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It will not surprise anyone on this site that knows me that I have a different airplane. This is #16. I change airplanes as my needs change. A couple of years ago I had a really sweet Mooney 231. A good friend of mine wanted it and I wanted more useful load (892 lb wasn't enough) and air conditioning. So I went about looking for an airplane that met those needs. I was looking for 1100 lb useful load in a single or 1500 lb in a twin. Other than those requirements, I was open to the specific airplane. I came upon a really nice B55 Baron. There are some photos of it on this site. Most importantly, it had flown just shy of 100 hours per year for each of the previous seven years. Right at a year ago now I accepted a position that allows me to fly to work a couple of days a week. It is only a 57NM flight each way but over the mountains that turns a 2 hour commute each way into a 20 minute flight. That flight comprises most of my flight time now, and it is done solo with me only bringing a back pack. So I started to investigate what I wanted next as the Baron certainly isn't required for that flight. Lancair 360 ? RV series ? Cessna 150 ? Two seats are all I need for that flight. But I need to get to 7,500/8,500 ft to clear the mountains and that may be 11,000 ft density altitude in the summer. A 150 is out, as is a 172. I guess a Cessna 182 would be the minimum. I had a Lancair and didn't like it. I've had a couple of 182s and really didn't want another one. I'm thinking 200 HP minimum. A nice F/J/K Mooney would be perfectly reasonable. I also go to Mexico a few times a year with the Flying Samaritans so four seats would be nice and useful load is good for those flights. I also need enough fuel to make it to Mexico and back without taking on fuel as the availability of fuel in Mexico is always in question. Looking for at least 1100 lb useful load rules out the Mooneys. A few weeks ago a guy posted on BeechTalk that he has a nice S35 Bonanza and was looking to trade for a Baron. We talked, we came to an agreement and we swapped airplanes last Sunday. The Bonanza has flown 100 hours per year for the last ten years. Yesterday I swapped out the Garmin 430W for an Avidyne 440 and I'll probably swap out the Garmin 340 audio panel for a PMA450B. The first photo is both airplanes side by side last Sunday, then photos of the Bonanza.

Hello Mooney Pilots, I am starting to get serious about purchasing an Acclaim. I live in Los Angeles and would like to meet someone in the area who could show me their plane, answer some questions, and let me buy them lunch. I owned a Bonanza for 10 years, and I am into year 5 of a Cessna 340. I learned about and purchased both airplanes by joining forums like this, asking questions, and meeting owners. I moved up to the 340 because I needed the room, but my mission profile has changed and there is no need to take all that metal with me on every flight now. I have become addicted to the speed, and the only way I could give up the twin is if I could fly faster (with a lot less fuel). I have also become quite fond of pressurization and flying up high, so wanted to get your impressions of using oxygen for hours at a time. After years of owning antique aircraft, I also love the idea of owing a plane built in current century that does not have brittle plastic and wiring. Any other thoughts on Mooney ownership would be welcome. Thank you for your time! Ron Mohrhoff KSMO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kawRTrdFbQI Pretty cool video, Bahamas video of Bonanzas flying low and in formation.