TWinter

My shop usually sets aside 40 hrs for a comprehensive annual. It is not a MSC, but very thorough and gives complete and typed reports when done. Base price starts at 2K and fluids are not included. A few years ago he was at $1800 and later went to $2000. It's a three man shop and says he actually has a hard time getting everything done in his 40 hr window he allocates. No owner assisted. On the other hand I could go down the road and get it done for $800. The $800 shop actually has a good reputation, but they must be doing something different for there to be that much difference in money. I've been w/ my $2k guy since getting my Mooney. The average seems to be $2-3k so I think his timeframe and pricing is fair. Usually I end up out the door about $3k lighter in the wallet by the time it's all said and done. If I'm going to skimp anywhere...maintenance on my airplane is not where I'll trim fat off my budget..If something goes south while I'm in the air I've never found the breakdown lane to pullover and look under hood/cowl to see what the problem is. -Tom

My E is about 685 lbs with people and cargo with 52 gal filled in the tanks. As most have said lots of variables, but gives a ballpark. -Tom

I've always liked that plane..Never did hit the lottery though. Good luck with the sale, but like Tim says, it's not over until the fat lady sings. I'll buy another lottery ticket this week. Tennessee has had a few winning tickets lately. -Tom

I knew when I posted that comment it would get hit with many posts of resistance. That's okay and I'm thick skinned. Many on the site are IFR. Some like myself are working on it. Paul "gsxrpilot" seems to get the best handle on what I'm saying. I never said that the rating did not require more skill and proficiency testing. I did say that having a IFR stamp on your license does not mean that IFR rating makes you a better pilot over a good VFR. Example: I flew a few months back with a guy who has commercial rating.. Went right through the ranks from PPL, IFR to Commercial and now wanting to get multi. He knew I started working on IFR. He said, " Hey lets go up in my plane and I'll show you some IFR procedures".. I'm okay, lets go!! We take off and I'm watching him get things squared away after we take off..several minutes go by and I notice he has not retracted the gear? ummmm, okay. As the plane climbs very slow and sluggish I'm thinking are we ever going to raise the gear?..Finally he looks down and notices the gear is down, he says " Wow I forgot to put the gear up, there we go, up now, I wondered why we were climbing so slow". We start an approach to a airport maybe 30 miles away..he has the IPad procedure pulled up, starts setting the auto pilot and setting up for the instrument approach"..Tells me what he is doing..I'm just watching and listening. Picks his approach and we start to line up and enter, but wait....we are lined up on the wrong approach for the runway. I'm hearing traffic announcing a different runway as the active, but he continues until someone over the radio questioned his choice of runway and approach..he soon realizes we are set up wrong and we abort the approach. We redid the approach correctly on a 2nd attempt. We then head back to our home dome..at this point I'm just hoping he remembers to put the gear down! No awareness of airspeeds on landing, no GUMPS check etc..He has a IFR and Commercial rating so according to many of these replies he is a safer pilot than I am? Example #2. As I have posted before. My brother is retired Navy. He was a instructor at TopGun and flew the F-18 Super Hornet. While he was on vacation a few years ago I took him up in my Mooney. I let him handle the controls for a few minutes..Now this is a fighter jock with thousands and thousands of military hours and has over 800 carrier landings. When put at the controls of a 200 hp Mooney in GA airspace approaching a non-controlled airport he was in total foreign grounds. Point being... I have no idea what rating you have to have to fly a F-18 Super Hornet, but I think whatever it is has absolutely NO validity in a Mooney M20E in GA airspace. Even though he has thousands of F18 hrs is he a better IFR pilot than most of the IFR guys on here? Now he is flying for JetBlue, he had to actually earn his civilian ratings after retiring from the Navy when signed w/ JB. We have not flown since he retired and joined JB, I'm sure things would be different now. I'm just trying to explain my point of view and say that the IFR stamp is not the holy sign-off of the skill set of the individual. It's how you apply your skill and knowledge. I knew I would get flamed on this post, but the point was the IFR rating "stamp" DOES NOT always make one a better pilot. It allows you more opportunity as pilot. IFR is a great tool. I just spent a ton trying to make my bird a great IFR platform, I've been studying IFR procedures and working on ground portions. I hope to have the rating by the end of 2017. The only thing I can say for sure is if I do earn the rating I wont tell VFR guys the rating will make them "better pilots", I've never flown with them. They might already be awesome pilots. I will tell them it has allowed me more utility with my airplane. To each their own and we all fly for different reasons. -Tom

VFR Three trips from Tennessee to New England (900 mi) one way this past summer. Several FL and GA trips this past summer. IFR hopefully by the end of 2017. Learning new panel. IFR allows you more utilization of your plane, It does NOT make you a better pilot. I've seen plenty of great VFR pilots that know far more than some IFR guys I've met. A pilot's skill is measured by planning and proficiency, not a IFR stamp. It really strikes a nerve with me as a VFR pilot when a IFR guys says, " Oh get your IFR, you will be a better pilot". I say fly safe, plan and be proficient no matter what stamp you have on the license. -Tom

Those pics were during landing, woods and farm land on both sides..After about 20 minutes of flying and no extra charge for bugs, but we started off nice and clean.. We grow them big out here.

When I was living in New England saw several vehicle vs. Moose...... Final score Moose 1, Vehicle 0. Up north the only up side to a car vs. deer accident is the driver of the vehicle gets first option as to whether he wants to keep the deer kill or have Fish & Game remove it.. The thought of Mooney vs. Deer is a scary thought, much less 5 deer. -Tom

We all have different experience levels, but experience never covers the unexpected... Last night at about 5 pm I was taking my other half up for a short night flight to see the city lights.. If you have read any of my prior posts you will know Sheila, my better half is not a avid flyer, but since she had not been up in about 6 months she wanted to join me to see the city lights. As we set up on runway 22 I was checking the before take-off list and all of a sudden over her shoulder outside I suddenly I see a pack of 5 deer coming out of the woods running past us along side the runway. She tried to get a picture, but it scared her so much she couldn't get her phone ready to take a picture and they were long gone. Hunting season is full on and the wildlife are running fast and furious..Please remember to keep it the back of your mind..To say the least she was very nervous the rest of the flight after seeing 5 deer racing parallel to the runway. Many times I've seen a single critter run across the runways, but a pack of 5 deer was quite the sight. The picture below was the setting though..woods all around the runways. -Tom

Five years and hoping for many more. Still get that flutter of excitement when I'm driving to the airport to fly. -Tom

Bob, I think they did this back in 2013 as well. One of the MS guys sent me the heads-up on Facebook to look for this deal after I got the Aspens installed. He got his back then and thought it was a good money saver. I might be the only sucker out of the first 100, but I jumped in the deep end on it. Hopefully the boat will keep floating. I've rolled the dice on worse odds -Tom

Pretty good deal!! ChartData ONE Lifetime $749 Imagine never paying for aviation data again, no matter which devices or apps you use! The amazing ChartData ONE subscription gives FlyQ EFB on the iPad as well as Bendix-King, Dynon, Aspen, AFS, and GRT in your panel. And we're working to add even more choices. Regular Lifetime price: $2,999 Black Friday Lifetime price: $749 First 100 Buyers Only

Ironic to see this today.. I was surfing Youtube last night and came across this video. Watched and enjoyed.. Thanks. -Tom

I'll be sending David a PM and make sure we get a chance to share a photo with a great big steak.. Really looking forward to this trip. Probably don't need two stops, but we are in no hurry and a little stretch every couple of hours would not be a bad thing..

Pretty well locked in now. Made reservations at Y.O. Ranch Hotel as Lori at Mooney suggested. Rental car reserved at Kerrville Aviation. Should be a great time..Our first visit to the Mooney factory, actually first Mooney flight into Texas for me. Another state I can fill in on my "states landed". Still plan to go to T82 as well. I added an extra night at the hotel, Wednesday to Saturday. Also plan to hit up MS McStealth's Cowboy Steakhouse for one of our dinner meals. -Tom

That's me Hank.. Mr. VFR for now, but learning

The schedules and the stars never did align this past summer for this trip so finally getting a Mooney Factory tour lined up for December 15th (next month). Should be a great time. Mooney tour then over to T82 to check things out there. Should be fun...Not sure what the weather will be, hopefully nice Joe Schmerber will be our tour guide. Big thanks to Lori at Mooney for getting this lined up for us. -Tom

I'm just a 100 dnwnd, 90 base and 80 +/- (over the fence on final or as needed) pilot. I listen to the sweet engine noise in my ears as she tells me how I'm doing ... Looks like I really need to work on my technical aspect.

Here is a quick video at the hanger tonight after a short night flight. The Aeroled 46 HX Pulse/Landing Light in action, also quick pic of the interior USB glareshld lights. The dash was well lighted and the dimmer feature was nice.. I do like night flying,, Great night to fly in west Tennessee. -Tom Aeroled_Movie.MOV

Congratulations...all the hard work paid off.. also no messing around, scoring a big 90%. AWESOME! You go zooooom

When I had the panel redone I had the MidContinent MD93 Digital Clock/USB Charger unit installed on the far left of the panel. In my situation it worked out well just plugging the LED USB into the USB on the clock. Output V of the USB is 5v per USB. The power-cord with the dimmer is plenty long enough to use the regular cig lighter with USB adapter port. It would still make for a very clean install. -Tom

Close.. Here you go. https://www.amazon.com/Sewell-LightFrame-Dimmer-Powered-Lighting/dp/B01GP0N8MU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479415763&sr=8-1&keywords=sewell+lightframe Actually I got mine off Fleabay. Here they are on Amazon.. Mine are LED white. -Tom

Yep..Just cut to length. I think I cut maybe a foot off. I used it a few nights ago and it worked excellent. The USB and the ability to dim is the beauty of it. I'm going to try and fly later today or evening..I'll try to get a picture of it in action. Strip Length: 51.2 inches USB Cord Length 19.6 inches Power DC5V USB Powered Adhesive: 3M Adhesive Backing Waterproof: IP65 Color: White LED Quantity: 78 -Tom

Went back through the various threads and see several posts about the Rosen's. Some like and some don't. There was mention that they do not stay tight or in place? Those of you that have looked at them has there been any changes in them or do they still require some help every now and then to keep secured? My factory visors are fine and not cracked, but I do like the style and versatility of the Rosen's. Pricey, yep..but I'm still sitting on a small gift certificate for Plane Plastics that my staff gave me from last years Christmas. Won't cover the whole cost or anywhere near the cost of these, but I need to use it up and I do see Plane Plastics sell them..a slight more pricey than everywhere else I looked at, but might check and see if they will price match or discount and then apply the gift certificate.. Anyway, I like the visors..Are there still stability problems or those that do have them happy? If I pick a set up I'll have a very nice set of OEM from my E available for sale for anyone needing some replacements -Tom

I installed one of these..works great and has a dimmer/on/off built in. Runs low volt off USB port. Tried it the other night..worked excellent. Adhere to bottom lip of glareshield. White/ red or green.

MS at it's finest.. Problem posted, problem solved..