Skybrd

This Covid Corona virus in my understanding is a Pestilence. I believe our great Creator (Jesus Christ) provided us protection from Pestilences using His Psalms 91 plan. I would recommend you read it yourself using the King James version. If your not a Christian, this plan won’t help you. I trust this method more than any other one. Respectfully to all of you.

Doug, I think you might something going on with the prop governor. It might be something small in the oil system. Have you tried putting some marvel mystery oil in the oil. It might clean up a restriction in the governor and also clean up deposits on valve guides. It’s a cheap fix if that’s what is causing the intermitten rpm change. I’m not sure a engine hickup would cause an rpm up flux. Good luck and happy flying.

Michelin for me. I had a problem with a new Goodyear tube and caused a flat at a distant airport. It could have been installed incorrectly but not sure. I’ll stay with Michelins for now.

Terrible accident. I have seen some internet pictures of the wreckage and didn’t see any wings. I saw foam but no wings. I wonder if there was a structure inflight failure. The falling airplane mass in the video seemed to be traveling at extreme speed maybe too much for the parachute. This is going to hit the cirrus airplane group hard since they boast about extra safety having a parachute. I’m probably all wrong but thats what I perceive. Btw, I’m based at Santa Maria.

My two cents on this. If some of the engineers who developed hondas and their engines would join general aviation. They might design a more modern engine system. It would be turbo charged, run like a sewing machine, not burn oil, have feedback systems to adjust timing and fuel. Also change the engine prop controls, mixture and throttle to a simple single control. Also, I think, to get better speed, reduce drag instead of putting in larger fuel thirsty engines. Lets get the greatness that the Hondas in our Mooneys.

I used to own m20a Mooney and I really liked it. It was easy to fly and much faster than other planes I’ve owned. Mine had a metal tail which I think all have been modified due to a AD requiring it. The wood wing needs to be in good condition and hopefully hangered. Mine was rebuilt shortly before I bought it. You would benefit getting the plane mechanically checked out before you buy it. I had mine painted at Tehachapi, Ca airport, it looked like a new Mooney. Enjoy your future Mooney.

From my experiences with two mooneys concerning skytec starters. My repair shop replaced the old starter with a skytec LS type and immediately know something was wrong. At times the starter would stall at high compression and it required multiple attempts to crank and start. I found out from skytec engineer that the LS permanent magnet starter took more than 100 amps extra to crank. They recommended I replace it with a skytec NL starter that took much less current. The two mooneys I have had both were replaced with the NL type. No problems since then. Btw, I would recommend your mechanic shop do the work and paperwork. The skytec NL starter will require some minor baffeling work that surrounds the starter. The NL starter is a geared starter. Thats my two cents for what ever its worth. Best of luck to you, maybe replacing the defective bendix on your old starter might be the best way to go.

also no bashing of peoples comments of mooney related suggestions or ideas!

I have had the same starting problems and it turned out to be the same as yours, bad coil in the slick mag. When the mag shop checked it the left impulse mag wouldnt spark until about 2000 rpms. Mine has the same engine a3b6 with slick mags. It seemed to run ok but the starts gave me problems especially hot starts. I had about 480 hours on the factory rebuilt engine and mags. Too bad Lycoming went ro Slick mags instead of Bendix. Recently, I had to get my airplane towed back to the hanger from the gas pumps since it wouldn’t start what a humbling experience being towed with a truck and a rope. Btw, I have fine wire tempest plugs in the lower cylinders and tempest massive on the tops.

Thanks for all the responses. I acted on one reply suggestion. Anyway, I got a used one and it seems to work ok. My transponder was a older one that the revised ones won't directly work without wiring and connector changes. Again, thanks to all that responded.

Thanks, I will look into this.

Thats what I have learned. The rear connector on the newer KT76 with any additions a b c or what ever uses both sides of the connector and requires a different connector and additional wiring. Probably need a different housing since the connector is different.

I'm not ready to buy a new adsb out transponder just yet. My King KT76 TSO transponder is giving me problems. If you have a good used one that you could part with please contact me. Note the King Kt76a transponder won't replace mine. That one requires wiring and rear plug changes. The only one that will work is the old plain model kt76 tso unit. Thanks.

I had a new Goodyear tire and tube installed a while back and the tube failed on a seam. This was a pain since I was away from m home base, fortunately, I knew a mechanic that patched it so I could get back. Later the patch failed and I bought a Michelin tube. I think it was a factory defect, no more Goodyear tubes for me.

I have some pictures but their not in the best of conditions. One got faded being exposed to the light. I think I was taking slides for most of my pictures back then.

Yes there is. I once made a bad decision to trade a very clean Piper Tripacer for a wrecked 67 M20c Mooney. I was in the airforce and limited on money. For some reason I thought I could get the mooney repaired with some help and it turned out to my loss. I ownd a perfectly good Tri-Pacer and went for a project out of my limitations. I wish I could say that was the last big mistake I would make. Anyway, I didn't give up flying and had many planes since then.

My first flyable mooney was a wood wing M20a mooney. I got it on a trade for a cessna 140. What a fantastic upgrade from a 100 mph airplane. I had to get the mooney painted since it was not painted. This set me back 1900.00 which was a lot in 1984. The new 3 tone paint job made it look new. Fortunately for me the wing was recently rebuilt and the wood was good. I really enjoyed flying it and if I remember right it cruised about 155 mph. This was quite a speed increase of the former airplanes I owned (piper tripacer, cherokee, cessna 140, tired 1947 bonanza and c-140). The mooney had a third fuel tank and gave me lots of range. Once, I flew it non stop from Cheyenne, Wy to St.George, Ut. One other interesting thing I learned is how well it glided. One time the engine quit about 3 miles from the field due to a leaky fuel gasolator, which later the electrical boost pump brought the engine back to life. Anyway it glided good. I had many good experiences and trips with this plane. I now have a 201 mooney and enjoy it as well.

At 15gph its not running full power speed is about 160mph. The TC is wider and has capability for 6 seats. I like to fly off shore and like the idea of having two engines. The Mooney is a good airplane and in most cases probably the better plane for economy. But if you want to fly a twin, I think the Twin Comanche is probably the best one to step up to.

I have a 201 Mooney and a Turbo Twin Comanche. Both are great planes and fairly economical. I can cruise the TC at 7.5 gph per engine and it flies great. Just got back from flying over Santa Barbara area from Santa Maria in the TC and it was great. I was burning about 15gph both engines (7.5 per side) . What a view flying over the ocean and harbor looking down on the boats and sites. Yes a Twin Comanche is a good twin to get.

There is a good air museum with some space stuff at Santa Maria airport KSMX that you might want to visit. I talked to one of the docents yesterday and asked if airplanes could be parked next to it and he said others do so I take that to mean its ok. Anyway if you fly in to Santa Maria and want to see tell the tower you want to park near the tee hangers next to the museum. The museum hours are Friday, Saturday 10-4pm and Sundays noon to 4pm. The building you park next to is a hanger used in the movie Rocketeer and they have lots of interesting planes and items too see. I suppose you could ask for a ride or walk to a restaurant on the field. Recently another Mooney pilot had a flyin and lunch but I don't think anyone went to the museum. Maybe i will see you when you fly in since my hanger is down the row from the museum.

Considering comparing the Mooney with the Twin Comanche. The landing distance is much shorter in the Mooney, the T. Comanche just doesnt want to stop quickly. I found that if I dump the flaps once on the ground that the Comanche will stop quicker than without. Its easy to skid the tires after applying brakes if the flaps arent retracted. Another help to stop the Comanche is the same as the Mooney and that is to lower touchdown speed as low and safe as possible. The VMC on the Comanche is 90 mph. If you were looking to upgrade to a Twin Comanche, You might would want the upgrade to Aztec brakes, adding the Robertson Stol kit, and possible the Miller engine upgrade (from 160 hp to 200 hp engines).

I read the Piper Twin Comanche is like a twin engine Mooney. Anyway, I have a 201 Mooney and a Twin Comanche and they're many simularities one is on landing as they don't want to land correctly if the speed is not right. The Mooney uses less fuel but not that much, concerning speed they are close. My T. Comanche has turbos and at altitude can really get scooting. Some of my flying is off shore flying and I feel more comfortable in the twin. My Dad owned two Twin Comanches over the years and it served him very well. He later moved to a Cessna 340 which he loved. One thing that I don't overly like is the poor visability looking down while do sightseeing. Sometimes I fly over whales off shore but can't keep them in sight much with the limited visibility.

Today while practicing IFR procedures my I-pad overheated and shut down. I think I'm going to buy an I-pad cooler. I think Sportys sell them. Have any of you had problems like this. I had this happen once before in a Beech Debonair, it has lots of glass. Today I was flyng a Piper Twin Comanche. So far I haven't had a heat shutdown in the Mooney. I think the Mooney has lower seatings and less direct sunlight hitting the I-Pad. -- Darrell BTW, I wasn't in an actual IFR conditions or doing an IFR approach, just practicing procedures in VFR conditions.

I agree, the FAA shouldn't release flight data to the general public. I worked for the government DOD for years and they we're restrictive of releasing any personal information to the public. I was told by a FAA person that Money was involved in releasing the flight data. Your right if they did this to our cars people would have a fit.