AmigOne

If the above fails,send me a PM and will launch a search party in my hangar. I removed the ashtray when I installed in its place the battery operated map light

According to a recent article in Sports Aviation we should not expect changes to the regulations governing experimental-grade avionics for Part 23 aircraft because: Liability: that legal risk is not presently contemplated in their current business plan. And if they do make provisions then the price of the avionics would no longer be at present levels Product support: while makers of non certified avionics provide excellent support, their customer base is smaller and more knowledgeable. If they were to provide support similar to the one expected from the makers of certified avionics this cost, now for much larger potential market, would have to be added once again increasing current cost for similar equipment. Innovation: It is said that many successful innovators of aircrafts and productsfor the EAA world are nor necessarily suited for the larger certified market and may end up selling their business to existing TSO's product manufacturers. Finally, the article points out that while the "net result would be good for consumers, may not be as good as we might hope" and new business plans would have to be developed because the innovation and low cost of the experimental market "would not transfer unscathed to the certified market"

If you are seriously looking for a beautiful M20C, low aircraft time, IFR certified (including Garmin IFR certified enroute/approach) with almost everything new firewall forward send me a PM.

When I bought my C I was told that the spinner was for a J model (pointier, longer), Hartzell 2-blade. Have a scimitar now with a new spinner and I still have the old one and it is in great condition. No cracks or welds. Off to Guatemala tomorrow and will be off the air for a couple of weeks but if interested let me know I'll answer after the 25th.

I know it is a big ocean out there but based on fuel autonomy, sea currents and other clues they have the possible crash areas narrowed down by now…..and not a single piece of floating debris?…that's strange.

I have come to the conclusion long time ago that the only thing that a PPI gives you is a false sense of security. There are many things that you can learn about the airplane and the owner even before thinking about committing to purchase. One example on a taildragger I am buying. The owner had some wing tip damage which required removing the fabric, repairing and recovering. He did not want fabric patch work on the wingtips so he decided on having the entire covering removed and complying with the AD on the spar ahead of time. Another benefit was the ability to inspect the whole spar in a much better way. That is an owner I like, besides the airplane looks spotless, he just got a quadruple bypass that is why he is selling it.

If the owner flew it in 7 years ago and left it there to decay, I doubt it. I do not know what is with these "owners" that let their airplanes to rot. Excluding larger controlled fields, just about every airport has a few of these airplanes. At my own there are at least 5 parked in a far away corner that haven't moved in years, including a couple of Mooneys. Some people have tried to reach them and only got angry responses. I posted yesterday these two pictures yesterday of these two at a small fly-in community near Greensboro, NC but they are worth repeating here. I was told that their engines had only a few hours each.

FWIW I also have a spinner, backing plate, filler plates removed from 1968 m20c in excellent condition. Pictures on request, make a reasonable offer.

Here are two pictures of neglected Mooneys parked at Air Harbor fly-in community near Greensboro, NC which I saw yesterday. A resident told me that both had very low time engines.

I'd like to join the friends in the forum in saying don't give up so quickly. The salvage yards have hundreds of wings and for sure they'll have some Mooney. And there may be other wings out there for less money, you just have to get busy. By looking at the pictures I would not go for a repair, particularly since worse areas may show up only after some expensive labor. As to going against the mechanic who did the PPI perhaps AOPA can provide some legal information in this regard.

I guess we are talking about being sentimental and wanting to scatter the ashes of a Mooney pilot from a Mooney because there is a better and neater way, Cremation Solutions http://www.cremationsolutions.com/Cremation-Scattering-Ashes-Services-and-Providers-c33.html

When the moment comes I would have no hesitation about flying behind a Rotax with double ignition. They are so popular that I was surprised by the original question of why do people hate Rotax.

Cuts down the noise, looks better and I doubt that it is easier to sweep under the seats or near the rudder pedals or other tight places than to vacuum. I have a small (about the size and shape of a basketball) but powerful vacuum cleaner which I keep in the hangar and bought for $35 which does a great job. There are also ways to make a nice carpet of fire resistant material for far less than $350. You can use the existing carpet as a template.

Guilty, had a cover made by my wife in the same color as the seats cover and then had them embroidered for about $45. Don't have a picture handy but the look great.

Don't forget to disconnect the battery before you start poking in the back of the ignition switch

For the record in 45 years as a licensed pilot I had 3 encounters with the FAA (ground loop and runway excursion at a controlled airfield (no damage), ramp check and airspace violation) and two with ATC (loss of separation while IFR) reports and all were justified, professionally handled and fairly disposed of. The FAA or its employes may not be perfect but neither are we.

Bingo, years ago when trying to buy a Bonanza in Amarillo, Tradewinds Corp did not want to do a pre-purchase. Instead they did a progressive annual, that is as discrepancies appeared they called me and asked permission to continue. After several appeared and considering that the airplane had been annualed only a few months earlier I said stop. No deal, my cost the expenses to Amarillo and $1500. The important thing here to get out of the deal was the purchase agreement that I had the owner sign. In the 14 airplanes that I have owned, including my 68C, and besides the Bonanza, I only had a pre-purchase many years ago on a 1947 Cessna 140 and a 1971 Twin Comanche that I purchased abroad. If you do proper due diligence there is so much that you can tell by learning about the owner, the airplane, the environment in which the airplane lives and your own research before you take a lot of time reading the logbooks. And reading them in your house, not in at an FBO with the owner looking over your shoulder. Also of all these airplanes, the Cessna 140 was the only that had been kept outdoors, the rest all hangared. Sorry, not much help now, but I would never have purchased the airplane we are discussing no matter what the price because to me, it showed neglect. Also, what sort of reputable paint shop paints over the data plate?

The procedure is easier than Oshkosh because they mostly use one runway, either 9L or 27R, which actually is the taxiway since the main runway is used by other activities going on at the time you'll get there. Also Interstate 4 is a good landmark to get oriented during the procedure. Only once, in maybe 25 times that I have landed there, I was approved for the main runway upon request because of a wicked 90 deg crosswind and I was on a taildragger. Larger twins are also authorized on the main runway but twice in a 310 they sent me to land on the taxiway. If they are using 9L (most likely) beware of airplanes sneaking from the west and north and skipping the Lake Parker arrival procedure. Once I was caught in the Lake Parker hold and it was the scariest flying of my life. All kinds of aircraft trying to avoid each other flying around a small lake for very long time while an air race was either coming in or taking off.

Most likely it is not the drain since it is the stem of the valve that was wet and closing the valve made the wetness (and smell) disappear. I will certainly ask my mechanic if he rather send the valve to LASAR but I'm sure that he'll leave it up to me. He will not be offended, they are an excellent shop and they have plenty of work. Mike_Elliot, for information do you have a part number for the seals and where did you get them?

From one day to the next the selector valve has started leaking in my 68C. Talked to LASAR and they rebuild the valve and drain for $300. This includes cleaning both, polishing the seats and changing the seals. They do not sell any parts. Does anybody know what seals are these and/or have a part number? My mechanic already looked at the exploded view of the valve and did not find a part number for what it seems to be a gasket. I think the $300 is OK and I'll send it to LASAR if I have to but being on the east coast, and knowing my mechanic, I think that he would want to do the job if the parts can be found.

Aviator don't know about user friendly stops on your route of flight but here are a few places with cheap fuel. KSFQ (5.29), KAQX (4.95) and KSGJ (4.78). St Augustine has a nice restaurant, the cheap fuel is sold by the City not the FBO.

Good info about the experience with cleaning the connector, my 450 is not that bad but I did notice a greater fluctuation on gph lately. Checked the rate adjustment and it was set at 4 so no further adjustment possible there. Other than that and tied to my GPS is an instrument that contributes greatly to flight safety.

On the previous and recent posting in this forum ("Sun and Fund") some of us suggested to meet at the bar in front of the Sunset Grill (across the Bose tent which is next to exhibit hangar A see Convention map http://www.sun-n-fun...ventionMap.aspx and will be there on Thursday and Friday at 1:30-2:00 BTW I will be leaving from northern VA (KCJR) in case somebody is interested. I will be parking at KISM, don't have accommodations yet but there are plenty in the the area. I will rent a car and commute, most likely will return on Saturday. Two days of S&F are enough and will skip the w-end which is the busiest day at the convention.

Since my fuel gauges are not accurate I always check the fuel to ensure that I use the fullest tank for take off. I have an EDM 450 so I always know how much total fuel I have left