TWinter

Just a quick shout out for another great job by Aero Comfort. The side panels came in today and looking forward to getting them installed. The new yokes and glare shield are already at the shop for install. The plane should be buttoned back up within the next few weeks. Couple of quick pics as the newly covered side panels were opened up today. I dropped the avionics panel off yesterday. The shop was resealing tanks. Figured we would reseal while they had them empty for the calibration. -Tom

Lots of carnage happening on these olds birds lately. Glad to see everyone keeping them flying and upgrading. You will love it. -Tom

Good luck and welcome to the forum.. If you are ever in Dyer County (KDYR) be sure to look me up. Where did you find the F, locally? -Tom

Sam, I've watched this thread and I am glad I did my PP many years ago. Obviously, times have changed and the rules seem more stringent. It looks like you have done everything in your power to get there..Now I'll put my flame suit on because I know you have earned some solid followers on MS. Here is my take..Step away and look at the whole picture of where you are and why? It's seems like every challenge you have been faced with has had some relationship tied to the complexity of the plane, instructor and location. Some of these things you have control of, other parts you may not. "now do a no flaps landing' I said 'unable, the runway is too short of this plane. He said 'BS, you can do one here', I insisted that i was not comfortable doing a no flaps landing on a 2400' runway on a 0 wind day when my GS would be higher than normal. He insisted again but this time insinuated that if i didnt the ride would be over. So i asked 'can i do it with 1 notch of flaps' he said yea. We landed with maybe 300ft of runway left with almost burning up the brakes. Well now my anxietly level is way high. We take off again and this time he asks for a short approach. We get it and he said pull the power. "here?' , 'yes here'; We had just turned down wind and were barely at the halfway point of the runway. I had always pulled power at the numbers; So i pulled the power and prayed to Jesus. I ended up slipping in my turn because i was anticipating wind like we normally have and added rudder (this was my fault) and we ended up fast and low so 'go around'. Well at this point my brain is fried. So he asked for a soft field, botched that up, went around again; This time we just went off somewhere near by and did turns around a point, that went fine; Went back did a short feild landing, that went fine. Test over". "That is exactly where the good stuff ends. I was already jacked up and anxiety running high, but, Upon starting the plane i am going through my check lists and all the sudden the question start flying; 'The fuel flow gage isnt working' The ALT2 light is on, VOR2 isnt passing self test; He was about to get out of the plane at that point, but i said well, we can plaqerd the items as inop, but i cant disable or pull them. So i pull out a bunch of post-it notes and start tagging everything. None of the equipment is needed for VFR flight, and some how he just said 'what ever' and we continued" In a simple 152 or Cherokee 140 or like you do not have complex features you have been faced with or the possible failures..Those planes are simple..no two batteries etc, no complex electronics and very easy to fly and manage speed. Brother, I promise I want you to pass, I would not be following the posts. You are trying to learn on the west coast (busy, busy airspace), you are trying to learn in a higher end plane and it seems like the examiners are extra picky out there, probably because of the busy airspace. You are stuck between a rock and hard place. You appear to know your stuff, take a long weekend or mini-vacation and go someplace and learn in a less complicated plane, maybe pick the brain of a different instructor and consider a less complicated airspace. Do all of this and the when he says "pull the power" you will glide that thing in like "butter". I think if you continue on the path you are headed you soon be giving up and hanging up the headset, or spending a whole lot of money on retakes.. You've come this far.. You can do it brother...Just re-evaluate, regroup and most of all make a new plan of attack. -Tom

For anyone following this project..Panel is powder-coated, finally found a shop that actually wanted my business and returned calls, even tossed him a pretty nice bonus tip for getting them done quickly and being efficient (turned out great I think). Having the identifier marks put on now. Switches have been installed on the new yokes and Hector from AComfort emailed saying the newly recovered sidewalls and dash are with Fed Ex and headed this way. Hopefully just 2-3 more weeks and we are flying again. Only been down since first week of July. Getting anxious. -Tom

I think your 51-60 will be the leader. Might still be working because you want to, but you also have a good handle on your budget. Kids out of college or on their own. You have either retired or semi-retired, made enough to be able to afford to fly or figured out how to live on a airplane budget. I'm going to fly no matter what. I'll cut corners wherever I need to be able to maintain my plane safely and to be able fly often enough to stay fairly proficient. We rarely go out to eat, vacations are simple and no kids to help support or put through school, the flip side is we have to admit we are now 50+ somethings and seeing things sag where they once did not.. Sheila and I had dinner the past summer while on our trip to New Hampshire vacationing with a friend/retired co-worker and his wife along with a few other friends and co-workers. I had not seen them in 15 plus years, we are all retired or semi-retired, all had aged just a little. My friend made a drink toast.. He said " To all of us, finally LTD"..I questioned, " finally LTD?", what's that?. He smiled and said, " LTD, Living the Dream, brother". I thought about being able to fly the Mooney from Tennessee to New England and see all my old friends and not have a worry about work, budget, time or weather.. We go home when we get ready. I got it!! lol As they say.."You can't take it with you" Spend it on something you enjoy and are passionate about. For me it's flying. -Tom

Panels are back in my hands finally. Can't seem to get any return calls from vendors, forum vendors or locals on doing the screen-print or engraving..even the local powder-coater is out of pocket for a few weeks..Nothing more discouraging than wanting to give people your money for service and they still don't reply. The plane is getting closer to being done and I need these ready, no time to wait. I've decided to start the panel project on my own...Did some research over the weekend and think I'm ready to tackle painting the panels and the lettering will be done using my old sign and graphics computer and plotter. At least if it comes out badly I have nobody to blame, but on the flip side if it comes out good I get to blame the same person. Pretty frustrating, but I'm always up for a challenge. -Tom

Panel is nearly ready to be sent to powdercoat. Hopefully, pick it up tomorrow to send out to "somebody", still working on that end. Time to decide on color etc..Getting closer. Panel should be pretty clean layout when finished. This is a change from the previous panel on both sides. I think this is revision #4. Glad they are not charging by the sheet. The shop really is working to make it look extra clean and well thought out. -Tom

Trying to figure out how to pack that kitchen sink you wanted $$ BTW..Yes I did, today. -Tom

Out with the old insulation and in with the new.. Got wires? Yikes!!

One of the reasons I've slowed up on my IFR. I'm still working and learning ground school, but as far as applying what I'm leaning in my Mooney with the old panel and equipment I decided to wait for any CFI time and actual in the air training. From what I've read and heard if the plane is equipped when you take your check-ride you better know how to use it ,verify and know that it is working correctly. Made no sense to me to push quickly toward IFR using my current steam gauges when I knew that during midstream I would be changing my panel to Aspens etc..It will be like relearning flying all over. I expect by changing my set-up it will set my training back 6 months minimum. I probably (hopefully) would have earned the IFR ticket quicker with my old set-up because I was comfortable and simpler to use. Learning with new electronics will certainly make for a tougher learning curve. I guess that's why they call a 152 and similar " trainers". Much less to trip you up on check-rides. -Tom

You asked a similar type question when Lance posted and sold his Garmin 796 on the forum. The same answer pretty much applies here as well. The 560 is smaller and designed for aviation, plus has the BT and XM features. The Garmin 560 is sold . Sold pending a reply and a second waiting in the wings. -Tom

I know you said you were 6'4", but I think you might need to get the scales recalibrated..lol.. this is not a rock solid 240!.

You've got jokes this morning..even after the cost of shipping those bikes. That's good..lol What I put on here is just aviation related..You should see my EBay. I'm afraid they will hold my plane hostage until I get the bill paid from the upgrades, of course that's if they ever get done. Of course it's also getting to be property tax time and insurance renewal with the business..always something. I'm thinking only thing left after this is yard-sale next weekend :)..but, hey I'm making progress and I might have a kitchen sink in there for you. I think the upgrades were just a good motivation to get me to clean out clutter..maybe a "win-win". Out with the old, in with the new. -Tom

I've got a Garmin 560 available for sale. Clean unit with all accessories. $600 shipped to lower 48 SOLD Also still have the Rapco Vacuum Pump I advertised prior. I'll do just the pump for $80 shipped to lower 48. Good as back up or core exchange. SOLD -Tom

Just add the 46HX (if you haven't already) and you will have it covered...broke, but well covered -Tom

SOLD-

You guys were a long ways from home..lol They have done most of the work on my Mooney..They don't like it, but they've been doing it complain, complain, but when it comes to avionics they do a good job. Wish I knew you were in the area. Could have grabbed lunch over here at KDYR - 5 min across the river. -Tom

or you saw something that resembled my plane :)..I was there this morning. Were you picking up the other Mooney this afternoon?

Sent one back at ya..

Something like this? -Tom

My plane and logs are in the shop. Engine SMHO is about 1300ish. 73/74 M20E. Worked great when removed. -Tom

Any offers reasonable offers on these. I would consider selling individual parts separately if someone needs just part of it. This was just how it was removed from my plane. -Tom

I'll send you a PM this afternoon or you can give me a call. I'll PM the contact number.

Chris, Giving a honest answer is tough for me. I ride my road bike only occasionally. I'm not a avid rider, but having said that my road bike is a Fuju Transonic and to me as far as road feel it is actually pretty close between the carbon folding and my Fuji. If you remember I had first purchased a Dahon and another folder ( I forgot the name of the 2nd bike) before buying these Allen's and actually sold the Dahon to one of our MS guys. If comparing these Allen to the Dahon I can say it was much easier to peddle my fat arse around on the these vs. the Dahon that I had. No much of an explanation, but Sheila rides her road bike to the gym nearly every day when the weather permits. She was very impressed with these Allens when we took a stroll around the hood. She actually doesn't want me to sell them. If I could get her as excited to fly then we might not be selling these so quickly. I just don't see it in the cards and I just can't justify this nice of a bike as a "once in a while bike". One hurdle at a time..get her to fly, then we worry about how we are going to get the a bicycle wherever we might be headed. Long explanation, but you get the idea.. -Tom