AndyFromCB

I agree, I'm too young, with too much going on in my life between work, significant other, her social schedule, my social schedule to be hands on involved in aircraft maintenance. My goal has always been to understand the systems and be proactive working with my mechanic. Plus there is nothing like experience and with 4 guys in my shop (with the top guy being a longtime Mooney owner), I trust them to a point. Now, how my Arrow ended being filled with W100 instead 20W-50W in October is a whole another question. Getting kind of chilly for that weight of oil. Maybe when I get older with more time on my hands, I'd get more involved but quite frankly I'd rather make furniture and sail when old than deal with grease.

Yes, I agree, I would call just like you did and I would leave a big note on the top, stuck with some tape too so it doesn't fall off. Imagine how you'd feel if they take off and crash and you didn't. If that's nosey, then so be it, if the owner has an issue with it, that's their problem, at least you did the right thing.

Just to let everyone know, Mr Maxwell has fixed the voltage regulator, as promissed and on time. Amazing. Guess where the Bravo will head for its next annual?

I don't have much experience with the G500, but here is my take on flying with Aspen. The software is superb, never a crash, slowdown, etc. The hardware has had some infant mortality issues, the service from them was superb as well, less than 72 hours from the moment I notified them of failure to when a new unit was shipped, installed and working. Try that with Garmin. But when it failed, it was a non-issue. Pressed the Rev button on the PFD and all was good again but I lost the ability to display my approach plates in any readable format (screen space). Non issue as the plate was already up on my Yoke mounted iPad, granted, not geo referenced. Since that experience, about 200 trouble free flight hours. I'll snap some pictures of my panel as mine looks funny with 4 attitude indicators (could not remove the vacuum one per Piper Arrow type certificate) and post them but if I ever ended up upside down in the clouds there would be nothing to blame but myself. The truth is, my vacuum gyro has been covered for a while now. I guess it would come in handy in case of EMP attack ;-) Time to go to work.

Quote: rbridges I've really enjoyed reading these boards, and I have learned a ton. It amazes me how much info is contained in such a (relatively) small group of people. Anyway, are there other aviation forums you guys go to on a regular basis? It's nice hearing stuff besides the same gibberish at the local FBO.

John, I too regulary fly IFR, now in an Arrow, soon in my new Bravo. My Arrow is a dual Aspen setup. You mentioned G500. I'd strongly recommend the dual screen Aspen setup with the autopilot interface and a RCA 2600 standby over the G500. Price will be about the same as G500. On a Bravo it will allow you to remove the vacuum system all together, save the weight and you'll have 3 independent attitude indicators, airspeed and altimeters, one independent of the pitot-static system as well. I have flow a Super Decathlon with the RCA 2600 and I can attest that it simply cannot be tumbled with the roll rates of a Bellanca so I would assume it would be even more reliable in a Mooney. Just my two cents. Andy

Gordon, I found that to be the case with all airplanes I've owned. I have always paid top dollar for a well maintained aircraft because my life depends on them. My arrow would be such an example. And yet, I have always found that my maintainance standards are either higher or that my mechanic is a genius at finding problems. The arrow cost close to 14K to fix all the squaks the first year, we literally pulled the wings of the airplane and took the whole thing apart. After that, in two years of ownership, she's never left me stranded. I think I lost an alternator once which turned out of be a wire becoming lose. Hope to turn the Bravo into a machine like that as well. I cannot imagine flying another high performance aircraft other than Mooney, well, maybe a TBM ;-) if I ever can afford one. I just found myself ultra frustrated with the whole situation until Don Maxwell came to the rescue. I kind of wish a few of the MSCs would just get together and buy MAC and only make parts. Andy P.S. As to autopilots, if that KFC 150 even starts acting up on me for 3 seconds, it will be getting replaced with a S-TEC 55. While nowhere as smooth as attitude based autopilots, with GPSS, it doesn't really mater as far as I am concerned and having have flown without a glitch behind an S-TEC, I can attest to their reliablity. On the other hand, the service from Cobham is probably worst than MAC/Piper/Cessna/Beech combined.

Gals/Guys, I already appologized to Scott and here is my appology to the rest of you. I was just so frustrated. I just bought this Bravo, I've been moving on up in hours, trying to slowly move up the airplane lader as in to get the experience and not kill myself while doing so. Hence, a Cherokee 140 for a few years, a Piper Arrow with everything under the sun and now a Bravo. A jet fractional doesn't appeal do me at all, both money and the appearance wise. I bought a "cheap" Bravo to upgrade extensivelly like I did wth my Arrow. I didn't get an Acclaim because I hated the idea of being tied to Garmin/MAC STC. So once again, I appologize I came off like an ass. With my Arrow all parts were expensive but they were always 24 hours away. I did not expect this with the Mooney. I didn't reallize the situation MAC was in. Andy

I'd love one of those (SxS's), or five actually, but the significant other thinks that a weatherproof house is more important, so if it's not the insulation, then it's the doors, then it's the windows and I've been doing all the work myself too so I see my trusty 870 sticking around for a long, long time. I do appologize as well, I have posted some fairly cynical posts today. I was just frustrated beyond all belief when I realized that MAC essentially forced Zaftronics into a no win situation years ago. Same with B&C altenators on Ovation. They choose to do this by putting 3rd party parts under their own part numbers. And now they are willing to neither release the part makers from their exclusive contracts or order the parts until a specific number is on their plate. This will be even more of a problem with the G1000 equiped airplanes as the time goes by. I really think we would be a lot better off in a long run in MAC once and for all went Tango Uniform and the type certificate data would become public domain. I bet you that voltage regulator would be $400 and available from aircraft spruce.

Scott, I don't know it as a fact, but based on my experience in the software industry, graphics take a lot of processing power and I'm possitive Garmin designed the hardware to the minimum specs required to make the original 696 software run at a decent response level. Short of breaking apart a 696 and the current unit, we'll never know, but a lot has changed in the last 4 years hardware wise and I am possitive Garmin has not spent a single penny extra making 696 future proof. I use the iPad too as I find the MX200 database, terrain and chart updates outrageous. But I do like for weather and displaying my WX500 information. While I know SV was on their mind and probably in design stages when they released 696, software has a tendency to keep up with hardware. That's one of the reasons why I didn't get an Acclaim, I thought a Bravo would be a lot cheaper to keep up avionics wise. I don't like being tied to one company either, being MAC or Garmin. Plus I really like Aspen, their open interface and most of all, for an elitist ass such myself, their service and support ;-) As you can see, I don't get offended very easily. Next time I'm in the NE corner of Iowa, I'd gladly buy lunch and talk bird hunting, which I still do my a very old and worn down 870. It still works just peachy. I don't know about the support and their service, as the Remington never needed either after thousands of shells fired ;-) I'm glad something still works as advertised. Plus I don't think I should be treated any better with a M20M than someone with an old Piper Arrow (like me), or a new Cessna Mustang. I was just making a point that Mooney might not be in business anymore because they have spent years treating their customers like crap and I see incompetance more and more as my years progress everywhere.

Scott, Being I am an elitist ass from another thread, here is my take on it. Garmin 696 is an old platform, it does not posses the horsepower and/or memory to do 3D synthetic vision. It simply cannot be upgraded to perform this functions at a decent speed. I was just as pissed off when I had to replace my broken down MX 20 to a MX 200 in my Arrow but in the end I am happy. I screen refresh rate is so much better. It's called progress and software capabilities will always be tied up to hardware.

John, I appologize, I meant to be sarcastic. My experience with vacuum pumps has been so miss and miss that I just gave up since I started flying in 1999. If the pump has really lasted 7 years and it's warranted for 2000 hours, why mess with a good thing. I assume you already have a good backup AI. If you don't, I really recommend the LCD RCA 2600. It's been flawless for me.

Scott, I am elitist because I expect things to work, I didn't work my ass my whole life to have to deal with BS, the software my company designs works and we stand behind our products. Don't worry, my Bravo, just like my Arrow will make someone a really fine airplane in a few years after it's been gone over with a toothpick and upgraded and I'm sure I'll lose money selling it, however, in the mean time, I expect it to be a reliable form of transportation. If that's elitist then no wonder the whole country is going down the drain because we no longer expect products to work as advertised. All I am asking for is to be able to get from Omaha, NE to Des Moines, IA few times a month on a schedule and then a few times per year go to Colorado and/or Wyoming and apparently that makes me an elitist ass. In the mean time, I decided to keep my Arrow for the useful load and hopefully they will not both be down at the same time. BTW, I already pay someone to look after my airplane, but apparently at $95 an hour they are too busy to call a few MSCs and find out how to get a voltage regulator working again.

How do you like your RC Allen 2600? Mine has been flawless.

Get an dual aspen setup, remove all vacuum pumps and put in a RC 2600 with a batery backup. Been working like a charm in my Arrow (ok, so I couldn't remove the vacuum due to type certificate, so the vacuum gyro is just sitting there on the right side gathering dust). Getting the same setup in the Bravo before I take it IMC.

KSMoniac, It's exactly this attitude that got us where we are today: just be glad is semi available. At $1860 a pop for what at most is $100 of eletronic components is wrong. I have no problem paying $1860 or $1890 or whatever it is, but at that price I want it on my door step the same day and since I pay my bills and don't complain, I want my A&P to install it yesterday. No, I am not kidding, that is how the rest of world works in this stratosphere. This is what I deliver to my clients hence I can afford to fly and I expect the same. What is the point, here is the breakdown: -$2000 monthly payment -$250 a month in insurance -$240 a month for a hangar full of frogs -$875 a month for avgas -$1750 a month in maintenance and parts -databases, XM weather, training, etc at $300 a month That's $66K a year to fly 75 hours a year not including my time at $400 or so an hour, include that in there, and I am better of with 30 hours of jet charter per year and yes, I can aford it, the problem is I like to fly and for the money spent, I would like to be treated like I am around a jag and/or a lexus dealership.

Here is what I gathered yesterday about voltage regulator for a Mooney Bravo -It's a MAC part, manufactured by Zeftronics, but a MAC part non the less -It's $1890 with delivery of 1 to 2 weeks after order via MAC so basically between sometimes in the future and never since it's been going on for a month -Zeftronics will not touch one to repair unless send to them by MAC -MAC will not touch one either -Zeftronics does not make a PMA replacement part but they do make the part -A certain MSC located in the same area of Zeftronics will fix the existing one for a fraction of the cost of new. Great. Being it was shipped overnight for today's delivery, I wonder which Zeftronics employee is calling in sick today for some extra cash on the side. -Welcome to the strange world of aviation -If I run my company the same way as MAC I'd be out of business. Oh, they are ;-) Why even bother with GA anymore is my question? Airlines are terrible but owning a high performance GA aircraft is only about 50K a year short of a 25 hour NetJets card which equals to about 75 hours of GA flying. I think the problem with the whole industry is the love we have for our airplanes so we find this acceptable. If this was our daily driver, we'd be looking for something else ASAP.

Here is what I gathered yesterday: -It's a MAC part, manufactured by Zeftronics, but a MAC part non the less -It's $1890 with delivery of 1 to 2 weeks after order via MAC so basically between sometimes in the future and never -Zeftronics will not touch one to repair unless send to them by MAC -MAC will not touch one either -Zeftronics does not make a PMA replacement part but they do make the part -A certain MSC located in the same area of Zeftronics will fix the existing one for a fraction of the cost of new. Great. Being it was shipped overnight for today's delivery, I wonder which Zeftronics employee is calling in sick today for some extra cash on the side. -Welcome to the strange world of aviation -If I run my company the same way as MAC I'd be out of business. Oh, they are ;-)

Is the voltage regulator on a Bravo a mooney specific part for which I'm going to have to wait next 6 months if ever or is it a stock part that can be sourced from somewhere else. Thanks in advance, Andy

Quote: jlunseth As everyone has said, below 65% you can fly wherever you want to, LOP or peak or ROP. But your question also raises the issue of whether it works to lean to any setting so long as the CHT's are ok, and that is not true. For example, if you went to 75% power and leaned to peak and got CHT's of 380 or less, that would be leaning to a "power setting ... low enough that CHTs are acceptable... ." But it would probably not be a good power setting. The "red box" is dictated by internal cylinder head pressure, not by CHT. CHT is in part a function of cylinder head pressure, but it is also a function of cooling. So if the cooling in your aircraft is superior, or you are flying in cold temps that keep the CHT's low, you can still have high internal cylinder pressures, and even detonation, without it showing up in the form of high CHT's. This is what they teach at the APS seminar. The moral of the story is that you need to stay away from the "red box" regardless of your CHTs. Below 65% you are ok, above that, there is a red box regardless of CHT's.

Quote: orangemtl That is very interesting Don. I cannot imagine why fine wires would contribute to difficulty in running smoothly LOP with balanced injectors for balanced peaking. While I cannot imagine what mechanism would cause the problem, it is impossible to argue with the huge experience of the Gami folks on such a point. Did the say universally it is a problem or just a source of problem? Why am I curious? I have a rocket, and a set of fine wires on lowers and massives on uppers. No Gami's but my gami test shows 5 cylinders peaking within 0.2gph but the 6th is 0.7gph late to peak. Almost great. I can run LOP smoothly at 55% and below but not more power than that. I was blaming the injectors and about to get new gamis but could it really be my lowers set of fine wires?!

Quote: jetdriven Once below 65% power (Lycoming says peak is authorized at 75% power and below) you can put the mixture where you wish. The BSFC curve is lowest between ~15-50 LOP. So for mose efficiecy, you can cruise at around 15 LOP. If you wish to go a little faster, peak may be better. A little faster still, maybe some more RPM.

Quote: jetdriven Once below 65% power (Lycoming says peak is authorized at 75% power and below) you can put the mixture where you wish. The BSFC curve is lowest between ~15-50 LOP. So for mose efficiecy, you can cruise at around 15 LOP. If you wish to go a little faster, peak may be better. A little faster still, maybe some more RPM.

How many Bravo's were delivered? Is there not enought market for Hartzell to create a new propeller or certify one of their existing ones for the Bravo? Seems to me most of the Acclaim's performance came from the propeller and a new cowling design. Any thoughts? Below is a link to a Socata TB-21 propeller, I don't see why it shouldn't work on Bravo, of course, they would need to create a specific one for Bravo, 76inches instead of 78inches http://www.hartzellprop.com/top_prop_details.php?id=70

We fly with two dogs, little ones, boston and a rat terrier. They are bit active on the ground, looking out of the windows, etc but once in the their, I think the dogs are bored because for them there is nothing really to see, so they just fall asleep until landing...