M20F-1968

I have the P2 system, and the gentlemen who states once, "Gear is down for landing" can fade into the background. It is harder to ignore the female voice nagging, "Check Gear...Check Gear...Check Gear...Check Gear........" John Breda

As with most things regarding aviation, and particularly if you expect to own the plane for many years, but the proper tools to avoid injury to yourself and damage to the plane. John Breda

This may be of interest: I have a firewall from my 1968 F model. When I did my rebuild, I installed a virgin new F model firewall I found. The footwells are in good shape. I have many times thought that I would remove the footwells on my plane and attach them so they could be removable with threaded fasteners. This would provide access and work space that I do not have currently (for things like changing the fuel pump or inspecting the dreaded oil screen). But, my airplane is now together and I do not plan on removing the engine for a very long time. I would be willing to sell the firewall if you were interested. Removing the firewall is not something you take lightly. The firewall flange is likely wet shot with PRC and would be a pain to remove, and also would give rise to some needed exterior painting. John Breda

What does that data link look like of the Ipad and how do you access it? Or, is it incorporated into ForeFlight. I have both an ipad mini-3 and an Ipad Pro 7. The Ipad pro has OS 14.1 and a faster processor. But it is much larger (which may be a downside). Should I be using the Ipad Pro because of more capability? John Breda

I have a G600 and GTX345. I do not have the Flightstream. How does the bluetooth backup work? John Breda

It seems like MT has improved over the years. When I did my rebuilt I considered the MT. I spoke with a Power plant DER who had been working on seaplanes that had MT props and were experiencing a delamination problem. I was also told that the STC for my turbonormalizer was issued with the Hartzell, and if I changed the prop I would likely have to prove to the FAA that it worked well with the turbonormalized engine. That would likely require high altitude vibration testing. I decided to stay with what was already certified and not make the project more difficult. That seemed to be the right decision in 2006. Is it still likely to be the correct decision in 2021? John Breda

Also, O took some ABS plastic and made about a 2" circle, and ground the back to fit the contour of the interior panel and so the aluminum end has a flat space to sit on. John Breda

I used a leather belt for strength, wrapped in in the same leather as the seats (Hand sewn along one side) and machined a new set (lathe and milling machine to make a real slot that fits the belt) and now have parts that look like they were made for the application with a real handle that will not break. John Breda

The retracted gear should not be sitting that low. Please see pictures of my 1968 F on jacks with gear retracted. I also have the STC for the brake caliper reversal. Note, you can not see the tire. John Breda

For those who want electroluminescent panels made (I did the overhead and circuit breaker panels), the company I used was Air Capitol Dial, Wichita, KS. Great company to work with My circuit breaker panel is light colored. They made it so the lettering appears black in daylight, and backlit white at night. John Breda

The Mooney part you pictured is expensive and poorly made. When I bought my Ovation interior from a salvage yard, that panel came with it, but it never worked as the electroluminescent was cracked. Why was it cracked? The backplate on the factory part is plastic and it will heat up and warp. Gravity allows the warm plastic to stretch. I made a new part using the original switches and mounting box, but made the mounting plate fir the Electroluminescent display out of aluminum. It is insulated, and will never warp. Looks sharp at night. I'll send pics. The switches are marked, but the same marking in on the Electroluminescent display. Further, there are only 6 switches, and they are all lights. It is not a 737 overhead panel. John Breda

With the Ovation panels it is pretty easy. John Breda

The wires are run behind the fiberglass that runs between the windshield and the door. It is small enough the that it makes one harness that is spiral wrapped together. Really no big deal. John Breda

Well I have a partial answer: Specmat 10-900-59/1 and 10-900-60/1 it seems will both work. The 60/1 I think is the 4" version. There is also a TSO DD-1W which apparently is a replacement, but I have seen it listed for non-certified aircraft. Anyone know more than that to advise the best replacement for the least money? John Breda

I have the 4" Specmat Technologies Discharge Wicks on my airplane. I am not at the hangar. Can anyone get me the proper part number? Are there any others that would work. I changing shirts at the hanger, put my arm in a sleeve, mildly hit the base of the wick on the rudder and it broke in half in a millisecond. Really do not want to pay $55 bucks for this problem. John Breda

Don, Too bad we don't live closer. We could have some fun doing this kind of stuff. John Breda

The washers you point out are Cool. Good to know about. John Breda

Does that mean there is no change in impedance with two mics plugged in? John Breda

Don, I have the Rosens and had difficulty getting the right friction on the side mount screws, until I added some nylon washers. The Nylon has enough give that you can tighten it down, but it will still move. I am thinking that can be done making a seat for the ball in the articulated joint. Tougher to do without a milling machine, but I guess it could be done with a milling machine bolted down to a drill press since you would only be making round holes with say a 90-degree end mill. John Breda

I have the panel mounted David Clark powered headsets and also have a Bose powered LEMO plug and the standard two jack system. Obviously I can only plug in one headset in rach station at a time, but have a choice of what I can use. The DC plug provides power to the headset and connects the mic to the radios. What I was thinking of is a Y-cable connected between the airplane DC powered jack and each of the two mics that has a switch to change the mic connection from the headset mic to the mask mic, or a cable that is hard wired connecting the DC powered jack on one end and the headset and mask mic into each end of the "Y" which eliminates the headset mic. It may be something I will have to build. John Breda

It has been about 5 years since I have used Corrosion X. The plane is in a heated hangar in Massachusetts, but I do need to do it again. Can anyone describe the process. I assume I can do it in sections. I know the autopilot servos need to be protected. I am told the avionics do not need to be, buy the thought of spraying that stuff into or onto expensive avionics does not sound right. How much do you need and at what location and entry site? John Breda

This is not specifically on point, but I am in the Boston area and there are some great locations for a day or weekend fly-in. Nantucket, MA, Martha's Vinyard, MA, Block Island, RI, East Hampton, NY, other NE airports along the coast, Rockport, ME, Chatham, MA etc... Once the Covid thing passes, it would be good to arrange something. John Breda

I have not used the Precise Flight System as MH posted some research data that suggested that their system was more reliable. I do not recall the details just now as it was 4 years or more since I read it. In any case, when I have the opportunity I will try it. I too have a MH back-up O2 rescue bottle sold by MH called Co-pilot. I do not see it any longer on their site which makes me wonder if the bottles are still available. I also have a small 10" or so high medical bottle with regulator which I also have not used. I guess I have some homework to do to compare these. Back to me posted question, when using a mask with a microphone, what cable is used to make the connection to the mask microphone and bypass the headset microphone? John Breda

What do you guys use as a electrical cable to connect to the mask microphone (and bypass the headset microphone? I use DC headsets with in panel power jacks (But I also have Bose Connectors installed). The cable I use must disconnect the microphone from the circuit and connect the mask microphone (either by switch or hard wiring). John Breda

I have both the O2D2 system and the Precise Flight. I started using to O2D2 and found it so easy to use that I never have used the Precise Flight system. Do you recommend the Precise Flight over the O2D2. If so, perhaps I will give it a try. John Breda