M20F-1968

Better to make them. Use 0.040" thick aluminum. Use Machinist's Blue Dye and a sharp scriber. Trace out the parts. Cut, file or grind very slightly larger thn needed to permit hand filling with a file. Take your time, save alot of money and end up with a better product that fits your application. John Breda

1+ on this cable as well. It is fused, connects with ring terminals, and has the advantage of being small enough to fit through the space between the external power connector and the external skin. It can be folded and stored inside the external power connector. Signed off by when I did my rebuild. It can with the BatteryMinder when purchased. John Breda

I have both the circular type and the electronic type. John Breda

I have one I would be willing to sell. John Breda

I have been concerned about lithium batteries so the only thing I have with me with lithium is a laptop and an Ipad. Can you post info about the fireproof items you pruchased? John Breda

I have a Skytec XLT starter which was used for about 30 hours before I remade my engine baffling and replaced it with an inline starter. I have the J model type airbox and air filter and there was not enough room for the LS-PM starter (I can confirm part No.). Since it was installed the air filter had to be undermined to clear the starter. That has all been fixed now. So I am no longer using this starter which is as good as new. Anyone interersted? You can PM me, call me at (617) 877-0025 or e-mail me at john.breda@gmail.com. John Breda

I would also be concerned about the lithium battery, or is that really not an issue? John Breda

I am not sure that I replaced the guides to the ailerons, but I did replace the ones in the belly. The material that the factory used (I am blanking on its mane just now) is abrasive and the material itself can wear the rods. John Breda

I made this replacement part as a hand lay-up fiberglass part.

I have a set of serviceable disks for an F model that I replaced with chrome disks if interested. John Breda

I used (with DER sign off) nylon blocks for the control tube guides. The hole is slightly smaller, but still large enough to function. Thus, protecting the tube better against the steel structures. It is not as abrasive as the factory blocks. John Breda

Take a look at my gallery pictures. The interior parts that I used were out of a 1998 Ovation. The panels are fiberglass, are plenty durable, and can be cut, resized, fitted to your airframe, and remodeled as needed. I think this is the easiest route to getting a well fitted interior as opposed to using plastic parts from Plane Plastics or a similar source which only allows you the option of cutting and trimming. Some people have used aluminum for the lower panels with cutouts and inserts for the recessed armrests. Those parts can be made as a hand lay-up or you can make claim old or similar make the four parts that you need. These then can be inserted into the aluminum panel and covered. If you're interested, I had an extra set of Ovation ceiling panels which I would be willing to sell. They've been cut to J model length. They provide a nice contoured ceiling. The center ceiling console can either be made or purchase from a factor. If you are interested, please contact me here, e-mail me at john.breda@gmail.com, or call me at (617) 877-0025. Thanks. John Breda

My 68 with twisted wing has one stall strip on each side installed by the factory. John Breda

My 68 F has flush rivets, twisted wing, hydraulic flaps and manual gear. I think it was actually made in 1967 however and called a 68. John Breda

Whoever has the Backwards Tail book, I too would like to read it and pass it on when it is available. Cell: (617) 877-0025 e-mail: john.breda@gmail.com John Breda

I did my instrument training in a Grumman Tiger. At that point I had only flown a Mooney 1 hour. The Grumman is very light on the controls, fun to fly, not as stable on the ground and a lighter airplane with much less capability. It is easier to get in on a dry day, but you wish you were climbing in a Mooney is a bad rain storm. My F model (now really a J with manual gear and hydraulic flaps) is heavier on the controls (due to the push rod linkages) but is equally as sensitive. Elevator and aileron controls in both is just a nudge in level flight. The Mooney however is much more stable, has much more range (I have long range tanks), is a better IFR platform, and mine is turbonormalized so has much better service ceiling. Both are slippery airplanes and are floaters, but surprisingly so, I think the Mooney may be more so than the Grumman despite the fact that it is a heavier airplane. Structurally, there is no comparison. The Mooney is the preferred airplane in my opinion overall. John Breda

I obtained them from LASAR around 2007. FWIW: I have a set of the smaller caps (www.newton.com) with key lock being used on the new production airplanes, and those planes with fuel bladders installed. I can be reached at john.breda@gmail.com or at my cell (617) 877-0025. John Breda

I have a pair that I have not used. They are left over from my rebuild. I'll take pictures of them when I am next at the hangar (likely this Sunday) if you would like. You can reach me here, or at my cell phone (617) 877-0025 or at my e-mail: john.breda@gmail.com Thanks, John Breda

Factory J model cowling, completely rebuild before installing. It is a J (MSE) except for 1) Johnson bar gear, 2) hydraulic flaps, 3) no inner gear doors. John Breda

I did this from Aluminum. There are 6 screws holding it to the floor. The J bar boot is new (made myself) and works perfectly. It took along time to figure that one out as it needs to be below the floor at all times so it does no get in the way. The leather can only be about 0.040" thick. There is only about 0.040" of an inch clearance between the aft cut-out in the aluminum and the J bar, which is why the circular area in the opening is present. Lots of fussing. trial and error. John Breda

I'll chime in and give support for the uncommon Mooney. My F (now really a J) is turbonormalized. So far at least I have not had much in the way of added maintenance costs. Finding a way to turbonormalize an F or J now is difficult. The parts are available but you will need to put together the necessary parts and documentation yourself, and find a propulsion DER to sign it off. It is a significant upgrade for the J however allowing 27" manifold pressure to 20,000 ft. with the economy of an IO-360. Then once you do that, you will want to upgrade the rest of the plane and avionics John Breda

My experience has taught me not to be in the group that blindly trusts their mechanic. Find a mechanic that knows what he is doing and learn from him. When I did my rebuild, Bill Wheat referred me a a shop in the DC area just for a conversation. They were experienced and easy to talk to. They asked me if this was my first aircraft and I said it was. I responded with my question which was, " so are you telling me that half the A&P's are incompetent and half of the other half are thieves." The man I was talking to laughed and said, "Yeah, that is about right." Treat the people you know are competent and experienced well. That is an important relationship to keep. There are not a lot of such people around. For the others you don't know, keep an eye on them and maintain some skepticism. Even the biggest and fanciest shops need to hire inexperienced help. The larger the shop the less you will know about the person who's actually working on a plane. Even if you do not do the work yourself, you want to get to the point where you know what needs to be done, how to do it, and how to judge the work of others. John Breda

I too would like to receive the J version. John Breda

There are rate based indication on my G600 which are immediate, appropriately reactive and helpful. John Breda

The important thing is to engage the brain with all checklist activities. Realize what you are checking, know that you have checked it by recognizing that you have performed the mental process required (rather than just going through the motions), and recognizing you have checked all the important items for the stage of flight you are entering. John Breda