PilotDerek

Jim, You just gained 10lbs useful load for 4 hrs of work, not bad!

Ross, If you can't find someone local, I can trace mine and mail it to you or scan and email it. Let me know and I can get it done tomorrow.

Great newsletter! Love the links and the articles. I truly appreciate the work you've put into this. Please keep them coming.

Don't forget cowl plugs. Birds seem to think the engine is a great spot for a nest. Also ensure you close everything (vents, cowls, etc) after every flight. Try to limit the chance of stowaways getting into your plane. I keep mine outside and If its been longer than a week since I've flown my preflight includes taking off my cowl just to make sure nothing has tried to make a home. Oh and if you have the high speed wing tips birds like making nests there as well (experienced by a fellow mooney owner on my field).

Quote: 201Pilot Take a look at these. The third/fourth one is my favorite, an Acclaim that was painted by Texas Aero Services.

I saw a mooney a while ago that was base yellow with a giant mooney emblem painted black across the cabin and wings. It was the best paint scheme I've seen. I wish I could have saved the photo.

Quote: gmcd Is the 7 better or worse than the modern replacement? I'd like to convert mine back to the 7's. Like the look better.

Welcome to the site! I purchased my plane four months after I passed my checkride. The best advise I can give and I'm sure it will be echoed on this site, have a good prepurchase inspection by a mech who has never done any work on the plane. Understand that he WILL find issues. The plane is 47 years old. Nothing that old is perfect. It's just the matter of how bad each issue is. A good engine and airframe should be the top priority (IMO). I was nervous when I purchased my bird (hell, I'm still nervous), but there is no better feeeling than driving out to the airport to take MY plane for a flight. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

I have Narco radios. I plan on replacing them down the road. I have a great A&P that has no problem supervising/inspecting my work and logging it. How did you figure out that you could recieve 80 miles but only transmit 10?

I guess I should mention that my job in the Marine Corps is communication electronics maintenance. I have access to all the test equipment and tools that would be needed for this job.

Quote: jetdriven Make sure the antenna is bad with an SWR meter before tossing out the 7 antenna. Check th coax cable also. I reently resealed my roof antenna and am considering replacing the rear, I think its bad. Only transmits 10 miles. 4 Bolts screw into the base of the antenna. (Might also be studs and nuts) Remove those and the BNC antenna connector. The correct replacement is a Comant CI-196. It has the offset BNC at the base and the proper bolt pattern.

I am looking at replacing my radio antennas and was looking for some insight. Has anyone replaced the mooney roof antenna shaped like a backwards 7? My two vhf antennas are the one on the rook like I mentioned and one on the belly which is a metal one bent back at an angle. Has anyone had any issues replacing these? Did you do it yourself or just have a shop do it? As a ground radio guy I know the in & outs on radio installations and cabling, although I am not looking foward to figuring out where my antenna cables are ran, as I am going to replace them as well. Everything is original 1967 cables and antennas. Any input is greatly appreciated.

I have the Johnson bar, but have flown a J with electric as well. I like the Johnson bar, but electric was nice unless it fails then you get a shoulder workout getting the gear down manually. I would say that it would be nice at times to have that space in between the seats available for misc stuff.

This is another black eye for GA in Socal this year. There was a pilot busted for transporting illegals in a rented C-172 and now this.

Quote: maropers Windows????? or the trim - I did my 67 F and managed to snake the bracket in on the left - much easier on the right. There is no 337 needed as this is not a major modification using the clamp. I did the grunt work my ap did the final install.

You forgot Bladders vs Reseal

I put shoulder harnesses in my 67 M20F a couple months ago. I used the ones from alpha aviation. It was not a quick task. We had to take out the windows and cut some of the sheetmetal that encases the cage to get it attached. Since every mooney is a little bit different some people had no issues with the install. All in all well worth the time and money to put them in.

I was always under the impression the main reason to fly often was the good of the engine. Running it fequently to keep it lubercated and burn off any possible moisture. I think actual time may be more important than hours. I agree with what Immelman said ".. and to that end I think its more about how often rather than how many hours per year. I could take a big trip, then park it for a few months letting the cam rust". If I fly it for a 100hrs in a month but not another hr the rest of the year that seems worse than if I fly it for an hour or so every week. Of course this is all just my humble opionin.

Does the Donaldson air filter for the M20J work on the M20F? I was looking at their eligibility list and it does not mention the M20E's and F's? On another note what is involved with installing the challenger air filter in a M20F?

Quote: Sabremech Here's the list from the current FAR's: FAR 43 Appendix A Preventative Maint. ....so...you put any maintenance you perform in your logbooks? Is there a requirement of what preventative maintenance must be logged?

What owner allowed maintenance do you put in your logbooks? (i.e. oil changes, tire replacement, etc)

That Lightning is a nice looking plane. I understand the LSA for those that can no longer get a medical, but weren't they supposed to be the "cheap" way to plane ownership originally? They had a piper sport were I learned to fly but it was rarely rented. The owner told me unless the air was as smooth as glass it just was not fun to be in, and being in the palm springs area those days are few and far between. I would love to be able to build a plane in the future.

I just use the tow bar. I don't push/pull any other part of the plane. I pulled my plane to the fuelling area (which is a slight incline) on day when it was hot so I wouldn't have to deal with a hot start and vowed to never do that again. It was a workout.

Single owner, but might look into offering a partnership if we move this summer. I think it would be better for the plane.

I only had 70 hrs with 7 complex when I bought my M20F. Insurance is $2300 1st year and required only an additional 3 hrs dual. I could have gotten a lower rate but others wanted 10-15 dual as well as 10 solo. Transistion was a non issue.