mulro767

I had an RT A400 installed on the floor in front of the pilot's seat. It is completely out of the way. My seat slides forward and covers most of it. Passengers don't notice it either. It's just peace of mind knowing that it's there. I think of it more as a post crash survival tool than an in flight emergency tool. I really hope to toss it out in 12 years and get another one.

Almost 15,000 hours and all of my emergencies were in multi-engine airplanes with lots of time and gas to think and plan. They were very minor emergencies. That's why every time I line up on the runway and advance the throttle on my Mooney, I say to myself, "I'm due!" On a similar subject I saw Captain Al Haynes of United Flight 232 give a speech at UND many years ago. He had over 25,000 hours including two tours over Vietnam in an F-4. Sioux City was his first actual engine failure. One of the heroes of that flight, Captain Denny Fitch, passed away last week.

I hate all this speculation but there's just too much to overlook. As a J model owner, I always struggle with a useful load of 3 adults on an average length flight. But even an average adult of 180 lbs has been an issue for me. Patrick and Evan are both bigger guys and I'd say 220 lbs each. Plus passenger number three who I'm assuming around 170. I can make it work for an hour long flight with 12 gallon reserves. But throw in bags, their route, and IFR reserves I just can't make it work. Has anyone else thought this is pushing it? I hope I'm not being insensitive this early into the accident, but there are a lot of big clues here.

Reading this thread gives me chills. Fly safe people. Always remember the "what if" scenario and doubt yourself, your skills, and your aircraft.

I either have mine on my knees or up on the glareshield when not in terminal enviroment. It fits nicely between glareshield and Rosen Visor. There's just no other place I can squeeze it at it's current size.

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Problem solved! This simple filter goes inside case in front of lense. Just $15. Be careful not to lose it when you open up the GoPro case as it just lays in there and is not securely attached. But the videos look great upon first tests. http://ragecams.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/317?osCsid=55d1bc92549a4575a5031977a0dcaaec

I just went through a similar experience. First, I noticed several weeks ago the scratchy radios when I'd transmit. ATC said I was 5x5 but they were barely readable at times. Climbing out shortly after takeoff this week I got the flashing volts light and reset the cb, no help. One call to Willmar and Brian said "I'm 99.9% sure it's a loose connection on the back of alternator". He was right! There are two wires connected and there should be a tie-wrap holding those wires in place. Mine was detached but the tie-wrap was holding it in place and actually completing the connection. It may have been that way since the scratchy radios began several weeks ago. They are perfect now. But a failing alternator would probably show at lower power settings and higher loads. In which case I'd suspect the brushes or alternator itself.

Started my aviation career at age 18 flying Cessnas. My real first Mooney experience was when I was instructing at David Wayne Hooks in 1992 at age 22. A wealthy commercial student of mine called and asked if I had any Mooney time, to which I replied no. He said, "Well I just bought one. And my insurance requires you to fly with me for the first 25 hours." It was a M20L PFM (Mooney Porsche). It was a blast to fly and I was hooked! I always dreamed of one day owning my very own Mooney. My aviation career as been so much fun and very rewarding. But I didn't have the money to own until two years ago when I bought my first, and last airplane at age 39. A 1981 M20J.

Ditto on Jim Teski at Daytona. He did my pre-buy when I bought my 201 from Ocala. I felt well represented.

Anybody have any testimonials or feedback on this little gem? It's expensive but sounds like a great product. I'm moving from Atlanta to Minneapolis and a remote control pre-heat system sounds very useful. Also, it looks fairly easy to make and I just saw someone post about a cellular relay switch. Just hook that up to a hair dryer, some plastic flex hose and some sponge? Feedback is greatly appreciated. Im already cold and I haven't even left GA yet.

I like it! I met a few of the guys at Oshkosh last year. They said a lot of the ideas come from customers. Let 'em know!

I decided to start a new thread after posting this in the pre-201 forum. I think it would be a great update to an awesome product. I'd like to see ForeFlight add a glide distance calculator to the next software update. Imagine just entering a glide ratio (12:1) in the settings, and once you start climbing a ring surrounding your airplane expands showing your glide distance based on zero winds. I think for situational awareness it would be a great tool as you could see immediately airports within safe gliding distance. There would have to be a calculation of GPS altitude against a grid mora or AFE, but I think it could be done. If you like this idea, send them an email supporting it. Also, urge ForeFlight to add a split screen similar to WingX Pro. Customer opinions matter there. team@foreflight.com

I'd like to see ForeFlight add a glide distance calculator to the next software update. Imagine just entering a glide ratio (12:1) in the settings, and once you start climbing a ring surrounding your airplane expands showing your glide distance based on zero winds. I think for situational awareness it would be a great tool as you could see immediately airports within safe gliding distance. There would have to be a calculation of GPS altitude against a grid mora or AFE, but I think it could be done. If you like this idea, send them an email supporting it. Also, urge ForeFlight to add a split screen similar to WingX Pro. Customer opinions matter there. team@foreflight.com

That's sounds about right. Just had mine overhauled at annual. There's not much redundancy in that little unit so I'd be certain yours is up to standard. http://mechanicsupport.blogspot.com/2008/08/bendix-d3000-magneto-redundancy.html

My touch and go technique is very simple and has kept me out of trouble for many years. After touching down on the runway, I taxi back to the beginning while accomplishing all my checklists, then I go. I may be overly cautious, but in my opinion, touch and go's are for rental aircraft.

Simply connect it to iTunes and update to OS 5.0. That should do it.

Congrats on so many safe years of flying Sven! I'm coming up on 25 years since my first solo. And yes I remember it like it was yesterday. My favorite part was calling my Dad up and telling him I had soloed that day. His classic response, "That's great! So the instructor didn't touch the controls at all?" I told him the instructor was in the control tower. There was a bit of silence on the other end. I was just 17!

Considering the RCA 2600-3 as a replacement for my turn coordinator. Anyone have one in their Mooney? I agree with all who replace the TC with the 2nd AI as a backup. Personally, I think I will get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing my attitude is redundant while flying IMC.