AndyFromCB

Hank, Actually, the pistons are aluminum. Looking at one sitting on my desk right now. Reason they don't melt is called boundary layer. Andy

I've got two batteries, two alternators, two radios, two transponders. If all of that goes down, I don't think the portable radio is what I'll be reaching for. A flask and a cigarette might be more useful.

I simply upgraded my GEM to G1, I didn't care about the rest of the parameters, just wanted to a clear presentation of CHT, EGT and TIT. I'm very happy with it and the total installation cost was about 2 hours.

My regular pilot fell thru as he is stuck in Phoenix with jet problems. Anybody knows a ferry pilot in the Nebraska/Iowa area with at least 25 hours of mooney time to move the aircrcaft down to Tulsa from Omaha for autopilot service? Too sick and tired and swamped with work to fly myself. Andy

another thing to consider is how quickly airspeed bleeds of on landing in high density situations. If you're a "chop the power" over the numbers kind of guy, you might be very unpleasantly surprised when the bottom falls out from underneath so I'd recommend some practice with slowly twisting the power out and not chopping the throttle until already in flare. When flying in the midwest, I'm generally a chop and drop kind of flyer but I have noticed that the technique does not work very well at high density altitudes. I also concur with doing all your flying early in the morning. The turbulence can become very unpleasant especially as the surface winds pick up. I landed in Denver few weeks ago with surface winds at 30knots and the last half hour of flight as Denver kept on dropping us lower and lower was one of the most unpleasant flights I have ever been on. Another thing to consider is the convergence of Vx and Vy if you trying to make maximum performance climbs.

150 does not move you into ovation, bravo and certainly not acclaim territory. Think 200k for a good bravo, 250 for a good ovation, 400 for an acclaim. If your father is disabled, then you need a cessna or a A36 or a piper Cherokee 6.

150 does not move you into ovation, bravo and certainly not acclaim territory. Think 200k for a good bravo, 250 for a good ovation, 400 for an acclaim.

True, dogs don't seem to care though, I've had mine to fl220 to 2 hours, they just fall asleep and snap right back to it on landing. Might be because mine don't have any brains to start with, as to the mask, I'll let you in on a little secret, canullas work just fine to fl220, no mask needed, actually, they do just fine to about fl250, just bump up the flow.

But why in the world would anyone want to fly down low? So you had an Encore and stayed low unless the weather dictated? To me it's missing the point. I like it between 15,000 and FL220. Quiet, no changing frequencies with every class C, no traffic, no turbulence, almost no ice, for sure no SLD, about perfection as far as GA travel is concerned. Oxygen is such minor deal and I've always worn it above 8,000 feet anyway just to feel fresher on landing.

Used airplane prices have nothing to do with doom and gloom. There were none or almost none made in the 1980s so in the 1990s there was a shortage of good used airframes. Now with 5000+ used Cirruses available, the used prices dropped to where they belong. It was a 15 year fluke when used aircraft was an actual appreciating asset. As to Zimbabwe, I would good old US of A is a long ways away from that. The rest of the world can be catching onto whatever they want to catch onto, but with the Euro where its at, there is only one reserve currency/reserve market and that's us.

One of my friend's from high school dad died young, about 45 or so. When he died, they found out they were worth over $100 million dollars. Nobody including the wife had any idea. Maybe if he lived a little, he'd still be alive. We could all be wiped out tomorrow if Yellowstone decides to go kaboom. We've had deficit spending since this country was founded so as long as we don't run out of cotton to print the dollar on, we're just fine. I hate all this doom and gloom. Airplanes were always a wealthy person's game, nothing has changed over last 70 years. And most professionals with good jobs actually get paid considerably more than we used to. It's just that peoples priorities have changed. Everybody now wants a giant house and a Range Rover. We actually don't have a deficit spending at all because we borrow in our own currency. We just have an additional tax, it's called inflation. You all looking at it wrong. Our currency is one of our greatest exports ;-) If people all over the world are essentially willing to accept real negative return to park their money over here, we'd be dumb not to take them. Otherwise, the only choice are higher tax rates. Lower levels of service will simply not happen. As to getting a turbo as your first airplane, I wouldn't. Especially for training. These engines have to be babied. Any Bravo below $200K will require a ton of work to get it to top shape. I spent about $85K making mine 'whole' but I knew what I was getting into. And you don't buy a turbo to fly high as some have stated, you fly high because you have a turbo so it makes no sense to stay low.

As to TKS, having have used mine about 6 times, it smokes anything else out there short of hot wings and a pair of jet engines. Once you use it, you'll change your mind about flying into ice with a Mooney. Anything short of continuous freezing rain is non event. The entire airframe gets coated and the slower you go, the better is actually works, so wonderful for climbs and approaches, unlike boots. And with a Bravo, you'll never be in ice for more than a few minutes anyway as long as you get unrescricted climbs/descents. Airplane will maintain 800fpm to 18,000 at gross. Ice will simply not accumulate with TKS.

I'd get a Bravo over an Ovation especially if you're stepping down from a Baron 58P. I cannot ever imagine not flying a turbo after owning one for a year and half now. And Bravo seem to go for next to nothing lately vs an Ovation. Yes, a bit more fuel burn, but not that much. Mine will do 190knots all day long on 17gph at 18,000 so about 2 gallons more than an Ovation. Or keep up with your 58P on about 21gph for 220knots at 22,000. Or bump along at 155knots for 12gph. As to G1000, I would not want to own a Mooney with a G1000. The factory support is dead and it wasn't Garmin who certified that system for M20R, M20M and M20TN, it was Mooney so I don't see any future upgrades in the pipeline. It's already more or less orpahned. I think a G500 with GAD43e and KFC150 and GTN 750 and a GMX200 combo is more powerful and capable than the G1000 as installed in a Mooney other than maybe the airspeed hold.

That's sad but on the other hand, they are not $2800 a pop like they are on the Bravo, so as they say, you can pay now, or you can pay later. Mine looked brand new at 1100 hours during overhaul and the previous owner always hauled ass at 32/2400. Could have kept them as is, but I elected to redo them at $1200 a pop with all new running gear. I still think the Lycoming with wet heads is a superior high altitude engine to the Continental.

daytime, 800/2 is what this pilot likes, I train about 15 hours a year, about 3 approaches down to minimums each month to a full landing, but in actual, with only one engine spinning, I'd rather wait if the conditions are 800/2 or better. My giant fear is losing an engine, hence why I don't fly at night. It would be different in a lightly loaded turbo twin, but that's few years down the line for me. Heading to Fargo tomorrow, it should be a fun snowy flight. Hope the tops will be below 18,000, I hate the mask.

Earl, What's the hourly rate? Everything around here 80 an hour including my local guys. 32 * 80 = 2500 sounds about right. So you must either have a lower shop rate or the guys are not charging for all their time. Andy

A 1990 Mooney Bravo at 200knots at about $1.2/nm if flown about 150 hours per year not including capital costs. With fuel at 6 bucks, about twice the cost of fuel seems to be a good number for a single, any single and 3 times for any twin.

What's your power setting for this? 32/2400?

Des Moines Flying Club has one for rent, a M20J

Have you ever flown with that kind of imbalance? I've done it in a Cherokee once, and it ain't pretty. The aircraft does not behave well and you do risk running out of aileron for landing if the wind conditions are just right.

What does Newton's law have to do with flying airplanes. We all know that what keeps an airplane in the air and in one piece is stacks of greenbacks.

i drive like an old lady too, my daily driver is a Nissan Frontier and I keep it at the speed limit. But when the GT-R comes out, it's pure mayham. I don't get speeding tickets because I'm very picky where and when I choose to drive that car.

96 in 45, many years ago, on a motorcycle, actually pulled over and waited for the cop. Long story short, because I did, he recommened to the judge I'd be allowed to take a traffic course, which he happend to teach. State Tropper Henderson, I still remember his last name to this day. BTW, I noticed the GT-R has a snow mode on the dashboard, LOL. No speeding tickets or any sort of a ticket last 11 or so years. Never been in a car accident, wreck a million motorcycles, though. Mostly quit ridding, looking at my Ducati in my office right now. Nice sculpcture.

My little GT-R, with a few upgrades here and there does 1/4 at 10.8 and 125mph.

I've seen 190mph in my GT-R on I80, granted, not for the entire run from Council Tucky to Des Moines, but for a few miles, there was not a soul on the road, the AGL was 0. Stable like a rock. Took my mechanic in it a few weeks ago for a spin down the taxiway, his jaw just dropped, he thought his Camaro was quick. Told him to keep his damn head against the headrest, he didn't listen, bet you it still hurts ;-) It's the only car I've ever driven where the stability just continues to increase as you speed up. Plus it has 4 seats, plus a real trunk. Not as much fun to drive as the S2000 was at sane, legal speeds, though. You find yourself doing 120 on interstate entry without pressing the pedal too hard. Funniest thing that ever happend to me driving was between Omaha and Fargo on I29. Those who have ever driven that stretch of road can attest to the fact that there is exactly two small bends in that entire section. It was me and my girlfriend, heading to her family vacation, in my Volvo C30. She was reading a book. I was driving 140mph. She never noticed. About half an hour into it, she looks over the speedometer and freaks out. Got to love little sleeper cars like Volvo. Told her to go back to reading her book. 75mph limit is such a shame on that road.