bucko

Thank you very much. I'll try to contact Rip.

During recent work at an out of state maintenance facility, the CYA 100 vane was knocked off and run over. (It looks like a small cigar shaped missile with a carbon fiber V shaped fin.) The fin was broken as was the screw that attached the assembly to the mount on the wing. Does anyone know where I can get parts or a replacement? Or contact Rick Quinby, original designer/ manufacturer. Thanks. Bucko (Sandman) Strehlow Cell: (210) 887-0144

I have the dual G-5 setup with magnetometer and both are working well (HSI is a new install). I want the HSI is continue to be slaved to show the magnetic heading with the magnetometer, but am wondering if the AI can be separately adjusted to show TRK (the ground track the plane is actually flying). Can that be done easily? Thanks, Bucko Strehlow

1965 M20-E now with a G-5 HSI (joining a G-5 AI that has been installed for a while) that is having troubles interfacing with the S-Tec 30 autopilot with altitude hold. In Heading Mode, the plane rocks back and forth, blowing through the desired course by 8 to 15 degrees and then reversing with a hard bank back through the course in the other direction. Was also doing the same thing with GPSS, but decreasing the sensitivity (to 10 from 100)" fixed" that, sort of. Have the GAD29b installed. Avionics shop has cleaned contacts in the autopilot and checked connections to the servos. Autopilot was working fine before the new installation. Any suggestions on getting the airplane to follow HDG and GPSS (without such a low sensitivity setting) without this awful roll. I have videos that show wings rolling 15 to 25 plus degrees up and down. It's not a nice ride. Still waiting to hear from Garmin. Thanks for any suggestions. Bucko Strehlow

Just picked up my Mooney from Avionics Shop yesterday and was going over the set up of new equipment installed (G-5 HSI, vacuum system removed, etc). Was sitting with the shop owner and noticed that the Alt Field switch was in the off position. I asked him about it, and he said he was taught to always start and shutdown the engine with Field Alt switched off, to avoid problems with voltage surge or fluctuations at those times. I have been starting and stopping with the Field Alt switch energized. There's nothing in the Airplane Manual or checklists regarding this. Of course, the 1965 M-20E manual isn't very long. Is this everyone's normal practice? Happy to add it into my Start Up and Shut Down checklists, if necessary or a good idea. Thoughts? Thanks in advance for constructive inputs. Bucko Strehlow

Registration is now open for the Clinic. Go to www.mooneycaravan.com Log in (you can create a new log in, if necessary) Go to Regional Clinics Find the Texas Wing Formation Flying Clinic Fill in your information See you there Questions? Contact me Bucko (Sandman) Strehlow bucko.strehlow@gmail.com (210) 887-0144

Registration will open on the mooneycaravan.com website in the next few days. $ 155, includes dinner Thursday night, and lunches Friday and Saturday. Dinners will be as a group, either at specific restaurant(s) or catered at the hotel conference room. More details to come. Bucko

KSJT (2022) SCHEDULE OF TRAINING.pdf

The 9th Annual Mooney Caravan Formation Flying Clinic (Texas Wing) will be at KSJT (San Angelo, TX) on Thursday, April 21st, to Sunday, April 24th, 2022. Sign up will be on the www.mooneycaravan.com website. Weather Back up Date (if required): TBD FBO/ Meeting Area: Ranger Aviation: (325) 949-3773 Contact: Bucko Strehlow 3 Bitterblue Lane San Antonio, TX 78218 (210) 887-0144 bucko.strehlow@gmail.com Purpose: Train pilots to safely perform formation flying using classroom briefings and in aircraft in actual conditions. The clinic provides a professional learning format, with pre and post flight briefings, along with skilled observer pilots helping to conduct the clinic and riding as necessary in the training aircraft. The Mooney Caravan organization is dedicated to facilitating a safe and enjoyable formation mass arrival flight into AirVenture Oshkosh each year, as well as developing opportunities (such as these clinics) throughout the year to get together and fly our fantastic airplanes. Our participants share a strong sense of camaraderie and the friendship’s born via our common interests in aviation and Mooney aircraft, spanning the continent and the entire year between Oshkosh Caravan flights. The enjoyment and enthusiasm which we all experience at AirVenture doesn’t wear off; we keep it going throughout the year! Why you should do it (Check all that may apply): 1. Because IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN !!! 2. To learn new skills and make yourself a better pilot. 3. To be able to fly into Oshkosh in an organized group (with the Mooney Caravan), and with more safely than using the FISK arrival. (Note: this is totally optional. A lot of you may not even be going to KOSH this year, but this will hopefully plant the seed and you can join us in the future.) Schedule: Clinic starts at 1800 on Thursday with Main Briefing at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), followed by dinner, at the airport. Homework: Prior to the clinic, read the "FFI Formation Guidelines and Standard Procedures" and "The Mooney Caravan Formation Guide, downloaded from ffi.aero and mooneycaravan.com websites respectively from a links in the "Training" section. Newbies: Watch the Video of the ground training (filmed at an earlier San Marcos/ KHYI Clinic) also in the training section of the Caravan website. I know there is a lot of information there. The important items will be reviewed at the Briefing on Thursday night, but you need to have read theses training materials so that the information presented at the briefing will be somewhat familiar to you. If time or conditions allow, experienced formation pilots working on their FFI card ratings may fly in more advanced Sorties. Note: If you have not read the training material (Mooney, FFI, etc) prior to coming to the clinic, you may not fly in the clinic. I have been going to go to Oshkosh for many years, but was always landing at satellite airfields because I did not enjoy the VFR/ FISK arrival. Having done multiple Formation Flying Clinics in Arizona, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri, I have now flown with the Mooney Caravan and arrived in style and safety at KOSH for seven (7) times in the past 8 years. (Sadly, COVID forced the cancellation of Oshkosh 2020.) Warning: This type of flying is both fun and very addicting: I have flown over 100 formation hours every year since 2015 as part of multiple elements (2 ships, 3 ships, and 4 ships). Texas has a lot of people participating in this activity and many opportunities abound to fly together. Tailwinds and High Speed; Bucko (Sandman) Strehlow M20-E

It's coming up time for considering an overhaul of our engine on our (1965) M20-E, which is now approximately 2,700 hours SMOH. The Lycoming is running beautifully: smooth, about a quart of oil added every 12- 14 hours, excellent temps and great power. I subscribe to the Mike Busch theory on overhauls: keep flying until the engine starts telling you it's ready for an overhaul. Plus, overhaul times are running 4 to 7 months at present (for a lot of reasons) at many shops. Has anyone priced getting a factory rebuilt engine made (I don't think they are just sitting around), then swapping it out with our old engine when it is delivered? What would a running, high time engine fetch on sale? Good for core only rebate? If the net price is relatively reasonable, and the wait time would only be that needed to switch out the old for the "factory new", it seems like a reasonable trade off. Alternatively are there engines out there that could be bought and sent off to a reputable shop and rebuilt, then swapped in a similar manner? Where would I look? Thoughts or suggestions? Thanks, Bucko Strehlow

Hi All, Looking for recommendations for a good shop to overhaul our 1965 M20-E engine, now with about 2,600 pus hours SMOH. Following the Mike Busch guidelines, I'm not planning to do it until the engine tells me it is time. Right now, it is running smooth, strong, burning less than a quart of oil every 6-8 hours, etc. I know the old saying that you can have 2 of 3 things as follows: good, fast, or inexpensive. Surely there are shops out there that can do all three. Have heard good things about Jewel. Any other recommendations? Bucko

AI just went belly up and have a loaner in the plane now. Have looked at both the G-5 and the AV-30-C. Prices are comparable for the Garmin as an AI only unit, but the UAvionics does a lot more (up to 12 functions, connects to legacy S-Tec 30 autopilots,like mine, etc). Interested in finding out how people made the final decision on which to buy and how you are liking your choice. Installation costs for either unit? Most any comments would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

New Clinic dates: Friday, May 14th, to Sunday, May 16th, 2021. Register at: https://www.mooneycaravan.com/web/Mooney/Pages/Registration/Clinics.asp Thanks, Bucko (Sandman) Strehlow (210) 887-0144

New Clinic dates: Friday, May 14th, to Sunday, May 16th, 2021. Register at: https://www.mooneycaravan.com/web/Mooney/Pages/Registration/Clinics.asp Thanks, Bucko (Sandman) Strehlow (210) 887-0144

New Clinic dates: Friday, May 14th, to Sunday, May 16th. Register at: https://www.mooneycaravan.com/web/Mooney/Pages/Registration/Clinics.asp Thanks, Bucko (Sandman) Strehlow (210) 887-0144