201er

Did I mention I only have a single axis autopilot and it was shot on the 8.5 hour flight anyway? Once you're going past 5 hours nonstop, it's not that much more to just keep going. Perhaps someday I'll go up with a second pilot and set the Mooney endurance record. Does anyone know what's the longest a Mooney every stayed up? I bet I could at least get 15 hours at 6gph LOP/120kts 1800nm range. That would be NYC to Phoenix nonstop.

Now it does! LOL Never thought of it that way but good point

Actually 8.5. Also done an 8 hour from NJ to KS nonstop.

I wouldn't dub it the craziest or most unexpected weather but I had the same experience as you when flying from Phoenix to St Louis over and around ABQ. I was at 13,000 IFR on O2 and I got the crap kicked out of me by the turbulence. I think I left Phoenix at like 7AM but it was already really turbulent. I was going up/down 500ft at a time and there was no extra power to work with from the normally aspirated engine. I made the mistake at staring at my instruments too much trying to salvage altitude but it made me pretty sick. I'd never felt so sick flying myself before and even reached for a bag but didn't end up using it. It was a really rough 3 hours going through all that. I finally got out to level ground and then continued on for 5 more hours to get to St Louis nonstop. The first 3 hours in turbulence was far more draining than the next 5 after, although it was a lot harder to make it through it after getting my brains jumbled around like that.

I want to hear about your worst landing stories to learn more about what the gear can (or cannot) take. I remember once landing wayyyyy too sideways in a cross wind and feeling as though the nose wheel was going to just shear off but it was fine. That's a relief and I always strive to do better.

Mooney Pilots, I am thrilled to invite you to the first New Jersey Mooney Pilots Holiday Party on Sunday December 30th at Malibooz Grill at Reading airport (KRDG) from 12-3PM. Bring your Mooney, bring your family, bring your friends. This event is open to everyone and even non-Mooney planes. We will be holding an aviation themed secret Santa gift sharing so please bring a wrapped aviation related gift valued between $10-$20. More expensive items will be tolerated but don't think you're getting away with bringing nothing but propwash! Gifts must be wrapped or at least sealed in an envelope/bag so you can't see it due to the nature of the event. We'll figure out the exact method of sharing on location. Just some suggestions to get the ball rolling: clock, current chart, chocks, cleaning supplies, timer, kneeboard, fuel tester, cute signs, hat, mooney pin, book, a Mooney Acclaim, etc Please RSVP with me by responding with the number of people attending in your party and N number. If weather becomes a problem, we'll deal with it when we get closer to time of the event. Hope to see you there!

While on the topic, what is the proper soft field landing technique in a Mooney? Is it the same as in any other plane? Do you put in full aft trim to help you keep the weight off the nosewheel? Do you try to roll with the nosewheel off the ground or on the ground but with the weight shifted back? I never bothered trying this sort of stuff cause I never thought I'd take my Mooney off pavement but this thread is making me think otherwise.

BYRON!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking about the amount of right rudder used on takeoff and crosswind takeoffs. Does this mean that you have a lower crosswind takeoff capability with a left crosswind than a right one? Is it substantial enough> How much right rudder as a % of deflection are we really using on takeoff?

Now is this comb STCed or do you need a 337 for it?

I recently read a report about a pilot that took off in a baron or bonanza to find that pushing right on the controls was making him turn left. The more he'd push right to upright, the more it turned left. He finally tried turning the other way and the plane leveled. Turned out the ailerons were cross linked in reverse. I am wondering if it is even physically possible for the controls on a Mooney (elevator, ailerons, rudder, flaps, gear, trim) to be hooked up such that they act in reverse? Is this something to be concerned about or is the very engineering of pushrod systems on the Mooney render this impossible?

What about the fact that flying higher you are also going slower. Not only is the air thinner but your indicated airspeed goes down (even though the true airspeed may have gone up). Also if the temp/pressure change, because of density altitude it could be that it was 3000ft difference between the two flights and not 1000. Just some thoughts.

Interesting question. If I may add another question to yours, how does altitude or density altitude affect cooling? To me it seems that above a certain altitude, even though OAT continues to drop, CHT/OT actually increase. I suspect that the thinner air provide poorer cooling? Can anyone support or disprove this? I am postulating that the change in altitude and temperature played a role. BTW how did you set power/mixture for each flight? A difference in mixture can easily play that much of a role.

PM me your email/phone number and I'll let you know next time we're having a fly in and if I can pick you up at Solberg.

For the kind of money I'm spending on your recommendation, it better be more than "supposedly" more reliable!

I'll stick to flying the airplane regularly method. It may be expensive but it's tried and true.

I agree. I end up only using the electric trim on landing or go around but prefer the manual trim all around. However, the electric trim is a life saver on approach cause it allows me to use my right hand to lower flaps while simultaneously keeping my left hand on the yoke while running the electric trim to adjust for flaps. Likewise on a go around I can keep my hands on stick/throttle while retrimming with electric. For takeoff, level off, and cruise, the manual trim gives much better feedback and seems better to use.

Besides Byron, has anyone witnessed any speed impact by adjusting magneto timing? How much and on what model/engine? Fuel savings or LOP improvement?

As ambassador of the New Jersey Mooney Pilots group, I'll offer to take you up for a ride in mine once it gets out of the shop (couple more weeks, getting a mags upgrade ) if you will listen to my pitch why you should totally get one but not for a while. Good luck landing a Mooney into solberg is all I'll say for now

Care to elaborate? Is this easy to do DIY?

Don't worry, even the guys who say they understand LOP vs ROP don't really. You're in luck cause your plane has already chosen for you the way to fly so you don't have to. ROP is going to be the way to go. Have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntARTRQOpd0 There's no sensation to compare with this Suspended animation, a state of bliss Can't keep my mind from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

That's awesome! If you were gonna play fair, you'd be up against an SR20, not 22.

I believe that is called decalage and that all airplanes have it to some extent.

Ah ok. Now I see that there is a difference between seeing the airport and seeing the runway. I was kind of thinking them as one and the same until I reread the details above and in the AIM.