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Bob_Belville

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Everything posted by Bob_Belville

  1. Rik, in another thread here we found that many of us, myself included, were flying Mooneys with less than 100 hours TT. So when you know which plane fits your mission and budget you will be able to handle the plane with proper transition training. My concern would be maintaining a commute schedule before you are instrument rated. IMNSHO 3-400 mile cross country flights twice a week cannot be safely conducted VFR in my part of the country. It is my impression that the same would be true along the Pacific coast. But if you can afford to buy a M20E, M20F, M20J -- all of which can cruise @ 175 mph (150kts+) -- and if you understand you'll mostly be still commuting on the airline until you build some time in your Mooney, $80,000 will buy quite a lot of these models. The M2E and the M20F were the predecessors of the famous M20J (201), similar engine (200 hp 4 cyl, Lycoming), similar maintenance cost. Given the fact that you expect to be alone most of the time you should be open to any of these models. All these planes are "old" -- the Es and Fs at least 40 years old and the $80k Js at least 30 -- what you need to look for in addition to to PPI items mentioned are engine time and updated panels and in the case of the older models how many of the 201 features have been added. But plane ownership is somewhat expensive. Hangers might cost $4000 per year, much more in some areas, Insurance for this type plane will be $3000 or so for a year or 2 and stay at about $1500. Your annual will probably run $2000 a year or more, probably much more the 1st year. GPS subscriptions once you're IFR qualified and equipped might exceed $1000 per year for modern GPS units... And that's before you bought the first gallon of avgas. Here's a link that will help you sort through the complex history of the M20: http://www.mooneyevents.com/chrono.htm
  2. Heh, heh, heh... trying a little Delaware potty humor?
  3. Initial Pirep: I got to fly this morning. While on the ramp CO Detector readings were mostly single digit, up to 25 ppm max. (25 ppm the level which Cal/OSHA allows for 8 hour exposure.) After taking off the level (as measured laying on right seat) remained at zero. I will play some more including while holding it in the heater duct air stream. I'm very pleasantly surprised. $80 and the probe is supposed to be good for 5 years. And I can use it around the home where I use natgas for heat, water heater, clothes dryer, cook top, gas logs...
  4. I think it does. When my avionics shop calibrated the new JPI EDM 930 fuel quantities they could get no more than 26 gallons per side. I have the older style filler caps on O&N installed in 1997.
  5. Bill, the original E capacity is 52. I thought our bladders took that to 54?
  6. Sorry, I was at dinner. As B26 found it turns off after 15 minutes of idle. Which could be fine. We'll see. I appears the target market is for checking for leaks around heating and exhaust duct. I can see sampling during taxiing then at the heater or defrost outlet now and then at cruise. Since you are suppose to let it do a startup cycle in zero CO environment it might be necessary to turn it on with the fresh air port open on it. I did turn in on and took it to my basement where I got only zero around my gas HW heater and furnace. I may have to break down read the manual.
  7. I just ordered/received a UEI UTLC11. $79 from Zoro. At that price I'm anxious to see if it will be appropriate for a plane. It is sold for commercial/industrial use. Looks like it ought to be much better than the disposable cards. We'll see. http://www.ueitest.com/products/utl-brand/utlc11 Anyone familiar with this type detector?
  8. With the Aircraft Spruce units you leave the ashtray body in. Just push down on the tab and take out the insert and snap the light in the old frame. But at least on the E, after you take out the insert you can get to the screws that hold in the body. I polished up the chrome rims.
  9. Is it still working? Looks like the new one is 1.2 AMU+. Just saying...
  10. I replaced front seat ashtrays with snap in direct replacement lights: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/search/search.php?s=ASHTRAY+LIGHTS&x=0&y=0 In the back seat the avionics shop used the ashtray holes for headset jacks.
  11. Do you have to update the DB monthly? Cost similar to GTN?
  12. Here's some pic. ASpruce should be pretty competitive: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/av/antenna_vornav.html Your aircraft log book should have a record of what's on the plane now.
  13. I get airspace depiction on the Garmin moving maps, GTN 750 and GPS 696, but not on the Aspen PFD.
  14. I removed and installed the entire interior of my E. I spent $2500 with a quality custom auto trim shop for leather seats and trim, new headliner, new carpet. Repair and repainting (3 colors matching exterior trim) of the Royalite plastics parts added $500 done by an auto body shop. Flame spread testing of the leather, headliner, and carpet materials was $135. Not fancy detailing, no embroidery, but I am very happy with the difference. Total $3150. plus my time. (My A&P signed off on my work.)
  15. Short answer: I don't know. I do not use an Ipad or Pilot. I do have a Garmin GPS 696 "hard wired" in. The flight plan entered in the 750 displays on the 696 and the 2 displays are independent of each other so I can see a moving map on either devise while doing something else on the other. But NEXRAD and traffic do not show on the 696 and XM music is only accessed on the 696. I have a GDL 88 but not the FS 210. I think Marauder might be taking up a collection to help me upgrade my pitiful panel.
  16. Tom, On the 750 you will be able to display traffic only or weather only instead of seeing those features on the 750's moving map. However I usually have the moving map displayed with traffic and weather superimposed. I may want to zoom in for traffic or out for weather but I seldom go to the discrete screens.
  17. You're right of course. There are plenty exceptions. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet. (Damon Runyon)
  18. My daughter, female, blond, and a lawyer is very tired of stereotyping jokes. Nevertheless... clichés do not become clichés unless there's a lot of truth behind them.
  19. I have a friend who owns a body shop. He's older than I am(!)... in business a long time... has a firm policy, based on several bad experiences, he does not work on cars belonging to lawyers. Life's too short.
  20. I had GPilot on my phone for 30 days but did not subscribe when free trial ended. The subscriptions for the 750 and the 696, no package discount for that combo, is breathtaking exceeding the cost of my annual or my insurance! Adding anything that has a subscription is a tough sale here.
  21. I use FltPlan.com on my wintel laptop to store and file ifr flight plans. They are normally departure airport, perhaps one wp, and destination. If ATC complicates it fltplan.com will email changes. It takes only a couple of minutes to put a new plan in the 750 or if I have flown the route before I will have it stored. I really doubt I could save any time transferring a plan from a phone or pad. I don't use a knee pad any more, I don't have anything hung on a yoke. I have only a very small ring binder and a pen. The front of the binder is for a flight log, date, tach, Hobbs. The back page is for a scratch pad mostly to scribble ifr clearance. - dep freq, hdg, altitude, expect higher in 10 ... squawk code. Life is really simple with 750, Aspen, GPSS. I have lots of time to take pics of the panel for my MS friends.
  22. I don't use Garmin Pilot or have an IPad... what am I connecting?
  23. I have a (touch screen) GTN 750 and a 696 backup mounted on the right panel. I like the touch screen on the 750 but think it would be more difficult on the 696 because of where it is. I use the 969 to access XM radio and to get waypoint (airport) info and to display approach plates. I don't think the 796 would be as useful for my application. I don't use Ipad etc. so I really prefer to have the 2 Garmins which talk nice to each other.
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