rainman

I do the Texas to Michigan trip a couple of times per year in my M20K 231. Weight wise, you will probably only have 950-1000 pounds of useful load in a Mooney. You are likely to find deicing of any kind only on an Ovation or Acclaim. (Yes, I know there are a couple of exceptions). If you check Controller.com for those aircraft, you will find that the pricing doesn’t fit your current $100K budget. For just me, my wife, and our dog, our Mooney was perfect for those trips in the summer. For you, it sounds like your future mission (wife, kids, FIKI) calls for a P210, $200-275K.

The Airpath Compass on my 1979 231 was leaking fluid. So my local shop got a repair kit and replaced the gaskets and fluid. I can’t recall how accurate it was before, but as soon as I got it reinstalled I noticed a problem. When he placed the compass back in the plane it was 30 degrees off when facing north, and the adjustment screw would not compensate for it. The compass is relatively accurate outside the plane(when not installed). My portable compass also showed the same deviation when placed in position inside the plane. Moving the compass around the interior showed significant compass swings near the center windscreen mounting post and other places near the front seat side window frames. My local guy tried to degauss the metal windscreen frame post where the compass mounts. No help. My safety frame appears to be magnetized? I have a G500 and two 430 Ws in my panel. What am I to do? I called Dugosh and my two local avionics shops, Pippen-York and Crystal Avionics, and no one can help. I live near San Antonio. Can I install a G5 and get rid on this compass? Thanks, Ray

If you have a waas gps and ADS-B out, then you’d be surprised how useful, and economical, a Stratus and your IPad will be. +1 on getting Mooney specific transition training and a good prepurchase inspection. Best of luck.

At 69 years old, I discovered I have another brother confirmed by Ancestry DNA. We spoke on the phone and agreed to meet in his city. Enter the Mooney. It was an IFR wind aided flight from San Antonio to Wichita Falls where he and his wife met my wife and I for lunch. We had a great first meeting and hope to have many more in the future. A very special day.

This is a photo of the package of the elastic grommet for the nose wheel.

I use the Tocsin 3 CO monitor. About $170 from Aircraft Spruce. I also have the O2D2 system which really conserves oxygen. Ray

PT20J, That’s exactly what I needed to see! Thanks. I’m fortunate that the guys at Dugosh were able to tell me that they knew the part, the cost, and had one. The Parker website for Cleveland wheels is spot on. Ray

Willie, I recently added the O2D2 demand oxygen system to the oxygen setup in my 231. It’s simple and works well, only delivering oxygen when you inspire, thus saving your tanks. In my case it has doubled my oxygen useful time per tank. Knowing I have plenty of oxygen for all legs of my trip has been great. I use a portable pulse oximeter (cheap, $40) to monitor my oxygen requirements and often start using oxygen at 10,000 ft. If set up initially with your O2 system it will be a bit neater than mine as an add-on. Ray

The correct elastic grommet for the valve stem on the 5.00-5 wheel is part number 217-00100. It cost about $12 on Aircraft Spruce. The staff at Spruce kept trying to tell me the part was $93 and was 05-14654. Several local mechanics advised me to get 217-00100, and Dugosh had one. When the wheel was removed and disassembled, it was clear that 217-00100 was the correct part. This is for the nose wheel only. The mains are different. Ray

My 1979 231 had a nose wheel flat on landing yesterday at T74 in Taylor Texas. The locals were super helpful getting the plane safely to the ramp then coming up with a new tube and tire! A local Mooney owner and fellow gyro pilot had a jack and helped change the tire. The only issue is that the 90 degree air valve stem goes thru an elastic grommet on the wheel, and that grommet was lost. I found one that “sort of fit” and flew the plane home. Now I need to get the correct grommet with the correct size inside diameter, outside diameter, and groove width? Does anyone know what the dimensions are? Ray

I bought my 231 when I had just over 100 hrs. I got good transition training then flew VFR for about 50 hours over three months to get comfortable with the plane. I then did my IFR training. I’ve since put about 1000 hours on it and it has been a good match to my mission (me, wife, dog, baggage). It can be done. Ray

I used a Best Tugs Bravo for over a year and it was perfect for moving the Mooney and my hangar mate’s Cirrus up a steep incline to the hangar. The guy in the hangar next door, used the same model to move his Meridian. Very good but pricey.

I started as a hangar renter after I bought my Mooney 10 years ago. After a while, I decided I wanted my own hangar with the “required” TV, internet, bathroom (my wife insisted), couch, refrigerator, compressor, tools, and fan. I had a cheap tow vehicle made from a converted lawn mower that still works, but I recently upgraded to a purpose built Power Tow and it has made a big improvement in getting the Mooney in and out of the hangar. Be sure you have some way to move your plane if you have some gradient to deal with. Ray

Saturday morning sunrise flight to join nine other gyroplanes for some formation flying and BBQ in the Texas Hill Country. I know it was not in my Mooney, but it was awfully pretty. Ray

Thanks Paul. The GoPro support forum says that you can’t fix prop distortion in settings on the Hero 8. The NFlight filter specifically lists the GoPros 5,6,&7, but not the 8? Ray

I remain hopeful that this project will progress to flying planes for customers. My number in line is 97. The good news is I can keep flying my Mooney until that happens. I’m not an engineer, so someone tell me if that gear shimmy looks O.K.? Ray

I just received a GoPro Hero 8 Black. I know I’ll need the cables for intercom/ATC audio in, and I’ve found that on the internet. Does the propeller filter used on the GoPro 7 also work on the GoPro 8? I’m looking forward to recording some flights in my Mooney as well as my gyroplane (pusher prop, no filter needed). Ray

All American Aircraft in Texas seem to have a good handle on the market, and likely will be able to help sort through the planes.

Welcome. Because you are a skilled A&P you can perhaps update a plane and transfer some sweat equity. But my experience in having spent a ton of time and money updating my 231, is that had I just kept looking for an already updated plane, I would have saved about $20-30K. I bought my 1979 M20K in 2011 with 400 hours on a factory new engine. My pre-purchase inspection failed to reveal the new tank sealing that was needed just months after my purchase, and my radio and transponder dropped dead in the first year with two cylinders giving out at the annual. I ultimately had new windows, complete new interior, tanks stripped and resealed, G500 panel with new GPS/transponder/ADS-B/engine monitor, new tires, new donuts, new cylinders, and paint repair. I have about $60K more into it than it can be sold for. I do like it and plan to fly it for many more years. So my ultimate advice would be once you have your fixed wing PPL, keep looking and buy one with all the big stuff already done. Ray

Solo it takes about 300 ft to break ground, double that with a passenger or to clear 50 ft obstacle. 0-20 ft rolls on landing are pretty common. Remember, no vertical take offs, no hovering, no negative G maneuvers. Great for that solo burger mission! Ray

I fly this AutoGyro Calidus. It’s a blast. ADS-B in/out, Dynon Skyview . If I’m not in a hurry, and flying solo less than a couple hundred miles VFR it’s my usual ride. It’s a tandem two seater so my brother can fly with me.

Hector did mine eight years ago, and it still looks like new.

As both a jumper and pilot who flies near a busy jump operation near San Marcos Texas, I feel like most of the important points about communication and procedures have been well made. Skydiving and jump pilots got me interested in getting my PPL. As I listen to the jump pilots communicate with Austin Approach, I have found it to be very professional. I have been surprised by the number of transient aircraft that have flown right over the drop zone apparently unaware of the activity. They aren't monitoring approach and aren't checking the sectional of their route. My USPA D license is in the 5000s having been earned in the late 70s. I made a few thousand jumps before focusing more on my Mooney, so I feel like I get what both communities have to offer. I applaude B.D. for keeping an open mind. Blue Skies!

My wife and I always travel with our small dog in our Mooney. We like having her with us, and it's really no additional expense. If I could just get her to wear oxygen.....

I called back to the Lockhart (50R) FBO, and the owner has moved to Tennesee. The registration has expired and the plane is deregistered. She can get hold of the guy if anyone is interested. As I said, he pays his rent regularly.