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AlanA

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Everything posted by AlanA

  1. AlanA
    It is a broad question but I think it can give valuable insight as what an owner can expect at annual time. Some upgrades or option repairs are cheaper if done at the annual while cowlings and other parts are already removed. Sometimes repairs cant' wait. Over the years I have spent between $13000 and $3000 at the time of the annual. This year I hope for it to be less as I earlier spent $5000 grand on avionics and another $1000 on new tires and other small fixes. What I think is especially interesting and insightful is the number of owners identifying costs of $1000 - $1500 because I believe this identifies what the lower range and actual base cost of the annual inspection can be if no additional repairs are needed or if an owner can assist in the inspection. Also if you take the time on the poll to match up who voted for which cost with who voted for the largest expense you can also get more information as to why the more expensive annuals were more expensive.
  2. AlanA
    What is the cost of your annual and what was the most expensive ?
  3. AlanA
    I would like to replace the Questair OAT in my window with something easier to read and more accurate. Any suggestions? Is there anything which is FFA-PMA approved?
  4. AlanA
    I use to balloon frequently until I changed to a power on landing technique. Now very rarely happens. There is a good article written recently about power on landings in AOPA's ( or was it Plane and Pilot?) magazine. Helped me a lot!
  5. AlanA
    I had the same question and posted about it 6 months or so ago. Search for the post. Many people posted exactly the information I needed including part numbers. Only cost a few bucks. it was very helpful. I replaced the seals on both fuel caps in about 40 mins. It is super easy. Next time it will only take me 20 mins.
  6. AlanA
    I had a similar experience. I had a 201 for many years. I sold it and then missed it so much I turned around and basically bought an identical 201 a few years later. Rock solid plane. A blast to fly and easy on gas.
  7. AlanA
    The EI analyzer is a EI SR-BAS. I know what I am going to do. I am going to leave the "non-primary" EI gauge there and reinstall an original EGT gauge even though I will never look at it. This way I will be legal but also have the safety factor of having all cylinders monitored. As for the nav lights I am going to replace the bulbs or get a field inspection. Neither issue is a cost burden. What makes me mad is the inconsistency with these and other issues like these. Thanks for all your good comments and ideas!
  8. AlanA
    My "J" is ready for its first annual since I bought it one year ago. My new mechanic refuses to sign it off because the original EGT has been replaced with a EI analyzer which he says is not a "primary" part. He wants me to replace it with the old original part. He also has an issue with the nav lights because the nav lights were replaced with LED lights and don't have a Form 337. So I am wondering why the last eight mechanics didn't have a problem with it? Also, the "J" I owned before this one had the same 4 cylinder EGT/CHT guage and that passed as well. I've seen the same gauge in several other Mooneys too. I would consider going back to a one cylinder engine monitor a safety issue. Why would I want to return to monitoring one cylinder when I have the EI instrument which monitors all four cylinders EGT's AND their CHT's? And I would consider the LED lights much safer than the original and hotter nav lights too. I mean is replacing a nav light really a MAJOR alteration that requires a 337? Am I the only one that thinks that these two issues are ridiculous????
  9. AlanA
    I got into a conversation yesterday with a Mooney pilot who claimed he use to do multiple inverted rolls in a "J" model. I don't plan on going inverted but I am really curious about the M20J's ability to do this procedure. Has anyone done a roll, or heard of other pilots who have done this manuever?
  10. AlanA
    For those of you who monitor your blood oxygen saturation, at what oxygen percentage do you go on bottled oxygen?
  11. AlanA
    I picked up my plane today after some avionics repairs. The pre-flight inspection was good. But a few moments after take off my baggage door suddenly popped open. I knew for fact that I had locked it. Even with the door open my speed was increasing and I was gaining altitude. I landed without a problem. Upon inspection I found the door latch locked. There appears to be no damage. The door fits fine. I attempted to secure the door by unlocking and relocking it but it doesn't make any difference. Either way with only a minor tug the door opens. The problem seems to be in the latching mechanism. Has anyone else had this problem? If maybe one of the shop guys pulled on the emergency wire from the inside would this case ths to happen? If the emergency release is pulled is there something you have to do to reset it? If I need a new latch where might I find one? I hope one of you may have the answer! Thx.
  12. AlanA
    When I test my annunciator panel at run up (1900 rpms) everything is normal, however if I test it in cruise (2500 rpms) it pops the Annunciator circuit breaker. Has anyone else experienced this? Why do you think this happens?
  13. AlanA
    Yesterday while troubleshooting a problem with my century autopilot in my 79 J, I pulled the autopilot breaker. The power to the A/P went off as it should, but it surprised me that my radio mic button no longer worked either. I reset the A/P breaker and the mic worked again. Is anyone else wired this way? If this is normal it seems like a bad combination to me - losing your A/P AND you ability to communicate at the same time you may have to rely on communication to navigate.
  14. AlanA
    I had a similar problem one time after my J was out overnight in a heavy rainstorm and some water got inside. Once it dried I never had the problem again.
  15. AlanA
    Thanks for the tips and part numbers. I found them on aircraft spruce.. Hope to get it done this weekend. Thanks again!
  16. AlanA
    I am going to replace the o-rings on my fuel caps and have my mechanic sign off on it. Has anyone replaced these themselves? Is it as simple as it looks? I'd appreciate any tips. Thanks!
  17. AlanA
    To help raise the oil temp on a cold morning I have experimented with adding hot oil into the crankcase. I set a bottle of oil in a pot of boiling water until it is very hot. Then I pour the heated oil into a thermos and take it with me to the airport and add it to the plane. I normally run the plane on 6 1/2 qrts to 7 qrts so there is plenty of room for another quart. I also have an external engine heater. My thought is that using both methods I am heating both the inside and outside at the same time. I haven't timed it but at the very least I feel that it speeds up the process. Has anyone else tried this? Do you think there could be any harmful effects from this?
  18. AlanA
    I fly back and forth every other week from Bishop, CA to Salt Lake City, UT area, unless the weather is bad in which case I drive. You are welcome to come along.
  19. AlanA
    I flat out asked my line guy if he usually received tips and he told me very rarely. I will tip for extraordinary help but not for just topping off the tanks.
  20. AlanA
    Fantastic tips!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't wait to practice these ideas this week. I'm going to start by seeing if my indicated speed gauge is correct. I have a feeling I may be comming in faster than what it says. As Mike suggested I will get some altitude and verify my stall speed. You have reminded me to focus further down the runway. I think I've been looking under the cowl too much. I'm also going to experiment with different flap settings. I am confident that using your advice my landings will improve. I am sure your advice is also going to help many other new Mooney owners. Thanks again!
  21. AlanA
    Anyone have a canopy cover for a J Model they would like to sale? I am on a waiting list for a hanger. I would like to cover it while I am waiting but don't really need a brand new one for just a few months.
  22. AlanA
    My landings really frustrated me. They should be better - much better, and more consistent. I use the 100/90/80 mph formula - 100 downwind/ 90 on base/ and 80 over the fence-full flaps. I nail the speeds but it seems I often flare too high and then of course drop hard and sometimes even bounce. If I bounce I add power and imediately add power and go around again. Please help me with your tips and experience for consistent perfect landings. Do you recomend power on or power off landings? Do you add a small bit of power last minute in the flare if you notice you are too high? As you come in over the fence what is your decent rate? Full flaps or less? What changes do you make if you are heavy? What references are you using to begin your flare? Thanks!!
  23. AlanA
    Thanks for the calculations. I've wondered about that calculation for a while. Since it's just me, the gas tanks, and long runways at each airport I'll be filling up with the cheap gas for two reasons, (1) to save $$, and (2) because I hate getting reamed at the expensive airport.
  24. AlanA
    I routinely fly to two airports in my J. The trip takes about 30 gallons. At one airport the gas is about one dollar cheaper than the other airport. Here is my question: Is it cheaper to fill the tanks to the brim with cheaper gas but have less a less efficient flight with the unneeded full tanks? Or is it cheaper to get just the amount of gas needed at each airport regardless that the one airport is so much more expensive and have a more efficient flight. Or in other words, I have to add a little fuel no matter what at the expensive airport to have a reserve, but how much should I add at the cheap airport? Or still in other words, how much does it cost to carry around extra fuel that you don't need?
  25. AlanA
    In my 1979 M20J I don't notice much difference, if any, with my ram air on or off. I read an article somewhere where the pilot of the J model said he doesn't ever bother using ram air even in high altitudes because it didn't make a difference. Do you find this to be true? If it is making a difference in your plane, what is difference in speed mph?
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