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Apparently when my J was originally purchased in 1977, the new owner chose not to purchase the optional step. As I get older, mostly as my friends get older, I’m wishing he had. Does anyone know if there’s a cost-effective way to install a step in a J, where none existed before?

I have heard some discussion regarding the advantages or disadvantages of the retractable step. While most will agree it is cool, some disagree as to the advantages. In a recent Facebook post I saw that someone had their vacuum system removed and has the step hanging out without detrimental effect. Before the electric step conversion, I had left my step hanging (original crank equipped aircraft) by accident and recalled noticing because my speeds were lower and the ball was slightly out. Anyway, decided to do some testing on a short trip yesterday and verified that it does make a difference. In fact, it was quite notable when paying attention to the numbers. I’ll call it an average of about 3 knots. I repeated putting the step up and down a few times and it was consistent. I made a rather crude video for those who must see: https://youtu.be/zOD2mXwcOIk. There are two reasons for the significant speed change. One is obvious, it is that the retractable step has zero aerodynamic abilities. It is a large square tube with an equally blunt step. The second is less obvious, but it is the effect of asymmetric drag on the airframe. Those who have left the step out may note that the ball on your turn coordinator will be ever so slightly out of center, requiring a touch of left rudder to counter it. Just like slipping a plane on final induces drag and gets us slower and lower, this slight slip slows our aircraft down. What percent of the drag is due to the step drag vs slip I’m not sure, but it clearly adds up. Mooney’s are especially sensitive to good rigging, as noted by some wide variation in reported performance. Modern Mooney’s have a more aerodynamic step, so Mooney opted out of the retractable step business in the late 60s. I think it would still be cool to have it retract, but it might be somewhat invasive. Anyway, would love to hear from others with detailed side by side speed comparisons of step up or down or on or off. While I am on the taller side, I still appreciate the step and I know my pax do as well.

Does anyone have a fixed step they would part with? (No pun intended). Sometime in the distant past the step was removed from my '69 'C. Tough for my 5'1" tall wife to get up on the wing, and I'm not getting any younger, either. Part number is 840071-000. -Larry M-20C, Benson, AZ