N33GG

Roy, Jimmy Gist and Doug Connally are all great guys, and Llano is a GA pilot's dream airport. Wish I lived there. Paved runway, grass runway, and nothing but friendly fun!

I have had a lot of avionics installed in many aircraft, including two Mooneys. I have used and been very pleased with Crystal Avionics in New Braunfels. Not exactly N. Texas, but excellent work and very affordable. My list of "recommendations" is short, while my list of "stay away" is long. Caveat emptor. Good luck!!!

Sounds like a helluva deal!

Yep. And if you're lucky and don't screw up, you be old too!

For me, as well, I pretty much fall in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" crowd as well. However, if I even get a hint something is wrong with my aircraft, I aggressively go after repair and/or replace with new. Most of us Mooney pilots are flying older machines, and trying to pinch pennies when something is wrong is not on my list. Bottom line is you pay your money and take your chances, either way. FWIW...YMMV etc.

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are!

I was born in October 1955. My father made me wake up and watch every Mercury launch, which were very early in Texas. Picture on old BnW TV was awful, but I still remember them. Thanks Dad!

Good luck. I am right behind you on the same plan. My 68C will probably be at All American in the next week or two.

Friends don't let friends bend airplanes!!!

I am aware of a similar incident, couple of years ago, with a Cessna 180, brand new engine, first flight home, and the pressure was so high the filter blew apart. Over pressure can happen, and should be taken very seriously... it is not always a sensor!

I know people that swear by gear up, and others that swear by gear down. Both can make pretty good arguments. I think a key to survival is to keep thinking, and flying the airplane, and keep thinking. I have been in a few emergencies, and it is amazing how some relatively experienced pilots shut down mentally. All of the good thoughts and plans made on forums like this one, aren't worth much if you quit thinking under stress of an actual emergency. That's why we practice, and try to keep it simple. And whatever you are faced with, no matter how dire, keep thinking and working to solve the problem, make the best of it, and survive. Don't quit thinking! Just my 2 cents.

Yes, it is the power fail on take off that gets more people dead. And yet, everybody wants to concentrate on better landings. It is hard to get students, at any level, to take take offs seriously. This is one phase of flight I am on highest alert, and it has saved me one time in a big twin that blew a turbocharger right at V2 or rotate speed. Also, I don't know if it still standard, but Lear Jets used to come equipped with a small axe that looked pretty much like any camp axe in every cockpit. I thought that was pretty cool!

+1 Good words!

Maxwell

If you want to fly slow, buy an aircraft that likes to fly slow. Although you can fly slow in a Mooney, it is not what it was designed for. The wing and control surfaces like more airflow. It is not a pleasure to drag any aircraft slowly through the air that is designed for higher speed.

Don't worry about GPH. Go fast and appreciate MPG.

Factory Reman.

Perhaps that 777 was running LOP!

Clearly they were carrying lithium batteries.

My vote for the best post on Mooneyspace, ever!

Same with my wife. She has really bad motion sickness problems and hates flying. Really sucks to have an airplane and ability and desire to fly anywhere and not have a companion that can join in the party. Very frustrating, even after 35 years together! And I really hate driving, especially while calculating when we would have been there, wherever there is! My empathy DrBill.

40 EZ Aircraft Tug ... Single wheel, plenty of power, very reliable, very effective. I have one and love it. I have previously had other brands/models that I was not so happy with. Some people make a tug out of an old lawn mower or golf cart. Can work nice too. The portable device that attaches to something that looks like a drill and is all electric is a favorite of many.

Yes, I am very fortunate and feel that I have been very lucky. But be careful what you wish for... it is truly a two edged sword. I do miss the simpler times.

The rubber doesn't meet the road until something happens, and most seriously is the case involving injuries or death. First step the attorneys take is find out what kind of target you are for a suit. If you don't own much, or have much to lose, they probably won't even bother. On the other hand, if you have a high net worth, they will come at you even if only for a quick settlement out of court. I have a very good friend that is an expert witness in aviation cases, and I am familiar with many suits. I am familiar with lots of accidents and what never really makes it to the public after the accident is long over. There is a big game going on out there all the time. Odds are, if you do everything right and are good at what you do, and very careful, everything will be OK. On the other hand, the risk is not zero. And if you fly enough (I used to instruct almost 100 hours per month), and jump in and out of enough different planes, with enough different students, the risk starts not being so small. A sad example is a Mooney that went down recently. Unfortunately, I make a very desirable target. I still fly, but I don't instruct. Mostly for concern and fairness to my family.

Sad, but a lot of truth in what you stated so very well. There is a bit of parallel logic that partially explains why I do not exercise my flight instructor privileges anymore. Not worth the risk to me, and especially not worth the risk to my family.