Bennett

Current Mooney at San Carlos hangar. Second photo: Over Santa Cruz hills - formation flight with Knute's Mooney. Third photo: Mini Mooney. (Hardly uses any fuel - ultimate LOP). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My airplane is there right now for an annual, and there was a full crew working when I flew her up there on Saturday. No reason for them to be closed today. Maybe they are too busy to answer the phone, but it is highly unusual for them not to answer the phone no matter how busy they are. The office staff are not involved with actually working on aircraft. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Speed brakes are just another tool to use when you think they are appropriate to the situation. I use them, not because I don't know how to flight plan, or understand other methodologies, but they are often the most convenient, and safest, way to lose speed and altitude with full controllability. The electric versions (I have had both) snap in and out quickly and sometime a few minutes with the speed brakes out are helpful. If you have them, use them, if not, there are certainly other ways to slow down and lose altitude quickly. As I said, just another useful tool. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Apple rumor mills I have been reading are suggesting that there will not be a new Mini in the iPad lineup to be announced later this year. Apparently (outside of aviation) it is not a big seller. Personally, since the Mini 4 has the Retina screen, and a decent processor, I see little need for an upgraded version. Sure better sunlight readability, an OLED screen, and better heat tolerance would be nice, but I carry an iPad 3 (I've lost track of the iPad nomenclature) as a back-up. I just leave it on the co-pilot seat, under something to keep it cool. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There are several length arms for the ram mounts, and several back/holder variations. I went through two arm lengths, and two holders before I found what is the perfect mount for me. I have no interference with yoke buttons, nor with viewing the instruments. I use the Mini 4 running ForeFlight in portrait mode. In flight the yoke is back further than in the photos, and the holder does not block the instruments. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the same unit (12 Volt system) but it doesn't fit in my 12 Volt "accessory socket", as it has a smaller barrel diameter, but it does fit a 90 degree adapter perfectly. Strange, but I have run into this with German automotive cigarette lighter sockets. Actually the adapter keeps the cable out of the way. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey, I'm not bashing Avidyne, Aspen, or any other avionics firm. I am a fan or Garmin simply because all my Garmin avionics "stuff" ( GTN 750, GTN 650, AERA 796, GDL 88, FlightSteam 210, remote audio panel, remote transponder) all work seamlessly. Thanks to the FlightSteam 210, my yoke mounted Mini 4, sends data, flight plans, to and from the GTNs. The AERA 796 (panel mounted) is wired to share data (XM), while I use ADS-B weather on the other units. Traffic displays on the GTNs, and the Mini 4. Because of the smooth sharing of data I can set up the "boxes" to their best advantage. I dedicate the GTN 650 to TIS-B traffic, and VOR reception with its own Garmin display head. Yes, Garmin is expensive (by comparisons to Dynon - two SkyView glass screens in my DOVA), but everything works well, and Garmin has been very helpful in resolving a few initial problems in their hardware (I had one of the first GTN 750s, and their magnetic variation tables were incorrect). Compare Garmin's prompt release of announced products, software and firmware updates to Bendix/King/Allied/Honeywell and their vaporware replacement AH to drive the King line of autopilots. I just like products that work well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From the March 30th Garmin website re. The GTN software announcement: These new features are expected to be available in May from Garmin Authorized Dealers for hundreds of aircraft makes and models. The free GTN software upgrade is supported by our award-winning aviation support team, which provides 24/7 worldwide technical and warranty support. For additional information, visit www.garmin.com/aviation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It might not be all we wanted, but I'm looking forward to having my GTN 750 updated to play with their VFR visual "approach" guidance. Sounds like a useful feature. Garmin has not (to my knowledge) posted a video of how it operates. Apparently the software update won't be available until mid May (my guess later). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've spent a great deal of money on my J to build her into the airplane I want to fly at this point in my life. What she will bring back in dollars when I sell her a few years from now is not as important as the pleasure derived in the process, and in the flying of a very fine Mooney. I'm sure that when I decide to sell, someone will appreciate the airplane, and that the selling price will reflect that - certainly not all the costs incurred, but still in the upper range for a J model. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What fun! Any of you ever used a Univac (or even ever heard of one)? The Department of Defense "gave" me one (of 12 in the world) to use in the mid 1950s. It was the Cray supercomputer of its day, and all programming was done in analogs. Punched paper, punched cards, and punched steel (Gillette computer interface) were sometimes used as input devices. The Univac used a roomful of vacuum tubes- 6L6s or 5881 (mil spec) by the hundreds filling an air conditioned and humidity regulated room. Yeah - "sophisticated" 8 K programs! But it was the best tool we had at the time. And amazingly we built some great equipment with it. Now I sit here typing this on my iPhone 7+, with far more power than I could ever have envisioned then. An observation from a very old guy: You are never truly old if you keep yourself on the leading edge of technology, and learn to use the power to expand your skills. In a week I will fly down to San Louis Obispo for a UFO. (United Flying Octogenarians) meeting. As always there will be some very technical sessions dealing with the use of the newest avionics, and how to best understand their use. Fun group. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks guys! I'm getting used to being the oldest guy in the room. Sad how few of my friends from the past are still alive. Message: Eat well, drink moderately, do unexpected things, and never stop learning Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

82 this month, but still a kid at heart. Started flying (Army De Havilland Beavers on wheels) in 1956 - Long story, I was not an Army pilot. Civilian flying started around 40 years ago, and I bought my first Mooney shortly thereafter. Pretty much continuous flying since then in a variety of owned aircraft for business and pleasure. I know there are older Mooney pilots, but I don't know if they are MS members. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had a very similar situation in my 261. I was picking up (unexpected) ice at a huge rate at FL190. And I could see light coming through the clouds above. I knew the worst place to be for ice was near the cloud tops, so I asked ATC for higher. His response was he would have higher for me in five minutes. That was not going to work for me so I answered "unable", and "if I don't get higher immediately I would declare an emergency". His reply was to give me an immediate climb to FL 210, and I was soon out of icing conditions, but it took a good half hour to sublimate the ice already on the wings. The heated prop shed the ice on it with "bangs" against the aircraft. I always went with extremes to avoid ice, but still had more ice encounters than expected. Frankly ice scares me. Please read about the TBM that was lost to severe icing about two years ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd just think it would be fun for our GA aircraft, although I still like the old Landing Circles of WW l and II. Way back when I was flying a Cessna 150 whose engine was sputtering when I was near the old (huge) military parade grounds at Hunter Liggett. My Walter Mitty thought was that I would just land into the wind no matter what that direction would be - plenty of room anywhere in that huge expanse of pavement. But then I managed to play with the mixture and throttle and get enough power to limp back to a real runway. Every time I fly by that parade ground I think about landing circles. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've used Travers as broker for several years now (after Falcon told me I was too old to obtain competitive insurance rates). I renewed with Star, at acceptable rates, although I had to give up smooth limits. Not a real problem, in that 95 % of my flying is alone. But, I think very hard about flying friends and people who are not relatives. Since I started owning, and insuring aircraft more than 40 years ago, I find the GA insurance marketplace constantly shifting, and often irrationally. I've been insured by many carriers, never had an accident or incident, have multiple ratings, attend (and conduct some) Wings programs every year, fly often, and yet most underwriters balk at writing older pilots, like me at 82. I know I am a far better, more conservative, pilot now than in my younger years, and I am in excellent health, but that doesn't seem to matter. Well I have a hard deck occurring on my 85th birthday, no matter the state of my health, at which point I will stop flying, sell my airplane and move on. So, I have a couple more policy years to deal with. I'm fairly sure I can maintain insurance until hanging up the keys. For what it worth, AVEMCO recently told me that they regularly insure "older" pilots, but not with smooth limits. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fortunately CA is the home of many pilots, and not everyone supports Berkeley thought processes. Still a great place to live if you can afford it, and if you can ignore the crazies (admittedly, hard to do). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try and build a new marina in California. The number of agencies that have some sort of jurisdiction is enormous, and CA has more regulations about marinas than believable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The FAA has allowed other airports to impose a curfew. For instance San Jose Airport has a curfew that applies to "noisy jets", and Larry Ellison of Oracle fame fought a long battle to exempt his "bigger" jets to operate 24/7. His smaller jet at San Carlos is also exempt under the Board of Supervisor's curfew. The new cameras already installed, and the future cameras scheduled to be installed are to record the aircraft numbers of those planes coming and going during the curfew hours. I would think this would not be a "criminal" offense, but more like a traffic ticket issued by the county. I do think the Board of Supervisors is trying to impose "reasonable" rules, to allow for most individual GA operations, while finding a way to stop Surf Air from being allowed to operate from San Carlos, but this is overkill, and the worse part is that now all the years of work of making KSQL a good neighbor to the adjacent cities is negated, and new players see the very real opportunity to shut down the airport and develop the land for non-aviation purposes. So the paradox is that I and many other local pilots have to defend Surf Air's right to operate from San Carlos 24/7, even if we can't stand their presence here. As I said, this can happen at any GA airport, and strong long term good relations between the airport and surrounding communities helps, but doesn't truly solve the problems of competing entities for valuable land. A small number of "harmed", but politically astute and rich homeowners (and opportunists) can exert leverage to local authorities to promulgate regulations to cripple a local airport, and harass its pilots. Nationally we are losing our urban airports, and while Santa Monica and San Carlos are in crazy California, this pressure for airport closure will continue. Our fight should be your fight, and unfortunately I don't see our AOPA, or EAA doing much to help. The National Business Aircraft Association has joined the fight at Santa Monica, but their motivation might be different than us "little" folk flying our Mooneys. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm sure the tech sector loves Surf Air. Why not. They park your car for you, if you want, no real TSA routines, and the cost is reasonable if you fly often. I just wish they (PC-17 turbines) were quieter, or that the FAA would create an approach with a flight path over the South Bay, but unfortunately the there are three commercial (airline) airports (SFO, OAK, and SJC) that compete for the airspace. It is not that unusual to have an airliner crossing above San Carlos at 2000' MSL. I guess I shouldn't worry as with the federal funding KSQL accepted, it will be quite a few more years until it can be closed, but as we have seen at Santa Monica, new rules, curfews, and "Big Brother" regulations will make the airport far less usable for our typical GA uses, and probably less safe. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Clarence, You might be right, but these two cities are the home of more established wealth, with many retired and elderly folk. I suspect that some of them own their own their own jets (with professional crew) and keep them at San Jose Airport, which has proper facilities at their Jet Center. The underlying problem is that KSQL is not really a great facility for heavy "commuter" operations, but occupies very valuable land. Right after WW II the airport was moved to its current location "to get it out of the way", and now everyone wants the land. The Surf Air operation is the trigger to let loose all the rival entities that want the land, and to get the airport closed. Even if Surf Air were to relocate to San Jose Airport, the damage is already done, and now with all the adverse publicity, the push to close down the airport will continue. So far the resistance comes from our local pilot group, but we will be outspent. Where is AOPA? George we need you now. Sorry you left them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

San Carlos (KSQL) is under attack, and the County Supervisors are in the process of setting curfew rules that potentially will impact every aircraft based there, including transient aircraft. Limited curfew is to start at 6:00 PM, with the full curfew at 9:00 PM. Also the the night curfew ends at 6:00 AM. Now there are all sorts of cut-outs and exceptions (M20 K models are "noisy", but 20 Js are not, and Mr. Ellison's jet at KSQL is exempt) But this is just the first step to making a run to close the airport. After more than 20 years of good relations with the local communities through multiple airport days, Young Eagle rides, museum simulators with CFIs at the on field museum, public benches and viewing platforms with tower and ground speakers, and much more, we now have a new, very real, very politically connected, and very well financed "downstream" group of homeowners that are pressuring the board of supervisors to shut down the airport, or at least change the rules to make it more difficult to use the airport on a 24 hour basis. Why this new situation? Not because of any accidents. This is because a relatively new entity has come to KSQL - Surf Air. This is an "all you can fly for a fixed monthly fee" service. Not a Part 121 scheduled airline operation. But not a "standard" Part 135 Charter operation either. They fly Pilatus turboprops fly about 19 - 20 round trip flights a day into and out of KSQL. Many if not all are IFR. The aircraft are noisy - on the ground and in the air. KSQL just has one instrument approach - GPS with high minimums and a circle to land. Up to comparatively recently this has been a VFR airport. It lies under the SFO Class B ring that is 1500' directly over the airport, and the Class B ring drops to the surface not far to the north. To the west of the airport the Class B ring starts at 4000'. This doesn't leave much room for IFR operations beyond IFR to VFR on top. This GPS approach brings the Surf Air aircraft over Menlo Park and Atherton, both wealthy communities who are very vocal about noise and "perceived danger". So because of Surf Air's operation out of this short 2600' by 75' airstrip, with buildings and electrical towers at the ends of the runway, we now have an opportunity for the developers to make a push to close the airport, and convert the land to high rise, high cost, housing. I don't suggest for a moment the Surf Air doesn't have the legal right to do what they do at KSQL. They may be lousy neighbors to us based at San Carlos, but they do have that right. I understand that San Jose Airport with long runways, major airline operations, and underused new terminals has made offers to Surf Air to relocate there, but there doesn't seem to be any indication that this will happen. What has happened is that the board of supervisors have already spent over $100,000 (with more than $250,000 still scheduled) to install cameras between taxiways and the runway - I saw the installation yesterday when I landed, and it will be a huge mess if a aircraft hits it landing or taking off. Why all this! I am not bashing Surf Air (although I don't like them). This is just to show how a change in operations can undue decades of work on the part of the aircraft owners, flight schools, and on airport business to integrate with the local immediately surrounding communities. I'm not being hysterical here, but I unfortunately must predict that the curfew is just the first step in closing the airport - just follow what is going on at Santa Monica I do believe that the board of supervisors is trying to find a way to push Surf Air out of KSQL, and still let GA "little guys" alone, but the curfew will effect us all. A cautionary tale - it could happen to any one of our local airports . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you are willing to spend the money for an outstanding panel, (new metal) and avionics, I recommend Executive Air Maintenance at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona Great people to work with. They did my custom panel about 3 years ago, and I wouldn't change a thing, nor do I have any squawks about their workmanship. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As promised; photos of the pin (door) and receptacle (door frame). is Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll take a new photo tomorrow and post it then. I might have it in one of my photo collections, and if so, I'll post it later today. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk