aviatoreb

Quote: Cruiser >I sure would like to know what they are allocating to GA to come up with 16%? If I recall there are only about 250k instrument rated pilots of the 600k total. I just cannot imagine GA is anywhere near 16% it is probably closer to 1% or 2% in actual usage of the FAA system. >In fact I woould be willing to say that if the FAA were to not provide any service to GA at all their costs would not be any less than they currently are. >Don't get sucked in by this "pay your fair share" the administration is trying to brainwash us into. The truth be known we are already paying more than that. I agree it is false economy to charge 250k people to hope to cover 16% - if it ends up chasing off many of these 250k into unsafe practices it becomes dangerous for the airlines too. How much does a major NTSB investigation cost? Maybe it too can be paid with the boondoggle of extra funds built $100 at a time with the few still participating GA? Seems penny wise and dollar foolish. As far as I see it, ALL airplanes should be encouraged to participate since it is safer for all if as many participate as possible. They shouldn't be encouraged not to participate with a tax. Also, will fewer controllers be needed if a small fraction of the traffic stops participating but they have to divert airlines around nonparticipating traffic where they see ski contact radar hits? Seems like cost will be constant.

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

Quote: 201-FLYER Ahhh, the old Rocket useful load question. Once you see what the answer is you will see why I didnt find much value in a Rocket and went with a "regular K". My useful load is 950 lbs. with full fuel I could fly longer then my bladder would allow and still have 500 lbs of people and stuff in the cabin. Although the Rocket would get me to my destination quicker it would be at the expense of more fuel and a reduced useful load. Not sure why the conversion never allowed a higher useful load?

Quote: Bnicolette There is supposed to be a pretty good app out for the Droid: I just wish they offered the georeferencing. There are no plans on that just yet with this app.

Quote: Bnicolette Now this would be a dream come true: http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_rumored_to_use_slim_bezel_on_future_7.85-inch_ipad/ If only droid ran foreflight the same as the ipad this would not even be an issue. Does anybody know if Foreflight or WingX for that matter have any plans on jumping into the droid market?

Quote: Mazerbase My previous A&P commented on the tightness of the cowl on a Rocket. Unfortunately, only my engines get the, "OMGOSH ! That is HUGE ! !" type of comments. Ah that it would be otherwise.

Quote: DaV8or As if there is any extra room in a Mooney cowling. Sounds like a mechanic's nightmare.

Quote: M016576 OK, I'm off my soap box now... Oh, and for Eric- I have a N.A. M20J... because N.A. M20J's are better (oh, and I can't afford a turbo!!! hah!)

Quote: jetdriven When I got a job flying the 1900D, I thought, man! 25,000 ft ceiling we can get above almost any weather! Turns out, it really didnt. When I got to the CRJ, I thought, man! FL360 gets above most any weather! Wrong again. The 747 has a certified altitude of 45,100'. Guess what, there are still some bumpy clouds that go much higher than that. I give up.

Quote: N4352H I have poured a life time of resources into a normally aspirated plane. Don't mind it, but Mooney turbos are the way to go IMHO and I think the discussion of "if" should become "which one". You have all kinds of options. Ray Jay's on older F models with great pricing, 231, 252, Encore, Bravo, M20 Turbos. Just never go near a Bullet conversion. There are still a few left out there.

Quote: DonMuncy I doubt you will be able to find an economic justification, but you may also be hard pressed to economically justify a Mooney or any other airplane either. with that said, it is really nice to be able to fly at higher altitudes even in non-mountainous areas. On several flights I have gone up to 13 or 14,000 to be able to see the weather, and found the clouds continuing to build up. It is nice under those circumstances to be able to effortlessly go up to 16 or 17,000, without having to deviate in order to get over them. Bottom line, I doubt you need a turbo, but they are nice.

Quote: jetdriven A new O-360-A1D is already 37K. A suitable replacement might be north of 60-70K, like those Centurion 2.0S engines, which are flat-rated to 155 HP. They also have a 1200 HR TBO.

Quote: danb35 I can't buy 30% better fuel consumption. An IO-550 running LOP can reach BSFCs in the .39 - .40 range; 30% better than this would be .28. That would mean burning 10.8 gph at 75% power (i.e., 75% of 300 HP). I haven't seen an auto engine yet that can significantly beat a .39 BSFC. Obviously a higher compression ratio will help, but that much? I don't think so.

Quote: drmarkflies Has anybody looked at the FlightAware track for N486KC, the accident Bravo in the forced landing near Front Royal, VA? http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N486KC The track indicates an earlier flight on Feb 23 originated in S. America. Does that make sense to anyone? The accident flight track (FlightAware) looks about normal to me for landing at Hagerstown. The pilot left 9,000 for 5,000, leveled off then appeared to do a controlled descent. The speed track is hard for me to intepret. Any insight you more experienced pilots? This is a puzzling accident. I hope they are doing ok.

Quote: drmarkflies I will try to get some pictures posted.

Quote: orangemtl Shame on them, indeed (I mean lyc and conti). Meaning no disrespect, but: the two major suppliers of GA engines in the United States for, what the past 60 years, get outengineered by....Austria? That's like having Apple outmaneuvered by Radio Shack. Or losing a war to Wisconsin. Rotax could shove the two of them into the dustbin of history with a solid, higher output engine that many/any of us could retrofit in our current rides. Yes, I know: STC, regulatory costs, etc: but 100LL may or may not stick around. This thing will run on avgas. I see an opportunity here. Anyone for a 6 cylinder, 180HP Rotax next?

Quote: HopePilot As the attached photo illustrates, Mooneys have been landing with their speed brakes extended since the Civil War.

Guy without a PMA it isnt going to be legal to install on a Mooney, is it? I agree it looks like a vastly better made product. However, the Mooney version will allow for more movement between engine and cowling. Those Lycoming 4-bangers can sure shake when starting up and shutting down.

Quote: astelmaszek Well, So far 6 M20M have had a failure of the turbo transition V Band Clamp, part #LW-12093-5. Essentially, when this let's go, you end up with 1600 degree exhaust in engine compartment. Mine has about 200 hours on it, hasn't been taken off since. I've got 2 more sitting in the hangar, all magnafluxed to check to micro cracks. My take on this part is, at 200 bucks, if it needs to be taken for maintenance, a new one is going in. Most of failed because of repeated removal and reinstallation. Piper Turbo Saratogas and Lycoming Turbo 206s suffer the same problems. Andy

Quote: astelmaszek Probably the same thing as usual, the turbo transition v-clamp. So far we lost 2% of the Bravo fleet to turbo transition related fires. Makes me feel real confident to take my bird up ;-)

Quote: orangemtl Wish I could get the top of my plane sawed off, and replaced with a clear canopy, like N20XT. Now there's a plane. Ah, well: a boy can dream....

Quote: N513ZM I've made many a trip that I wouldn't have been able to make without TKS, many more without FIKI, and the TKS gave me a sense of assurance and confidence that would otherwise have been lacking. But I've probably made several trips I simply should not have made simply because of that very same sense of assurance. Its a great thing, just use carefully.

Quote: N513ZM Needless to say, ice flying is somewhat stressful. You never know when conditions may change for the worse (see story above). And yes, I'm aware that inadvertent ice systems come with some of the goodies - I wasn't sure if that included the spray bar or the light. I stand corrected. Be safe. Be humble. Nature is bigger than a Mooney.

Quote: M20JFlyer Aviator Reb: and all others flying behind a King 100 series AP and perhaps King 200 series AP I think I failed my English writing class-- in fact I know I failed. The numbers I indicated in my first post are the wild guess from a Honeywell Rep I spoke with. The Numbers(s) 10 or 20 thousand UNITS is the what Honeywell anticipates are the Units still flying in the American fleet, plus some number for the rest of the world. Most 100 and 200 series Bendix King UNITS have three servo's ...so approximately 30,000+ servo motors could be in service. My point with Honeywell: How the hell can you walk from 10 thousand customers...leaving them with an unclear picture of SERVICE for the Servo Motors of Approx Ten Thousand Customers. ( Aerostar,Beech, Cessna, Mooney, Piper, Aero Commander and ect..ect????? So My question for the SPACE is:: has anyone gotten a RECENT quote for a Bendix King servo motor repair or replacement ???? Pat M20J flyer

Quote: M20JFlyer Pilot 716 and Aviator-Reb thanks for the comments. Autopilot Central in Tulsa is good people and they can tackle most any AP problem. But they don't repair Servo Motors they repair the electronics. Where I am going with this inquiry is to learn ..What a pilot is faced with if he learns the small motor in the servo has gone South. I am a member of a large flying group...about 50+ members in Houston TX area and have been hearing horror stories of replacement cost of the servo Motors. Three members have King AP's out of service because of Servo Motors and we are trying to learn of some one that will repair the very small Pittman Servo motors. We have some high tech NASA knowledge in limbo in Houston ... an one person .. looking at these Pittman Motors sez they are definetly repairable..but is not interesred in doing the FAA fight ..if there is no significant interest. (volume needing repair) Some of hese 20 year old motors will someday need some TLC and when that day comes {FOR YOU} hold on to your pocketbook unless we beging now to develop some plan. Mooneyspace guys an gals ...I am not tryin to be an alarmist... but if you want to get your heartbeat up call AP central in Tulsa or any BK service center... and request a new servo motor for your AP !!!!