Bob_Belville

I've been led to believe that the bladders in Cessnas are different that the heavy gauge O&N (now Griggs) bladders in Mooneys (STC SA2350CE). Mooney never offered bladders, I don't think, so. It appears the original STC dates to 1988. When I added the extra 10 gallon bladders I got a chance to examine the old ones which date from 1997 and they looked like new. Both Joey Cole and Lynn Mace (@AGL Aviation KMRN) have quite a lot of Mooney bladder experience. I would not think it's a big deal. BICBW...

Mid Atlantic 2020 formation clinic registration now open. The clinic will be May 15-17 at KHKY (Hickory NC). Participation will be limited (to 67 planes) this year so please register asap. If you have to cancel a refund will be made. As was the case last year, this is the only clinic currently scheduled for the entire Eastern and most of the Central time zones so we'll likely have a large group which will give us plenty of planes to make up training sorties. http://www.mooneycaravan.com/

Garmin has a MSer's M20F in their possession now for installation of a GFC 500. The owner expects to get his plane back by August, I think.

I have a '66E, serial 929. A previous owner, meticulous Delta Captain, provided a N943RW specific manual. Vx - clean is 94 mph CAS, Vx - take off flaps - is 80 mph CAS. Probably not a coincidence.

Don, I too was able to log in to the new site just now. But a google search on mooneypilots took me to the .com (old site) and I had to enter the full mooneypilots.org url to get the right site. (MAPA needs to put a message on the .com or do an automatic reroute.) The site itself is badly in need of a few hours of attention. Much info is old, the list of vendors has only a few links,...

I did a gear up with this 1 piece belly installed by a PO in 1997. It worked very well to minimize damage. New ELT antenna, tail pipe (PFS extends more than stock muffler which might not have scraped pavement), and build up skids with FG. Installation labor to convert will be significant.

Great to hear that they've caught up. I'm a long time, happy Aspen owner. You're commenting on my post from 6 months ago... it was presented as anecdotal and it was a question... I don't know where your crack about fooling anyone comes from... (!!!!?)

Just this month SureFly added the M20K to Mooneys that can replace a mag with a SEM6. Since variable timing is based upon MAP the turbo models are approved for fixed timing only. While that might be disappointing there are still several good reasons to go ei even with fixed timing. The reason most Js are not candidates for ei is the dual mag set up. In certified aircraft EI can only replace one mag.

There are MS folks in both areas who should be helpful re local mechanics...

@FlyByMike, we can be more helpful if you'll add some info to your id. Where are you based? We have MSers almost everywhere and we know some shops we can recommend to do your pre-buy. M20Es are highly prized by those of us who are lucky enough to take care of one and many others who wish they were so lucky. I bought my current '66E 8 years ago with a low time engine and many mods. It was a great candidate for a forever last plane and worthy of a fresh panel and a nice paint job. Good luck!

Hey, I don't know it Tamara mentioned it, but 49V is hostage until you agree to do one more weekend in North Carolina before you head to Montana...

Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Mark your calendars for 2020 MAG Clinic: When? May 15-17 Where: KHKY Hickory NC Details to follow but we intend to repeat everything we did last year - registration will include catered dinners Friday and Saturday by Crosswinds Cafe at the airport. We'll have sponsors for lunches and breakfasts those days as well. Jim Rigoulot is Wing Lead and I will serve as clinic coordinator. Caravan will limit the total number of planes this year so you'll want to register as early as you can. (MAG is still the only clinic east of the Mississippi and is about 1/3 of the Caravan.) I'll update here when the Caravan Website is set for Clinic and hotel signup.

Ned, that's about the same as mine.(Mine is for $95k hull.) You're not 75 are you?

Thanks for posting @mike_elliott, I registered Nancy and me for our 7th straight, out of 8 Summits. The event at PCB has always been Nancy's favorite Mooney gathering.

The market goes up and down. You youngsters might be interested to know that I paid $1262 premium for $25k hull on N943RW in 1982. That's 38 years ago and 1/4 the hull value of my current '66E.

I think Mimi's Caravan experience was back in the gaggle days...

@Steve B, my increase at renewal exceeded 50% but given the context, I had enjoyed a very reasonable rate for several years and I will be 77 years old in a few weeks. My broker sought quotes from all the usual underwriters and tells me "over 75" is a big factor in a "seller's market". FWIW, my 3000 hours in make and model and the numerous safety/training events I took in this year and the recognition as a Wright Brothers Master Pilot, which would normally be taken into account did not help this year. Edit: while it was a large %age increase I am grateful to have coverage and the new premium is affordable @ $1914 for $95k hull through Global. (Last year was $1056.) Again, at 77 I am grateful to be still flying. I would not be comfortable with the alternative of going with liability only and self insuring a $100k plane.

Ah Mimi, come to HKY for the formation clinic and fly the new and improved Caravan to KOSH. I'm probably going to camping unless Nancy wants to go in which case we'll be in the dorms. FWIW, I use PayPal quite a bit and like it. (It worked great for getting about 50 Mooney pilots to pay their clinic registration, all fast and free.) @mike_elliott likes Zelle for Summit which I have set up but have not used.

Joe (Hawk) painted my old E in 2018. I found him very responsive. I much prefer email and text message. Have you tried to contact through the website? (They were booked out several months and I suppose they get a lot of tire kickers so initial contact by phone might be a good idea. He's also moved to Zephyrhills from Tampa Exec and expanded space and staff so he might not do all the sales work anymore.) But, it's been a while and thing might have changed.

Sorry to hear the news of another drome being turned into nothing that couldn't have just a well gone somewhere else. I've used Wilgrove several times, most recently to ferry Dr_Bill's E model to MRN where Jon took ownership after he returned from overseas. In the '70's there was a Mooney Dealership there where I rented a G model a time or two. Good memories.

Jon beat me to it. Lynn @AGL Aviation, as of the last I heard, had had only one plane with issues with Surefly - the one with massive plugs. Secondly, I believe he was told by SF that the EI worked better with wider gap than spec'd.

54 gallon O&N installed 1997. 11/2017 added 10 gallon option. We had the opportunity to examine the original cells during the new install. They look like new. I expect the bladders to last as long as the airframe and as Chris says even if a cell had to be replaced that would not be a big deal. (With 64 gallons = 7+ hour endurance I no longer fill the tanks until I know how much I will need for the next flight. IMO the rubber need not be wet all the time and is fine because of the fumes. Even with "full" tanks the ceiling area of the outer cells are not wetted.

I think "supporters" are spared from seeing some(?) ads. And I think a donation makes you a "supporter" for a year.

AI contraire. For an serious IFR pilot concerned about not bending his plane, XM/FIS-B are not much more than amusement telling almost nothing about how the ride is going to be... a SS otoh tells her that the “red” stuff is just heavy precipitation or that there’s a cell building. The latter must be skirted, the former might get an inquiry from ATC: “3RW, say flight conditions”; “smooth ride in heavy precipitation.” Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk