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2000 votes - that’s a lot of DFW pilots. I’ve been with pilots that had that ‘experience’. Not a pro at all. One time was enough for me and I stopped training there… Brandy at KGYI is an absolute pro. Met her and talked to the tower group. Great place to train - So are the controllers at KHQZ and KGGG (where Maxwells resides). DFW controllers are fantastic too along with ft. worth center. We’re really blessed here in DFW - with this one exception… -Don

KGYI TO KSWI - for fuel -Don

Just to note, I would not call Sherman/Dennison Texas where KGYI is 'upscale'. They are more than an hour and 45 minutes away from Dallas however, they are trying (and getting) jet services to come there - after they raised prices so the GA folks had to leave. I get it, it's business. GA does not bring enough $ in. Somewhere along the line GA needs places to hanger and go. BTW, GA kept GYI alive with all the student traffic and training. It's all economics now and these places need to survive - jet traffic/turbo prop do that... -Don

North Texas Regional (KGYI) did exactly this. Priced GA right out there, new JET service came into the hangers. Even the on field AP left there for the same reason. I did contact AOPA about the price increase and its affect. I've been out of there since May 1st and today, I get an email about a GA Support advocate. I would assume they are aware now but too much water under the bridge since many of us had to leave. -Don

Took the plane out today to Commerce to get the Wheel Wells taken care of. Decided to test her out using the key numbers 2400 RPM, 23 MP (47). Got 148 knots true out of her @ 5500 ft MSL (couldn't get a pic as too much traffic in the area). Had a lot more in her for sure! She is flying great. Glad to be getting the Wheel Wells done for sure. Used about 6 gallons so not bad! Have a new compass on the way, looking to get started with a new CFII in February. I hesitate taking the IFR test due to so many starts/stops with CFIIs. Not many out @ KGYI. -Don

Don, I have the kit installed and I do have a mono audio panel (PMA7000M) using Bose A20 headset. I'm at KGYI and could fly down if you and your AP want to check mine out. -Don

At my home field (KGYI) , we have runway next to the main and a 'closed' RUNWAY along with with soft fields nearby. Lots of options including a 9000 ft runway. I flew out of Addison for a while and stopped as there are no good options for an engine out emergency low altitude. I try to plan for airports where I have options but that is not always available. Not everyone has hull insurance but, the plane is secondary to saving lives... -Don

As luck would have it, a shop @ McKinney is also opening up @ KGYI - right across from my hanger. The FBO said they're a good group of folks so I'll let everyone know how it goes,. Savvy didn't have anyone close to recommend so I was on my own with this one... -Don

Yeah, I'm going to take the advice given. I canceled the appointment for tomorrow and contacted Savvy to see if we can find someone to come out to KGYI. I'm cautious too and I'd much rather wait for them to come out. Seems the prudent thing to do since 'she' is talking to me. She sure did fine over the weekend but, that was in the pattern. Rather not risk it for sure. Thanks everyone... -Don

A couple comments and questions: I see some pics of your plane online. SARLTaylor-N4262H-64.jpg | Sport Air Racing League (sportairrace.org) KGYI-MooneyM20-N4262H-71.jpg | Sport Air Racing League (sportairrace.org) Your cowling doesn't have the ram air found on most Missile conversions like this: Do you have extended range Monroy tanks? I assume you do not since your A&P used 64 gal in his calculation. Where did your A&P get the Arms? The POH says the wheelbase is 5 ft. 11 9/16 inches or 71 9/16 inches. The nose wheel center should be 5 inches in front of the Reference Datum (service manual says should be within 0.06 inches of plumb line from nose gear trunnion which is station -5. See 32-50-02). That means the Main Gear Arm is 66 9/16. Your A&P used 64. Are your nose gear discs collapsed and the nose wheel displaced back? My Missile was weighed by Rocket. 2,169 lbs empty and CG 41.63 inches. I have a standby vac in the tail which adds weight. It is inconceivable that your Mooney is that far out of forward balance. However I see all these pics of it racing. Do you think someone took the weights out of the tail for some sort of speed mod? Regarding Rocket - mine was one of the last Missile conversions. It was done in 2001. They hadn't done any in a while at the time and they actually made a mistake setting up the IO-550. They had to get the Continental Rep out to help remind them - I was there when it happened. Their focus even in 2001 had almost entirely shifted to turboprop conversions of Piper Malibu's. There are some threads here saying Rocket committed to support the STC for 17 years - not sure from when but the last Missile or Rocket was done 20 years ago. They support as a curtesy now but let's be realistic - they haven't worked on a Mooney or internal combustion engine in 20 years. There probably are few if any employees still there that actually turned a wrench on a Mooney. Darwin Conrad is in his 70's. Whoever is helping you has to go dig in the files.

Still waiting on the PCU and Mag to come in. I’m sure there is high demand for these as it’s been almost 10 days. I’m wanting to get these completed, take a longer x-country trip, and plan for the Mooney PPP here in June. G5 will be later (along with GAD 13, electric step, no vacuum instruments!) and, if BK does deliver on TT, will plan that for next year. IFR ticket will be restarting one prop gov and mag are done. Sure wish there was a Mooney specific CFII closer to KGYI for that but, will make due. Flying has really become fun again and I don’t want to miss out on it anymore... -Don

Took her up today - filled up @ Sherman (KWSI) - no seepage! No fuel anywhere (except at the rivets on wing walk) but that is solved starting off on the right tank. Flew a bit - flys great - landings are getting there too. Heaters worked great BTW - found out though the shared hangers are heated anyway! Won’t need to worry too much about that in the future (they keep them warm just enough they said). KGYI is a pretty good kept secret - Rise Aviation is awesome to work with. There are a few Mooneys on field and I’m betting they like the area as much as I do - worth the drive! So the GTX 327 is back and will be install on the 18th. If I get my LHS from Microkit soon, may see if Grayson Avionics can do it or, just wait for when I do the G5. Really enjoying the Mooney... -Don

Another great day to fly, this time a direct cross-wind day (12-15 knots)! I’m taking @donkaye’s advice while flying in the pattern . His guide for the ‘C’ works great. I do however land, full stop, then taxi back. This gives me time to settle down, review after landing ck list and, before take-off ck list. More work taxing back, working the ‘dive away/climb into’ wind corrections on the ground. If you see where KGYI is located, you’d know why. Great airport and outside DFW Bravo. I fly enough in the bravo that this becomes a nice break from all the traffic. I’m more relaxed that way and I’d rather do 5 good stable landings than 10 t-n-g where I may rush. Radios working fantastic, loaner transponder chugging away, plane is flying great. I like the pattern work this way so I get the extra work with the ck lists. Gonna sneak out hopefully before Xmas..weather looks good! -Don

Took her out to get fuel at the nearby airport KSWI (Sherman). Save over a buck a gallon! On the way back, had comm 2 issues and transponder when landing at KGYI. Stopped by the avionics shop to have them check it out. Comm was an easy fix - mic gain was set too low. Transponder - was a bad board - needs repair. Sending out to Garmin — $400-$500 so not too bad. Found out it’s pretty common. Got a loaner for now while I wait the two weeks for Garmin to get this one fixed... Gonna test again on Wednesday... -Don

I’m north of Dallas, about an hr drive. Looked for a hanger @ Hicks, no joy. My IFR training does take me out to Parker - done the VOR-DME A a few times out there ;o) KGYI is about the same drive time... ‘the community hanger won’t let a non AP/IA Work in the hangers (makes sense - I hanger with jets ;o). I’d do it if I could find a local hanger I could rent for a bit (couple of weeks) with room and a willing AP/IA to help me — thus the wait for a shop... -Don

Boy, that is a killer fee! flew into KGYI today, fun trip... -Don

I’ll be in the South Hanger also! Denton has been hard to get into. A 9000 ft runway though at KGYI will be nice on theses hot days ;o) I know a M20B is hangered there and one is tied down too... -Don

Let’s start with this... https://www.airnav.com/airport/KGYI Then search Kgyi to see if it comes up.... https://mooneyspace.com/search/?q=Kgyi&quick=1 Not much activity on MS for Kgyi... I used to hang out there on Sundays... worked in Dallas next to red bird the other six days of the week... Devised a plan for flying TX to NJ... back in the 90s.... Best regards, -a-

1/11 Aircraft PPI - Foothills Aviation Curtis was great to work with and pointed out most things that the owner had already shown me. Discovered shock disks were older than I thought and some hoses should probably be replaced at next annual. Alternator or Regulator needed replaced. KX-155 needs repaired. 1/12 Closed Deal 1/13 Worked with owner and A&P to replace voltage regulator. 1st flight and checkout with CFI that afternoon. 1/14 Avionics orientation with previous owner and then first leg of solo ferry IYK-PRC. 1/15 PRC-PVW then PVW-GYI. 1/16 GYI-GSP (VFR to IFR) then GSP-FAY 1/17 FAY-2W6 Lots of discovery learning along the way but otherwise uneventful cross country during the middle of winter and contending with Winter Storm Jupiter. I'll try to write up a more extensive trip report some time later. Can't thank the members of this forum enough for the valuable knowledge that is archived on this site. Thanks to Pam Roach and Shelly Parker of Bank of Locust Grove. Mike Jacobs of First Pryority Bank. Al Nur of AOPA Insurance. Curtis at Foothills Aviation KCCB. William Hickle Aerospace at KIYK. Brian Cepaitis (CFI) at Farris Aviation at KIYK. All the great folks that I met at the FBOs along the way. Great turns at Legend Aerospace at KPRC. Super friendly crowd at Rocket Aviation KPVW. Jaimey was super helpful getting a place to stay at KGYI and the line rats were very patient with a new owner. Watch out for the fuel prices at KGSP as they have a new owner and the 100LL prices on WingX Pro are wayyyy off. Lots of Hooah at KFAY. Lastly - Thanks to Ken Reed at 2W6 who met me plane side within 2 minutes of landing to show me the hangar and a tour of the facility that is now home (again) to 56Q. I've logged 18 hours in less than a week. Tons more to learn... 56Q Needs - Little spots of surface corrosion on main landing gear - needs fixed up. Must find a place that can replace the shock discs at a fair price. Needs new hinges for nose gear doors. I would like to find a replacement baggage door arm. I would like to start replacing hoses that are old and have no date tags but otherwise functional. Downlock block should probably be replaced as its 52 years old and I would like a little peace of mind that I know its not worn out. G430 is non-waas but am I really going to be flying in conditions that need 200 foot mins? And like most...ADS-B in the next few years. Pics to follow...

$4.20 at KGYI (North Texas Regional) Get out and fly, folks.

Gents, Location and date will solidify soon. The Texas clinic will be discussed at Kerrville this weekend during Homecoming. Leaning toward mid-late June. North Texas Regional (KGYI) is high on my list as is Kerrville. I'm working with our B2Osh friends to assist with safety pilot support as we do not yet have enough formation qualified Mooney drivers in Texas to handle the volume on our own. Gathering a cadre of safety pilots to facilitate training will impact our choice of location. We WILL make this happen! Details will be available soon! For those of you who are saddled up with your spurs on and have no problem flying north of the Red River you're welcome to attend the Caravan clinic in Wichita, KS 16-18 May. https://sites.google.com/site/mooneycaravan/training/2014-wichita

Come on down! If you need anything while you're here feel free to reach out. If you're looking for a fuel stop on the north side, Sherman, TX (KSWI) is 50 mi north of the metroplex and frequently has the cheapest gas in town. North Texas Regional (KGYI) is ~7 mi NW of Sherman is also a good option if you prefer a towered airport with an approach and fuel is only a little higher. On the south side check out Lancaster (KLNC) for cheap fuel SE of DFW, or Cleburne, TX (KCPT) SW. I don't think I'm going to make San Marcos this weekend but we'll see what happens. Scott