M20F-1968

Probably not a good idea..... The tail tie-down is not designed for that purpose. You might get away with it, but the tail tie-down is designed to accommodate vertical loads, not the horizontal load of pulling the airplane. When you are venturing away from the world of that which is known and tested, you take your chances. John Breda

It sounds like part of your "road block" is your desire to make things better. I had a similar issue when I did my rebuild, but I also had a DER, a DAR, and two IA's to guide me as to what I could do and what I should not do. You can not install home-made parts unless you have a DER's approval who specializes in that system. Thus, you use the DER when a special certification is necessary. It needs to be a big enough issue to get the DER involved. You can do many modifications on an aircraft provided you follow the rules and have people with the appropriate credentials approve your plans before they are put into place, and have an IA approve the actual installation once it is performed to insure it was accomplished per the DER's pre-approval. There are many things that can go wrong with an unapproved installation performed by well intended individuals who simply do not know what they do not know. I am not applying that logic to your examples, but that is the lay of the land to ensure that modifications do not go awry. It sounds like you are concentrating on small battles that need not be battles at all. Just buy the approved parts, play the game, and save your emotion and energy for the major modifications that you know you want to accomplish. Again, you need to find your team of people who can lead you through the mine field unscathed. John Breda

When I started my project I spent several years with A&P's who knew nothing of how to manage a project of magnitude I set off out to accomplish. I bought the plan in 2003, had one A&P work on it who accomplished very little in six months and charged me more than he was worth. I pulled the aircraft away from him and hired another person who at first glance seem to be able to do good work, but in the end was both a scoundrel and a thief. I secured $38,000 judgment against him which I am trying still to collect (Texas is one of the two debtor states in America). He now owes me about 55,000 due to statutory interest. I had another A&P mechanic who supposedly was an avionics "expert" but never did get anything installed into the airplane despite having been paid for work not done. In 2007 I dismantled anything on the aircraft that they touched. I started over with new people and was determined to make an exceptional aircraft. I found an excellent sheetmetal person who was working in that capacity for Gulfstream and an AP/IA with a good deal of Mooney experience. We got the aircraft ferried to Central Texas and ultimately flew it to Boston. Like the saying goes, you have to kiss a lot of toads.... I now have a cadre of people I rely on to work on the airplane and reluctant to let anyone else get involved unless they come highly recommended with good with references. It simply takes time to get to that point. You also need to learn as much as you can about the aircraft you own which will make informed decisions about maintenance easier. I suggest you hang in there long enough until you get the support crew you need. The "thorn" is not the airplane itself, but rather the people you have engaged to help you that are apparently making the project more difficult and more expensive than it needs to be. See it for what it is and rise above it. There are plenty people on this site who can direct you to individuals who have the knowledge, and the desire to help. John Breda

I am a senior AME in the Boston area. The truth is that there are only a few conditions which will be a road block on the path the an FAA medical. The FAA wants to review many situations that are outside of the CACI protocols (which the AME can issue if conditions are met) but they do not want to deny medical certificates if at all possible. You have to give them the information that they request, but with most medical conditions the airman will likely be approved. Beware of AME's that hold themselves out as experts in getting pilots successfully through the Special Issuance process. Many use it as a way to capture more patients and more money. You just need an AME who practices good medicine, can advocate for you with the FAA, and is willing to follow-up with the FAA in an appropriate way if needed. No AME is going to tell the FAA what it should do in any case. Feel free to contact me with any questions or problems by sending a PM here. Alternatively, my e-mail is john.breda@gmail.com and my cell is (617) 877-0025. John Breda

And Dow Corning DC-4 to to use as a thin film of the oil filter gasket or you will have a hard time removing the oil filter. DC-4 is now apparently DUPONT MOLYKOTE® 4 (FORMERLY DOW CORNING DC-4) as shown in the Aircraft Spruce catalog https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/dc4.php?clickkey=4253507 John Breda

What is your road block? Sounds like it is an unavailable A&P. You really should get it finished, own it for a while, and then determine if you want to sell. depending upon your expenditures, you likely will not get your money back. You have a better chance of getting your money if the project is finished, flyable and very nice. But, you did this to keep (am I correct)? You will never get the value of your labor if you sell it off. I met many obstacles during my rebuilt. Think of them as just another bump in the road. John Breda

You need the MH inline regulator supplied with the O2D2. I use it in addition to the one in the aircraft as part of the built-in system. John Breda

Up to 18,000 ft., the canula supplied by MH. John Breda

I have the MH O2D2 and find it quite useful. My Oc sats stay about 94% to about 96% which is where I want them. The oxygen saved is dramatic. No one has mention that you can hear the puff of oxygen with each breath. It is soothing and relaxing, and give an immediate indication that the system is working. I also have the Aerox mechanical system which I have not used since the MH O2D2 works so well. I bought both on e-bay. They come up occasionally. I paid less than retail, but the retail price for the MH system is likely worth it. My oxygen system was taken from an Ovation and retrofitted into my F model. I downsized from the 115 cubic foot bottle to a 50 cubic foot bottle to save weight. With the MH O2D2 this size is sufficient. John Breda

Take out the turn co-ordinator (or as I did with an S-TEC autopilot, hide it behind the panel) and replace with an electric AI. I have the Garmin G600, a 3" vacuum AI (as I also have a vacuum step), and a Mid-Continent 2" AI. Two that run on electric power and one that is vacuum. John Breda

I got the 3 connectors removed and the G600 out without any difficulty. I did from underneath the panel looking and reaching up. I now see how the mechanism latches. My question now is: 1) Is it best to push the slider/lock in and then install the connector, or 2) Is it better to leave the slider/lock alone and let it snap into place when the connector is pushed on sufficiently? I seems that is is probably best initially to not press in on the slider/lock so that you can gently feel how the connector goes over the pins initially. Want to make sure it goes on straight with no un-necessary force. John Breda

The steel roll cage is basically the same in all the models. On the Ovations and newer, it is about 1" wider to accommodate more wiring. The rear seats, including the rear seat back is not structural. The steel cage is the same in the F model with split back seats as the bench seat model. I am not an engineer, but you can certainly confirm with the factory. John Breda

Does anyone have a picture of the connectors involved? John Breda

Need some help from all of you. I need to remove my G600 from my panel in order to access two nuts mounted to through bolts in the firewall to install a new shower of sparks. The G600 is mounted from the panel front, but there is not enough of a service loop to pull it out and unhook the connectors. Can someone send me a YouTube video or pictures of how to manage the locking mechanism on the G600 connectors so I have a better sense of how it remove them? Finding a local avionics person to help has been difficult. John Breda

It has not been specifically mentioned in this thread that some ANR headsets like some of the David Clarks (H10-13 and H20-10) are built around the passive noise cancelling ear cups that were used before ANR headsets were popular. Thus, you have the same passive noise cancellation of the pre-ANR era plus the noise cancellation of the ANR system now installed in them. John Breda

I sold one full set last winter and then had little time to pursue the sale of the rest, so I still have them. Which ones are you needing? What plane and which locations? If you have part numbers please send them. The ones I have have been rebuilt with the associated paperwork. You can reply here, or to my email: john.breda@gmail.com or call me at (617) 877-0025. Thanks, John Breda

I have only used the speed brakes this way perhaps ten times, a couple were without realizing they were out, but I think I am correct in saying that the landings have been consistently good. I have not used less than full flaps very often as I want to minimize float and perhaps should spend more time with 1/2 flaps. I am always trying to get the most control without the speed brakes and there is validity to what you say. However, do you see any problem with using the speed brakes in this way and should I keep this approach to landing as a viable alternative when warranted? The obvious liability is the loss of lift in a go around. John Breda

I guess I wasn't as precise in my explanation as I could have been. I am not holding to speed brakes from the FAF, but rather I am suggesting they be used long enough for a stabilized approach with the speed brakes. I am not suggesting that they be extended late and close to the ground. (Although I extended them once at about 400 feet coming into Manchester NH in 2019 when there were significant winds and I didn't want to get blown around.) I am not a crab and kick the rudder at the last moment, but rather I prefer to cross control enough of the approach so I am comfortable with what I have to do to stabilize the approach for the winds encountered. John Breda

Your headset hook looks to be in a good position. Does it clip over the carpet edge holding it on mechanically? If so, would you be willing to print out a copy for me? Please let me know if you could do so. John Breda

Perhaps I was not clear. When I have used speed brakes it was a planned maneuver allowing me to carry more power from the final approach fix. I do not convert the approach type and add the speed brakes after the final approach fix in an attempt to fix an unstable approach. The whole approach is flown with the speed brakes and is stable from the FAF. The approach with the speed brakes is flown in the same manner as without the speed brakes, at similar speeds but with more power. I have only done this with significant crosswinds. The increase power I am able to carry seems to allow me to hold the centerline more easily. I may not be adjusting 1.3 X Vso for weight enough. Without speed brakes in a normal approach, I am not carrying excess power into the flare. If I were I would be asking for a bounce. John Breda

I was introduced to using speed brakes on approach by a knowledgeable high-time Mooney pilot, and in particular in crosswind conditions. I have done it purposefully a few times and also found myself having done it unintentionally when I failed to pull the speed brakes back in during a long descent. These landings have been some of my best. Everything else remained the same except for the addition of the speed brakes. The plane feels heavier, and you can carry more power thus having more control especially in a crosswind. My instructor (a Mooney PPP instructor) suggested I not do this and over the years have gotten better at controlling the airplane without them so I have been using them less. However, there are times when I have used them in order to carry more power in a crosswind landing. My F will still climb on a go-around with full flaps and speed brakes, and the speed brakes are quickly stowed without loosing altitude like the flaps. Am I missing anything? John Breda

Avionics access is a function of how your glare-shield is installed and how your panel is designed. My panel was made so that instrument trays age screwed in place (not riveted) and can be removed so they drop in your lap. Access is through the panel, as well as through the top and below the panel. Mooneys are tight whatever you do but it is much better to ensure that tens of thousands of dollars of avioncs are dry. John Breda

I sued 2 A&P's in the Dallas area and won, but collected nothing. One claimed bankruptcy. The other has been avoiding the judgement and is crooked as hell. If you PM me privately I can tell you one who is still working privately that should be avoided at Dallas Executive. Tx is a debtor's state and it is difficult to collect. John Breda

I just sent you a PM. I have two of the fuel caps you are looking for along with the mounting rings. Give me a call. John Breda