Mooneymite

Yeeeouch! Horrendous. Thoughts and prayers. The morbid side of me wonders if the pilot had been trained by Flight Safety....

Well said! I agree with you as much as is possible on Mooneyspace....obviously I must disagree with something, but I don't know what....yet.

I guess it depends on how you define "capabilities". Yes, I am aware that many of the new boxes have lots of "functions", but does the Aspen allow you to go lower on approaches? Does the Aspen allow you to go to more airports? Does the Aspen increase efficiency enough to allow significantly longer legs? These are the capabilities I was referring to. This is not to say that an Aspen isn't a wonderful "enhancement" to an old panel. It definitely makes the pilot's job easier.

Well, Paypal finally accepted my lousy credit. However, I had to do it under my wife's account name (go figure!)....so, if you see a contribution from "Martha", that's me. I'm not sure what's going on with Paypal, but I only use a limited-line-of-credit credit card on-line for obvious reasons. Apparently, Paypal likes unlimited, or higher amounts. I guess Paypal can identify a CB by my double secret pa$$ word.

I have another take on all this electronic stuff: Cost/benefit. Everytime I see a new box come out, I ask myself, "What capability am I adding to my plane?" When all the NDB's around me got decommissioned, I got a WAAS GPS. There was a real capability added to my plane (LPV is the greatest!). However, when I look at adding an Aspen display, I can't really quantify any new capability. I fly a jet at work, so I have no lust for "gee whiz"....sometimes, I am overwhelmed by the way that stuff sucks my brains out. When I get into my Mooney, I usually need to go from point A to point B (hopefully, IFR/direct). How much glass and glitz do I need, or more importantly to me...how much can I justify?

If you want to see a "variation", look at the Airnav.com fuel finder. Put CTJ in the search window. Avgas goes from $8.99 (yes, really) to $4.90 today. So....if someone is making money at $4.90, how much margin is "someone" seeing priced at $8.99/gallon? Impressive marketing, I'd say.

Might not be special, but it is probably very expensive.

Here's another one from Garmin, starts at about $4000: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141028005398/en/Garmin%C2%AE-Introduces-Cost-Effective-ADS-B-Solution-General-Aviation .............................................................. Industry-First Dual-Link Solution for Certified Aircraft The GDL 84 provides a rule-compliant ADS-B Out solution for aircraft operating below 18,000 feet in the U.S., while offering access to traffic information and subscription-free weather. Innovative dual-link capability allows the GDL 84 to receive on both the 978 MHz UAT and 1090 MHz frequency bands to provide the most comprehensive display of traffic information available in the industry. All-In-One System Installation is quick and easy because the GDL 84 is a straightforward solution that wirelessly transmits weather and traffic information via Flight Stream 110/210 to a mobile device, instead of an installed multifunction display in the cockpit. Additionally, for aircraft owners who do not already have a compatible WAAS GPS position source on board their aircraft, the GDL 84 offers a built-in WAAS GPS receiver. The GDL 84 is an all-inclusive solution, which meets regulatory requirements and gives pilots the added benefits without the cost associated with a large installation. ....The GDL 84 is expected to receive the FAA’s Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certification (AML STC) in Q1 2015.

Thanks. Earlier in Oct....second week, is better for me, but I know that the Dr. is also looking at avoiding the busier "in season" at Panama City. I'm sure the weather will be much better the second week than later. Might be a big ice storm the third week.

Mike, for those of us who have to "stake out" out vacations a year in advance, it would be great if the dates for the next summit could be published earlier. I know you and the Dr. have your own schedules to worry about, but I really don't want to miss another one! Thanks for all you do!

Sounds like a wise replacement. Is this approved for the Mooney? http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/f391.php?clickkey=1837591

Funny you should say this. The broker I bought my Mooney from was a Mooney-nut. He had an older C and and F which he operated out of his own (very short) grass strip. He was a retired engineering type (Ford Motor company, I think) and he told me that he ran auto oil (Havoline 10W-30) ONLY in his personal planes. He'd flown them that way for years. He said the worst modern auto oil was better than the best aviation oil and maintained that aviation-specific oil was nothing but a money making scam. God rest his soul, he passed several years ago. I have no idea who is now flying his planes. I wonder if the present owners know they'd been operated on Mo-oil for years.

If you just want a backup, consider an older, used handheld.

The old M-10 has been around awhile.

Do you have Champion spark plugs? I had a bad resistor in one. The mag checks were okay, but the engine did just what you describe. Fine wires solved the problem, but I just needed to replace one plug. http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11666-ahhhhhh-relief-fine-wires/

Tried, but the paypal is pretty persnickedy about credit cards. Or....maybe my credit is too questionable!

Any yaw issues with that thing mounted on the top of the wing? Any paperwork?

I don't know which quick drain you have, but I found this Q/A on the Aircraft Spruce page for the quick drains: >>>"3/8" ID rubber hose.<<<

I'm noticing that CA annuals are pricey!!

Wow! That's like asking what does an average dinner cost. It depends. However, almost certainly the first one will be high because the first time you take it to a new shop, it will discover things the previous shop missed. There will be things you care about that the previous owner did not. There will be things you want done "just because". Be prepared for a larger than "average bill" until you, your shop and your plane settle out. Once the first couple of annuals are done, they will settle out to some stasis. I'm just guessing the Houston area will be in the $800-$1200 range + gripes. Check with the local Mooney owners.

Once I saw a decked out 787BBJ, I was smitten. Anything else would be a compromise. Oh, you said "small lotto". Sorry.

To chute, or not to chute, is just another cost/benefit analysis we do. Yes, the chute can save our life in certain situations, but at what cost? I think we all did a similar analysis when we opted for a single engine airplane over a twin. Under certain circumstances, that second engine can be a life saver, but at what cost? In this case, the occupants walked away. Good for them. Good for Cirrus. However, in our analysis we have to ask: would they have walked away from this without the chute? Did the chute make all the difference between success and failure? The cost of the acquisition and maintenance of the chute is high. Is it too high for you? Is it too high for the perceived benefits? I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer. Each of us has to come up with our own answer and realize that it is "our answer".

No problems at ISM....but none at ORL either.

I guess we can presume that you know how to come in "on speed"?

Here's the way I look at such plans: Everything on the market is "discounted". The used plane market is very depressed. Pieces/parts are not discounted. Aircraftspruce, Garmin, S-tec, etc. still want full retail. Shops still have to pay their workers full salary, no discount on labor, either. If you just love the thought of building up your own plane to your own specs, have a blast, but realize that it is going to cost you in money, but mostly in headaches and time. If what you want is a M-20J, wait for just the plane you want and buy it at a full discount. (There's a nice "205" for sale in my neighborhood, at a great price.) I have an RV-4 in my hangar that I stopped working on when the airplane market tanked. If I worked my a$$ off and completed the project, I would be a minimum of $40K upside down before I took the first flight. I bought a completed RV-4, got the plane I wanted and saved a bundle. YMMV. Incidentally, if anyone wants the first two RV-4 kits, let me know.