SkyPilot

Looks like it's all the same guy. Should be easy to fix..

I used to run the Beaver at 29" and 1900 rpm all year long. No problem, mind you it was super-charged...

My shop estimates 35 hours install time at a rate of $75 per hour. The 930 unit with the harness and probes for a 2 tank system costs about $6000. That makes a total of $8625.

I'm just starting out to do my panel. I pulled out the Tube ADF and the Tube Narco 12. I guess that was Stage 1. Stage 2 just happened October 25th. I had the Avionics shop remove an old Narco Com Selector, as well as my marker beacons and the old intercom, which was kinda sketchy.. Then they put in a Garmin 340 Comm selector with 4-place intercomm & a Garmin SL30 Navcom with glideslope. Everything is nicely in the middle and once the KX-155 becomes unrepairable, there is room to add a Garmin 530. My autopilot needs a little fixing but that is in the works. Stage 3 will be the pilot side panel. I'm talking with http://www.hendricks...com/prod02.html and looking at the large flat panel with 8 holes so I can install the ILS head for the SL30 I've allready put in. It would be a huge improvement for the scan. And yeah, I still like the steam gauges. Stage 4 will be a JPI EDM 930 and an improvement in the scattered breakers. That will leave me tons of room to add anything else I get crazy enought to add like a stormscope, radar altimeter (i've gotten used to them, very handy), etc.

Really? I never noticed I'll have to check now. Isn't that kinda weird only having brakes on one side? You guys pulling my leg?

I use the Ram air all the time. It gives me just over 1 inch up at 14,500 ASL. I never use it in bad weather or below 5000' AGL (not including the mountains, as I am sometimes 1500' AGL while at 14,500 ASL.)

I'm going to go with the Aveo's

That's funny, because I was thinking of buying my wife a helmet for the trip out to Niagara Falls last month. I fly over a lot of nasty sharp rock on the north shore of Lake Superior. It could lead to a sudden nasty stop. My wife has a pretty face and I'd hate to bounce it off the rightside panel or mash her into the right side control column. But I think I'll just put in 5 point harnesses or shoulder straps. The helmet would scare the hell out of her.

I flew a Mooney 201 in 1987 that had a Firewall Forward/Horsepower plus decal on the tail. The owner never mentioned any issues. Mind you, I did his night rating for him so he probably wouldn't have told me if it was about to blow... I seem to remember it showing 165 kts g/s on the DME in still air. Don't know if that is good, I have an "F" model.

I'm wondering if anybody out there would like to trade down to a nice M20F? I'm looking to trade up. I'm looking for more speed and longer legs. My machine will be basic IFR by the end of December, runs great, has recently improved radios, and a good half time engine. I'm presently re-doing the pilot side instruments for a better scan and to add an ILS for the new Garmin SL30. Email me at heavycrude@hotmail.com or pm me. I'll look at anything in excellent running condition.

I am looking at installing shoulder belts though. For sure.

Some of the IO-360's in Mooney's have a "twin-pack" mag. Two mags, but only one driver. Completely crazy, defeats half the purpose. When I found this out I checked mine and found that I had two single mags (sigh of relief)

I looked at the Ray Jay. I also looked at the M20. Like the previous poster said, if you really need it, buy a newer airplane. I figured the M20 installed in my stock M20F will run me about $50,000. The Ray Jay doesn't appeal to me because they don't make them anymore. I went over the rockies at 14,500 ft the other day, into a slight quartering headwind westbound. I was grounding 138 kts at 10.4 gph. Good enough. I looked at the LoPresti cowling. Real nice too and if you believe the 15 mph speed claim increase, WOW! but still superexpensive. Plus I'd need the new style windshield mod to start with. I've been looking at things to increase speed for 2 years now. It comes down to economics. Buy a newer faster airplane and it is cheaper and a better investment...

I have to get one of those. My airplane came with a nice O2 portable system when I bought it, but I have never used it. I just had it recertified and can fill it this month. Last time I popped over the mountains on the way to Fairmont Hot Springs, I was at 14,500 ft for about 30 minutes. It would have been interesting to see what the O2 level was...

Hi Steve, I am very close to changing my left side panel. I just finished with the new com selector and new SL30 Garmin Navcom. My airplane is a '67 F and has about a 10 degree bend horizontally in the middle. I'd like a flat panel. My avionics guy is going to change the left side to a steam gauge 8-pack for me, for about $3500. I will have 2 ILS heads plus the usual six-pack. But a flat panel would be nicer. What did you do? I added a picture of what I've done so far. The plastic woodgrain is going and I'm also going with the NIBS or similar intrument lighting. Any suggestions would be great before I rip and tear. Paul K

I don't know if you can save weight the same way I am. Be more than a little overweight, I have recently cut back the "wheaties" in earnest. I am presently 245lbs. It is a lot cheaper to eat less than to pay a mechanic to remove airplane parts. I have a retractable step and I like it, and it will stay there. Actually, it is probably cheaper to get liposuction than to start changing your airplane parts out for lighter ones, really.

Looks nice! I just did stage 1 of a planned 4 stage upgrade. (Trying to pay cash and avoid over-extending). I took out an old Narco comm selector from the right side panel. Previously I had taken out an old tube ADF in the middle stack and an even older NARCO 12 tube nav comm from the right side. We removed some crazy intercom system and the 3 marker beacon lights from the left side also. Stage 2 will be pilot side panel upgrade to a nice 8 pack similar to yours and then Stage 3 pulling everything out of the right side and putting in a JPI EDM 930. Stage 4 will happen when the KX155 croaks and then I'll put in either a Garmin 530 or better as long as it fits. The 60's woodgrain is going and painted panels will be the new look.

I had one break last year. My mechanic never mentioned having trouble finding one to replace it, he just billed me... But my tach is acting up just a little. It almost never hits 2700 rpm on take-off. I thought the governor needed adjustment but the tack is reading low. I'm going to put in a JPI EDM930 and get rid of all the old junk. For the extra engine monitoring this will afford me, and the cost of an overhaul, the $10,000 price tag installed is worth it.

Quote: Lood My Mooney gained 73lbs in empty weight! Seriously though, I'm pretty sure that it must be a scale or weighing error and I plan to have the airplane re-weighed at some stage while I'm present. I want to be sure that absolutely all fuel was drained and everything inside was indeed removed. My Mooney's empty weight was 1700lbs in 2007 after which I did the weight saving. It was again weighed this year in February and the new empty weight is now 1773lbs. To say the least, I didn't find that very entertaining.

So is it flying yet? How much speed gain? Inquiring mind wants to know...

Ok, so I still have not decided where to get more speed. Turbo, different airplane, new cowling, etc. The list is fairly long and the prices vary. It's hard to decide where to spend the hard-earned cash. I paid my airplane off in June and like the "no payment" situation. This makes modifying more appealing than replacing. I'm looking at the LoPresti cowling mod (and yeah, I'd have to do the windshield, oil cooler, spinner too) and they are claiming 13 to 14 mph on an F Model. http://www.speedmods.com/M20-list.htm I figure that with the windshield, oil cooler, and cowling all installed, I'm looking at $25,000 minimum. I might get 15 or 16 mph out of the two mods combined. That would be enough to satisfy me but I would be cranky if I didn't get the speed as advertised.

Just so you folks know, I have only filed a flight plan while flying in Canada once in the last 28 years. It's a real pain in the keister to have the FSS (Flight Service Specialist) phone you after you land and refuel just because you are 30 minutes past your planned landing time. Once was enough. I let my wife or my buddy Jim know where I am going. I tell the FSS I am on a "company note" and that it the end of it. No flightplan. You will have to file a plan to enter, but once here, we have very little controlled airspace at the lower altitudes and it is awesome. No fuss. I've looked at the US charts and thought: Wow, what a bunch of airports! Up here, I've flown 5 hours straight at 141 knots, without ever seeing a building or another sign of life. Flying in Canada is easy. Flying in the US looks daunting.