AustinChurch

Seth, I PM'd you my phone number since I own a Missile. Call me and I'll give you an owners perspective to the aircraft.

74657 is correct on the autolean feature. It starts leaning around 3000' msl by reducing the fuel flow at the fuel pump. They are great birds that give phenominal performance in climb and cruise. I was flying yesterday on business at 7500' msl, 14C, 23.5" MP, 2450 RPM, 40 LOP, 12.8 GPH for a TAS of 177kts. If I pushed it to 100 ROP it would have yielded about 188 kts TAS on 17 gph. Ronnie Kramer at Dugosh has maintained my bird since new so he could be a very good resource for you. 74657, sorry to hear about your nose gear failure. I hope she is up and running soon!

This looks like it will be a good time and I'll do what I can to attend. When do you need a firm commitment? I tried to make the fly-in on the 19th but was unable to attend due to some avionics work being done on the Mooney.

Depends on how much you feed it....

I'm planning a trip summer 2012 to AK. I'm flying to Las Vegas to pick up my father and then we'll head from there to AK. We'll fly non-stop from Bellingham, WA, along the inside passage to Ketchikan. Then on to Juneau, Soldotna and Kodiak. I've never flown myself to AK (I've driven a few times) so if anyone has any tips, it would be appreciated!

Quote: scottfromiowa ......With gusting winds they can literally change directions for a couple of minutes going from a wuartering headwind to a quartering tailwind...Anybody else experienced this?

Quote: sleepingsquirrel Roger! Could I just make up some stuff and use the "rude pilots " N number?

Just remember, Squirrel, if you are going to be "that" rude pilot on the radio, use someone else's N number!

I have the Missile conversion (IO-550 300HP) and love it! My useful load is 1055 lbs and with the extended tanks, 94 gallons, I still have a full fuel payload of 491 lbs. I can flight plan 8000-10000 msl at 185 knots TAS averaging 17 gph. If I want to save fuel, I back her down to 13 gph for 170 knots TAS. At that setting I have an absolute range of 7 hours/1200 nautical miles. At 18000 msl, she'll do 175 on 10 gph or at 8000 you can do 160 on 10 gph. In other words, the 550 in the 201 airframe allows for a lot of flexibility. You can go fast on very little fuel, like a 201, or you can go faster on a bit more fuel like an Ovation. Service ceiling is still 18800, which is the stock 201's service ceiling, although at that altitude she still manages 400fpm climb. At sea level, she climbs out at 1500 fpm and I have never seen higher than 338 degrees on my CHT. It is a very well engineerd conversion that gives you premium performance without the premium price!

Quote: FlyingAggie

Quote: Frosty Quote: AustinChurch I've been working on mine off-and-on the last few years and life just keeps getting in the way. Doesn't it ever!!! I've had that same experience. Each of the last 3 years was going to be the year I got my instrument. I was making good progress in Sept before the doctor told my wife she has cancer. She finished Radiation and Chemo at USC Norris Cancer Institute (impressive capability, great service) the end of Jan. She spent 4 days in the hospital last week but things are slowing down. Yesterday was the first time since Sept I had time to go to the airport. Get my battery serviced and a through preflight and I'll be ready to knock the rust off and get back at it.

I've been working on mine off-and-on the last few years and life just keeps getting in the way. I'm up to 21 hours IFR with 7 of those being actual and none on a simulator. I was going to go to GATTS but it's hard to take time off from work that isn't a vacation with the family, so after a very short talk with the wife (she did not want to vacation in Manhattan, KS), she agreed to let me book the next 4 weekends with a CFII friend of mine that owns a flight school. We have set up 8 hours per day to get this finished. Yesterday, I went and shot 2 VOR approaches with an IFR certified safety pilot and actually felt pretty good so I'm cautiously optimistic!

I bought a 67 "C" as my first airplane years ago and it was a great airplane that served me and my family well. The "C" is great, but the "E" with it's 20 more HP on the same fuselage is better. Which ever way you go, definitely take your time and invest in a Mooney Service Center pre-buy on any Mooney you purchase. As for paying cash, I think that is a great way to go but don't leave yourself short just in case something unforseen comes up. These are machines and they do break. Good luck on your search!

Congrats Dave on finding your bird! It definitely pays to do your homework and shop around as you did. Best wishes with her!!!

Congrats! I've been working on mine off and on for a few months now but frustration is setting in due to the lack of time and consistency. I think I'm going to take a week off of work and finish up with GATTS and their 7 day course.

I couldn't find it around here either. Oh well, maybe it'll make it to DVD on of these days.

I always ran my IO-360's (I've owned 3, 2 Cessna's and 1 Mooney) at 2500 RPM. I found they ran smoother and the plugs stayed cleaner, but run it at whatever RPM/MP that you are comfortable with. I really do not think there is a wrong answer.

I have my great grandfather's ax. It has only had 3 handles and two heads replaced in 80 years.

What network is showing "Ice Pilots"?

I have about 8 hours in a Decathlon and you are right, they are a total kick!

This is close by and sounds like it will be a lot of fun! At this point, I will be able to attend.

Or the Lance/Saratoga series. They're nice and wide!

I believe the E is the same width as the J. The numbers I quoted were "lifted" from the Mooney Land website and I think the 43.5" width is measured at the floor. I'm headed to the airport tomorrow and I will take measurments at the floor, hip level, and shoulder level and get back with accurate numbers on a 201. I fly often in a A36 Bonanza and a Cessna 210 and find the width really isn't any better. What they do offer is more head room and you sit a little further back from the panel. This seems to give the illusion of a larger cabin even though my shoudlers are against the side window and the pilot just as they are in the Mooney.

My vote is for Nashville versus Memphis. I've been to both many times and I think Nashville is nicer and more family friendly.

Don Maxwell in Longview, TX is now offering the same tank strip/reseal process as Wilmar so you might want to check with them as well. http://www.donmaxwell.com/