rocketman

This is the current install as of this week. Hard to appreciate what will be coming. Glad this is not a self install project

What a cool thread. I am in the process of getting many things installed in my new Rocket which I will post pictures, prices and recommendations in future posts. But for now, let me put on my comical hat and revere that I am currently installing a new GTN 750 Garmin in one ring, and in the other "extreme challenge" is the Aspen PFD. I am also re-weighing my plane to really see how the POH really stacks up over 31 years to current gravity measurements. The plane is currently in Kentucky for the radio's and the interior is being sent to Aerocomfort for a new interior. Thats just the start. More to come. And with Pictures! But always remember, we fly these things for the fun (and business) and our investments which never will pay dividends or capital gains. We each have our bias and desires, but are not married to our radios. These are things, all very sophisticated and do the same things with a few exceptions. My family, like yours, are our really treasures. Lets not loose focus of our enjoyable pleasures that we are fortunate to own and fly.

Hey Seth - Where did you get your cowl flaps for your Missle. I just bought my Rocket and need cowl flaps for it. Ron

What I do is to burchase a little ceramic heater from Wal-Mart and put it on a stand below the cowl flaps. Put a good blanket over the engine and leave this little warmer run. Only costs a little in energy, and keeps the entire engine compartment warm. No fluctuations in temperature and maybe even better than evening coolings with day time warnings you get in the fall and spring.

I like the products on semaerospace.com as noted above. But who would I send the panels to for painting. There are only two small craks on my royalite that need repair. Alternatively, does anyone have any experience with covering the royalite in leather?

I am in the process of removing all the yellow stained plastic side and ceiling panels and would like to know who are some of the experienced and friendly shops around the country that can repair the occasional cracks as well as to paint it to like new condition. I have been looking into a paint made by Sherwin Williams called "Jetflex" which is a specialty paint for plane interiors. Does anyone have any experience with this product or are there any other paints available for our interiors? Thanks.

Thanks for everyones help. On the nose gear issues that Don Maxwell article referenced, it did not apply to the K models but its worth checking it out anyways. I'm sure I will be replacing lots of expensive parts and thats OK. I guess I would like to be sure that it CAN be fixed before I go overboard and start updating the panel to glass. Its never had a gear up landing that I'm aware of anyways and the plane has obviously been cared for. The previous owner just recently put in a new Victor Black Edition II engine.

Weill, I just got my new rocket this week and fast is not the word, nor is economy. But I love it. I have a question for anyone who can help me. Before this plane I have owned (and still do) a 1982 201 and have 1800 or so hours on it. I would consider myself pretty efficient on landing in a Mooney. However, when landing the rocket, once the front tire touches the ground the plane tends to go off in one direction. Gentle correction on the rudders seems to overcorrect in the opposite direction. and this continues until the plane has slowed down. The front wheel looks fine, all tires are new and with correct air pressure. No abnormal tire wear problems are seen. My landing speeds are a knot or so above my J model so my ability to react to Rocket landing speeds is not a factor.The tire wear is fine and the plane otherwise flies well. I do use a slight pitch up attitude on landing to avoid excess weight on the nose gear. What am I doing wrong or are there some things on the plane I need to check to correct this "horizontal porposing". Has anyone else experienced this and what do you do about it. Or maybe I just need to get used to landing with this giant of an engine in front of an equally sized 201 body frame.

I agree with the above, do not preheat your engine overnight. One or two hours is optimum, beyond that creates problems according to several overhaul shops. There are timers available to activate the preheaters from the warmth of your home before heading out. Well worth it

I recently purchased a Rocket and although this post was a while ago, the utility, economics of speed vs. cost, the long term safety record and the pleasures of flying one of the fastest single engine piston powered aircraft in the world cannot be overstated. THe Rocket is and has been one of the best flying machines ever.

They come by crawling up the wheels and typically looking for unwrapped food, gum, etc. I do not allow anyone to eat or bring in any foods or pop in fear that my little kids might leave some of it in the plane. You can also try getting some sheets of aluminum maybe 12 inches wide and wrap them around each tire. Its a pain but if the plane is going to sit for a while (never a good idea), this might keep them from harming your interior. And btw, if there is any damage, your insurance usually will help you out. Check with them.

I have 10 hours on my Victor Black II Edition TSIO-520-NB on my rocket and the oil has stabilized running ROP within 10 hours. The company in CA told me not to run LOP and to switch to Phillips XC mineral oil with AD to be sure the engine has broken in. To run a semi-synthetic will stop the break in process at 10 hours and was not advised in case the engine was not completely broken in but yet benefit from the multigrade oils here in the upcoming cold months in Kentucky. After another 25 hours running with Phillips and if there is insignificant oil burn, I plan to switch to Exxon Elite as several articles have alluded to that this oil is the best for those of us who don't fly too often. Better anti-corrosion protection.

Hey Rocketman - Good for you and welcome to the club! Funny your tagline since the week after I got my rocket back in April, my wife got me one of those Sportys hats with a little Mooney stiched into it, my tail number, and the line "rocketman" - so my wife thinks I'm rocketman! Just for us poor rocket owners with the normal stock engine from Continental - what is a Victor Black II Edition engine? Thanks, Erik Check out Victor Engines at http://www.victor-aviation.com/nav.shtml?company.shtml And for the record I do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose in their business!

I have owned a 201 model for 22 years and recently took a ride in a Rocket - just for fun - compliments of a friend. Wow, what a rush, impressive, and unbelievable speeds. Like its speed, I went out and purchased a 1980 Rocket the very next week with a brand new Victor Black II Edition engine. For limited payloads, this is the ultimate personal aircraft. More to post as I learn more about this exciting time machine!