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Joe Minor

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Joe Minor last won the day on June 17 2013

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About Joe Minor

  • Birthday November 16

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Huntsville Alabama (HSV)
  • Interests
    Helicopters
    Classic Porsches
    Hiking
    Skiing
  • Reg #
    N1151H
  • Model
    M20J

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  1. I'm Joe Minor who bought Zane's 68C and I just came across this post doing a search on Oxygen systems of all things. I've flown Zane's old plane about 20 hours now and am very happy with it for my first venture into general aviation and aircraft ownership, but I suppose that's off topic. With respect to the thread topic I can comment on exactly why I ended up buying 11N from Zane and his father. I'm a first time plane buyer, as I would guess many of the individuals buying a vintage are. I'd done a lot of internet research comparing similarly equipped aircraft with my minimum requirements (6-pack dash, IFR GPS, 1 axis autopilot, Engine monitor, <1500 SMOH) and contacted 4 or five sellers who were all in the same 45k-55k price range. Of the 5 I contacted requesting log book copies, 1 didn't respond at all, 2 said they didn't have scanned logbooks, and the other aircraft that send the logs had compressions in the mid 60's. Zane got me the complete scanned books and several dozen pictures within a day of my first email contact. Everything looked in order and in the course of the next week over a dozen emails we'd arranged a purchase contract and movement to a MSC near my location in Huntsville all while I was still in Afghanistan. More than anything it was the quick response to emails and honest answers to my questions. Not all of the answers were good news (Does the fuel take leak?, etc.), but the answers were all honest it helped build the trust between a seller and (especially a first time) buyer that is necessary for a major purchase. I was actually looking for a E or F and am sure I could have found one that was as good or even a better deal than 11N that I ended up buying, but I felt very comfortable buying 11N, even when it wasn't exactly what I was looking for because of the quick and honest email responses. Not to say that I'm not very happy with the plane, but I want to emphasis that I ended up buying something different than I was originally looking for based on good honest polite dealing by Zane and his father. Right now I'm mostly searching the forums as it seems most of my questions have been answered 2 or 3 times in the past. I'm sure I'll have some questions in the near future worthy of posting and hopefully as I gain some more GA experience can even chime in with opinions here and there v/r, joe minor
  2. Thanks to everyone for the welcome and the feedback. I have a lot to learn before I finally pull the trigger and buy a plane but at least it sounds like I'm on the right track at least. I'll continue to "scrub" the forum for answers before I post new questions. I think I'll wait on a final base airfield decision until I figure out where I'm going to live. Hopefully getting out there on the ground will make that decision a little easier. Not that I need another reason to look forward to redeployment, but buying and flying a Mooney is definitely adding to the desire to get back to the States.
  3. I’ve been reading the forum here for a month or so now and the information has been invaluable and answered a lot of questions. But like all areas life I’ve found that the more I learn the more I realize I don’t know. I’m an Army Experimental Test Pilot currently deployed in Afghanistan flying helicopters (UH-60M and AH-64D). I have about 1800 total hours, but only just over 100 in fixed wing aircraft (30-C172, 30-C182, 30-King Air 200, 25 – misc). I have my Commercial-Instrument Multi-Engine rating via military equivalency, but still need to pick up my ASEL commercial since I never received a single engine military qualification. I’m about a month from redeploying back to Huntsville, AL and am planning on purchasing a plane shortly after returning (what else would I do with saved deployment money?). I’ll be in Huntsville until late summer when I’ll be moving out to the Bay Area to work at Moffett field for the next 2-3 years. I’ve run the spreadsheets and weighed intangibles and decided that I “need” a Mooney. My usage would be 300-500NM trips about 1.5 times per month out of the bay area, 70%-solo, 25% 2-adults, 5%- 3 or 4 adults. Originally I’d thought an early J model would be ideal, but after looking at hanger waits/cost in the Bay Area and then working in a good emergency maintenance fund I think a C/E/F around $50k is better suited for me. Current list of “must haves” include standard 6 pack instruments, AP with altitude hold, basic GPS, Dual VOR/ILS. Aside from comments and thoughts about the above logic I have some specific questions: Which Airport in the Bay Area would you recommend? Right now Livermore (LVK) looks like a good choice, it’s a bit of a drive, but has reasonable tie down/hangar /fuel costs and an ILS, also most of my flights will be north to Oregon so it gets me out of the SFO area. Hayward (HWD) came out second on the spreadsheet. I’d like to get a few hours training in a Mooney prior to purchasing, is there anyone who instructs in a Mooney in the Nashville-Birmingham-Atlanta area? I’m sure I’ll think of more, thank you in advance for the help. Respectfully, Joe
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