201er

Sounds like the most dangerous kinda day to be flying

It looks like a good number of you guys maintain instrument currency and proficiency. I wonder what your personal definition of proficient is? I voted instrument current but not proficient. This doesn't mean I think I'd get in an accident by jumping in and flying instruments but without a little more recent practice, I don't feel I'd be on top of my game like I would be if I had some more recent IFR flights. Last time I flew in the clouds was a bit over 2 weeks ago, last actual approach was a month ago and two simulated. 2 more simulated 2 months ago. So although I am current and probably safe, I can already feel the rust come on and have to think harder about what I'd need to do. Without a little practice, I'm not sure if I could pass the instrument checkride right now.

Come see my toys Saturday when I fly up to New Garden. You can check out my WingX + Clarity SV. Maybe you'll reveal to me what you wash your plane with to make it so slick.

Just got my plane back from annual. Enjoying the honeymoon before I get the bill. I'm going and so is Brett. Save some pancakes for us.

Generally I'd say I doubt you're proficient if you aren't current but I can think of a couple cases where it is possible. If you haven't flown a single approach in six months, you'd be nuts to consider yourself proficient. On the other hand if your currency lapsed but you flew 3 approaches yesterday and 2 more a few days prior... although not current, probably a lot more proficient than someone who flew 6 approaches 5 months ago.

I thought we had a discussion about this but maybe it was long ago so I guess it can't hurt to bring it up again. But I want to know not only if you are instrument rated or not, but how current, capable, and proficient you are. Folks who aren't instrument rated, how would you describe your instrument confidence? Anyone not instrument rated remain so intentionally?

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to put foot extensions on the wife instead? I was thinking those big platform shoes. No STC or 337 required

A few notable nonstop flights for me: Phoenix to St. Louis 1085nm, 8.5 hours - longest duration non-stop NJ to Witchita 1094nm, 8 hours - longest distance non-stop (using 73 gallons, 15mpg on 8.0gph) NJ to Florida 820nm, 7.5 hours (headwinds all the way) - longest distance/duration in abysmal speed. Longest day was 9.4 hours air time (1 unmandated but economical fuel stop) going from Phoenix to Chicago 1251nm. Also took a day trip out to San Diego when I was in Phoenix so technically that trip took my coast to coast but it didn't feel like a continuation of the journey. I love love love my Mooney and have a continuously growing list of places I wanna visit.

Ok, there's no denying that Mooneys are the best cross country 4 seater in their class. But now the question is do you make good use of it? What's been your longest flight nonstop by mileage and by duration? Longest multi-leg? How many times a year/month do you fly a cross country flight in excess of 500nm? Since having my Mooney the FAA minimum 50nm cross-country just doesn't cut it for me anymore. Practically anything inside 500nm is like local or extended local flying. 50nm out is when I begin my descent when coming home! Mooney has brought on a whole other meaning to cross country flying to me.

Guess you didn't fly long enough to have to go badly enough! Try it sometime without an autopilot! I did an 8.5 hour leg from Phoenix to St. Louis with AP inop and turbulence and still managed to fill 3 bags twice.

A He didn't know how to turn B That was actually the east river which is even narrower

Sorry bud, not what you were thinking. It's not just pilots who've climbed over 5,000ft in a normally aspirated mooney.

Stupidest thing I've ever done. It was my sister's barf bag and my mother was demanding I throw it out. Beyond my better judgement I couldn't take the nuisance any longer and complied. This was in a rental arrow. Bag went out the window just fine but then the gear came down out of nowhere. I look out and the damn bag was stuck on the emergency gear pitot tube. No amount of maneuvering would get it off and the only way to keep the gear up was to continuously hold the gear extension override. Had to land and get the bag off or the gear wouldn't stay up. No way I'm doing that in my Mooney.

^ROFL LMAO

Actually, all kidding aside, I do keep Pepto and some other sorts of stomach pills. Luckily barely ever needed them in flight. But I do remember the agony of getting nauseous and stomach sick coming over the rockies on a non-stop from Phoenix to St. Louis. I wanted to land and go to the bathroom and recuperate, but I also realized that coming down from 13,000ft would take like half an hour. And the flight planning involved would be to pick an airport ahead on the route, not immediately below so it all seemed too complicated. I just stuck it out another 5 hours and arrived with like 4 ziplock bags full of piss. I think I set a record that flight taking a pee like 8 times.

My philosophy is, if the flight requires a change of undies, I'd prefer to land and wait it out. Then it's less of a big deal not having a change.

I fly 5-8 hour xcountrys solo. What else is there to do? It keeps me fed and keeps me busy. I keep the bag of nuts inside a plastic bag and discard the shells right in there. It's hard to have big/heavy food while flying. Even a proper sandwich is a bit much to handle. Just your luck ATC calls when your mouth is full

Don't ever say "bomb" or anything like that in your plane just in case you have a stuck mic. Best not to talk about the grannies and grandes in the back either

No, that was me. With the hard-on on the leather upholstery in the mhc.

You really wanna vote on how gourmet is your cockpit?

ADS-B and Ipad have been working great for me since I got them in April. I didn't think coverage was going to be as good as it is when I first got it. Seems like an awful lot to pay for a subscription that gives you just slightly more.

Just thought I'd share my in-flight dining strategy as I do a lot of non-stop cross country flying in excess of 5 hours (9 being the most so far). It's difficult to eat while flying. I'm usually too focused, too busy, and the whole altitude/turbulence thing does a thing to appetite. Still, I'll get hungry and need the energy to stay awake and focused so it's more like forcing myself to eat. I try to get some fresh bagels of different kinds without anything on them (so they don't run or get messy). I can eat them a little at a time without much mess. They are quite filling. I'll also get a bag of pistachio nuts and just keep munching on those, keeps me busy. I bring a big bottle of sweetened iced tea and drink a little at a time. But I limit myself to one bottle of that and drink water the rest of the time. Gets me through those 7-9 hours flights in my extended range 201 Anyone else have some ideas to share? Anybody serve up a gourmet 3 course meal to their passengers? Tips and tricks about eating without shoving it in your mic every time?

I think the main issue the FAA would see with this is receiving compensation while exercising the privileges of private pilot! I think you gotta be at least commercial pilot for this sort of behavior.

1 gallon hefty ziplock bags with the sliding zip are the way to go. Brown paper bag or black plastic bag are good for hiding your special bag when you deplane. Paper towels and hand wipes on standby. Don't use the regular ziplock bags cause they may not seal all the way, the sliding zip work much better but be sure to close them all the way. Another advantage is you can reuse them for another 1-2 times that flight (ask how I know). Don't throw the bag out the window (ask how I know). Partial dehydration helps but be careful not to let it get dangerous.

I'm posting this one on behalf of Chris, Marauder, who was just dying for a topic to share his side of the story. Soo... any interesting stories here? O:-)