control for the GTNs now that LASAR has an avionics Unit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You don’t need to buy a new J. There are many decent airframes in the fleet. I won’t go over all the details (see the achieves on MS), but I bought a fairly well maintained 1983 J, which I brought up to LASAR, with instructions to essentially replace all the wear parts, and make sure the airframe was as close to “remanufactured” as possible. The airplane was at LASAR for several months, and the airframe was as good as new. I then flew the airplane to ArtCraft in Santa Maria for a complete strip and paint in 5 colors, airbrushed stripes, etc. to their highest standards. Then off to Executive Aircraft Maintenance in Scottsdale for a complete new panel with Garmin “everything”, plus backups and multiple redundancies. Next I flew the airplane to Tim at Pine Mountain Lake (Aircraft Designs) who stripped out the old interior and using Aircraft honeycomb, Kevlar, carbon fiber, and leather, built an interior that matched my SL500. The airplane was featured in AvWeb and other publications. The point here is that it was all done for about $225,000, (including a Top Overhaul of a mid time engine), and from a functional basis, I ended up with a better than new Mooney J at a fraction of the cost that it would cost to build, let alone sell, a new J. Some of the work done was a bit “over the top”, and a similar refurbishment could be accomplished for less. No, I don’t expect to get my money back when I sell her (in the too distant future - I’m 83 this year), but I am sure that she will sell easily to someone who appreciates the J model. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve been privy to a couple of photos of Erik’s paint job in progress. She should be the queen of the fleet when done. The paint is flawless-smooth as I have ever seen, and if the actual color of the wings is as good as the photos, she should be an Oshkosh award winner. It’s been a long siege for Erik, but in the end what a great airplane! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ArtCraft in Santa Maria has painted quite a few Mooney’s whose owners are MS members. In my case they did an absolutely outstanding job in multi metallic colors (stripes) and also did some amazing airbrush work. They did the work several years ago, but you would think it was done yesterday. The folks there are easy to work with, but be sure you allocate a reasonable time for a full strip and paint. Good work takes a great deal of prep time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He did, but I lost a great boat that I will never replace with the same quality. Life goes on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just a comment about salt water emersion and insurance. About three weeks ago I was having an engine changed in my auxiliary sailboat. She was tied up at a work dock in a boat yard. The mechanic had removed the old engine on Friday afternoon, had not yet installed the replacement engine, and he “tied off” the shaft coupling with cable ties to stop water from entering via the shaft. He left to go out of town for the weekend. We know where this is going. On Saturday morning the Harbormaster called me to say the boat had sunk at the dock and he had a crew pumping her out. Obviously the cable tie idea didn’t work. On Monday I contacted my insurance carrier Safeco, and they dispatched a surveyor. He, the Safeco adjuster, the Boatyard owner, and myself all agreed that the boat was a total (constructive total loss) as salt water emersion ruined all the electronics, wiring, interior upholstery, and just about everything that could rust and corrode. The boat was insured on a “valued” basis (insured for and valued at), and so there was no argument about depreciation. I owned this boat since 1974 when I purchased her new, but she was kept up to very high standards. (Sort of like our Mooney’s) I had a check for the full amount of coverage (hull, unattached equipment, and personal property) Fed Exed to me by Friday morning. I am now looking for another boat. I left everything on board for the salvage company as they are entitled to everything under a constructive total loss. Since the replacement engine was not yet installed, Safeco said I could keep it, and sell it if I wished. Lessons: After salt water emersion don’t try and refurbish the boat (airplane), Buy quality insurance coverages with proper policy limits, and take the emotion out of the situation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had these installed via a 337 form. If you send me your email address I will send you copies of the 337 forms that include model numbers. I do have to say that others who have tried to have their local FISDO approve the installation of these non-TSIOed landing/taxi/recognition lights have not been successful. I have mine set to alternate via a switch in the circuit. VERY bright! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for your comments. I will schedule an appointment with my regular Kaiser physician in the coming weeks, after sending her the AOPA materials explaining the physician’s role in the basic med process. A decade or so ago I had an SI for Prostrate Cancer (SI requirement removed about 4 years ago), and she was very helpful in writing notes to the FAA. I’ll post whether or not this was successful with respect to basic med. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seth, While you are at it, perhaps you could suggest they have an option of adding recognition/taxi/landing light in the forward section of the wingtip. I use the MAXX combination LED lights in the clear section of the regular Mooney “sculptured” wing tip. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As I understand it, Paul Lowen has retained ownership of some of the Aircraft large parts like wings, fuselages, etc. I’m sure a call to LASAR should get you in contact with Paul. I don’t know the dividing line re parts, but the good folks at LASAR are always helpful. For it is worth, I saw two complete wings at LASAR a few months ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I believe LASAR has at least one complete wing (252?) available at a lot less than $90,000. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk