Considering Moving-up

[TWinter]

Some of you have seen a few of my posts as I have worked continuously this past year upgrading my 73E model. Well, like most of us I have it just about the way I want it and now I have the fever to investigate the possibility of a step up. I recently did a day trip and for the first time managed four adults in the E.  I know many will say that's not a  big problem, but the two extra passengers were my folks, both in their 70s. Dad up front, mom in back with my other half. W/B we are within limits, even with full fuel. The problem is I really could use the extra few inches in the rear and them climbing into the tight backseat is tough. I know with practice they will get better and develop their own technique, I know it took me a while to do it with some form of grace and not on all fours.

 

It's not typical we will all fly together very often, but now that I'm getting pretty comfortable with the Mooney I really hope to be able to take them along on more longer distance trips. As we get older we cherish the little time we get, as a business owner time is at a premium and there is never enough extra time.

 

Now, enough with the sap talk. The reason for the post.

 

I admit for a while I put off looking at other Mooney's for the mere fact I did not know what direction the company was headed. It looks brighter so I'll continue to investigate options.

 

I know my E model has about as small of a cabin as they made. I really like the quadrant controls, yes they can be added to pretty much any model, but I prefer to not go the modify route. I could also just learn to get comfortable with push/pull controls as well, and I may end up going that route.

 

The obvious next step is the J body for four adults. Obviously, we are all maxed out height wise, maybe not waist width. LOL, but we try to stay within W/B.

Here is the question for Mooney era experts. What years did the J come out with the quadrant style throttle?

 

My dream Mooney would be the Missile or Rocket (others Bravo, Os are out of budget) with a quadrant throttle..Don't see those happening.

Bottom line, I need more room, and I would like more ponies. What years did the J have the quadrant? or maybe I man-up and get comfortable with push/pull and get that Missile or Rocket. My mission...as we all ask the newbies?  is to fly four adults slightly faster than my E, but definitely wanting more room. Looking at 4-6 hr trips.

It's not too early to start a Christmas wish list

 

[carusoam]

Tom,

Think big!

Buy your penultimate plane second...

Save the E for retirement...

Anything with a 550 in it is nice...

We're you looking for approval? You have mine....

The Ovation has knobs and they twist for fine adjustments... (there's a name for these)

Enjoy the search,

-a-

[RocketAviator]

I had for many years with over 800 hrs in her just sold my Saratoga, lots of room, would carry just about as much as you could stuff in the doors but slow as molasses in January.  That is compared to the Rocket.  For a while I had both the Saratoga and the Mooney, thought I would not miss the ol Stationwagon Saratoga... I was wrong on several points but I REALLY like the speed of the Rocket and miss the space and comfort of the Saratoga.

In my Rocket I have carried 4 FULL adults and absolutely maxed out the weight limits and could not do it with full fuel!  Flew on an 80F day from a moderate strip, absolutely no problem the Rocket had the power and performed at or better than the POH called for by a good factor.  Climb was at 1250ft/Min at 132kts all the way to FL12....  I estimate the take off less than about 1000' 

 

Now the bad news it was not a very comfortable flight for those in the rear seats for the 2.5hrs back to El Paso from Dallas especially with an extra stop for fuel!  But we got there in a hurry at 190kts TAS!

[RocketAviator]

By the way good looking bird in your thumbnail.... from what I can see our paint schemes are similar!  Ok maybe that makes me a little prejudice!!

 

Fly safe,

Rocket On!

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Don't be put off by the vernier (push/pull) engine controls. My Acclaim has verniers and my RV-8 has a quadrant. I'm comfortable with both but my personal preference is the verniers.

[carusoam]

Thanks Joe, that was the word I was trying to dig up!

The Verniers work pretty well. They just look ordinary...

They push pull for large changes and twist left right for small changes.

Best regards,

-a-

[TWinter]

Great suggestions and Jim "openskyflyer" gets the "Bonus Round" for the quadrant in 77 models. Thanks guys.

 

Just got off the phone with Seth and had a great informative talk about the Rocket/Missiles. Peaking my interest even more so. He made a good suggestion

as far as the occasional flight with the folks. Look for a partnership or just outright renting for the occasional family outing. Just a few times a month. There were two local guys with a true four seater, I'm thinking it was a Baron and they were looking for a partner as a third, maybe partial partnership?. This might be a win/win for family and my Mooney fix, but being an adrenaline junkie I'll still consider the upgrade of the M20E to Missile or Rocket. I was hesitant until the recent Mooney news. Now that it looks like Mooney is making progress it lights my fire a little brighter.    And thanks for schooling me, I forgot they actually had a technical name..vernier (push/pull). Yep, that's it. Now I remember  

 

Several options. Time will tell..  Thanks, Tom   

[mooniac58]

As I guy that just moved up from a M20J with verniers to a Malibu Mirage with a lever quadrant I really, really miss the verniers - it is about impossible to make a .5 GPH adjustment on the mixture without about 3-5 go's at it.  With the verniers you just give a little twist (they are on a threaded rod) and you can make the most precise of adjustments.

 

Assuming the current buyer for my J does not work out I would be more than happy to show it to you! 

[bnicolette]

There looks to be a great deal on a "J" on this board.  Under $60K.

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/9461-77-m20j-for-sale-kikv/#entry121622

[TWinter]

There looks to be a great deal on a "J" on this board.  Under $60K.

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/9461-77-m20j-for-sale-kikv/#entry121622

I'm waiting for you to jump in first..I see you have the itch as well.

 

Now that I have mine pretty well the way I like it and with as much as I have tied up in it will take something really special to make me jump, but when I do I'll be all in.

[TWinter]

As I guy that just moved up from a M20J with verniers to a Malibu Mirage with a lever quadrant I really, really miss the verniers - it is about impossible to make a .5 GPH adjustment on the mixture without about 3-5 go's at it.  With the verniers you just give a little twist (they are on a threaded rod) and you can make the most precise of adjustments.

 

Assuming the current buyer for my J does not work out I would be more than happy to show it to you! 

I have seen your gallery. Just stunning panel..and plane for that matter. I think I could learn verniers with that panel.LOL

Very nice!

[201er]

Sounds like you need a Cessna 210 more than a M20J for your mission.

[FlyDave]

Tom,

 

I don't know about you but this looks like a really really nice 201 .

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/10262-1982-m20j-for-sale-nice-plane/

 

It only has vernier on the prop and mixture (1 down, 2 to go). The throttle is just a standard push/pull because vernier on the throttle is more difficult (in my eyes).

 

Call me if you want to talk about it.

 

Dave

[FlyDave]

Sounds like you need a Cessna 210 more than a M20J for your mission.

 

Shhhhhh

[KSMooniac]

FWIW, I should have a throttle quadrant, console, and controls from my '77 within a few months up for sale. I plan to change to linear controls when I overhaul my engine, and have no plans to keep that stuff. Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

[Marauder]

Don't forget about the 75-76 F models. Quadrants and the same longer body as the early Js. I like the quadrant as well in my F.

[Bob - S50]

Hi TWinter.  My first post here.  A group of us got together to buy a J.  Don't know a lot, but we found that, as someone already mentioned, the '77 had a quadrant but the '78 had push pull verniers.  We liked the verniers better because it was easier to make fine adjustments to the prop and mixture.  We did not like the '77 for one other reason... the tank selector valve is under the pilot's feet.  Although I'm sure others are good at it, we felt it would at the very least be awkward to change tanks.  Starting with the '78 they moved the valve to the floor between the seats.  Much easier to reach.

[bnicolette]

See pg 2

[TWinter]

Sounds like you need a Cessna 210 more than a M20J for your mission.

I see how you are..just push a Mooney brother to the curb..LOL

[TWinter]

Tom,

 

I don't know about you but this looks like a really really nice 201 .

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/10262-1982-m20j-for-sale-nice-plane/

 

It only has vernier on the prop and mixture (1 down, 2 to go). The throttle is just a standard push/pull because vernier on the throttle is more difficult (in my eyes).

 

Call me if you want to talk about it.

 

Dave

Dave, Nice plane and good features..I'm pretty well confused at this point. Really need to give the options some serious thought.  I think I need a flying fix this afternoon..

[bnicolette]

I typed a message on my iphone through tapatalk but when i posted it the only thing that came through was the "quote" so disgusted i just deleted it.

I was just saying that im not quite ready to make the jump. Every time i go out and play around in my 201 i just cringe at the possibility of not having it anymore and having something that is going to undoubtedly cost me more money to operate. I simply love my 201.

Ive been toying with the idea of trying to find a Baron or Aerostar owner near me that might be interested in a share agreement so we both could have the best of both worlds so to speak. Something economical and something that can complete a trip regardless of most wx. That would be the perfect scenario for me. Probably dreaming though.

[gsengle]

I don't know why anyone wouldn't want Vernier controls...  Far superior IMHO - other than maybe some silly coolness factor - you know, like the totally non functional swept tails that Cessna went to in the was it 60s for marketing purposes...

[Marauder]

I typed a message on my iphone through tapatalk but when i posted it the only thing that came through was the "quote" so disgusted i just deleted it.

I was just saying that im not quite ready to make the jump. Every time i go out and play around in my 201 i just cringe at the possibility of not having it anymore and having something that is going to undoubtedly cost me more money to operate. I simply love my 201.

Ive been toying with the idea of trying to find a Baron or Aerostar owner near me that might be interested in a share agreement so we both could have the best of both worlds so to speak. Something economical and something that can complete a trip regardless of most wx. That would be the perfect scenario for me. Probably dreaming though.

 

I almost went down a similar path -- but in reverse. A buddy of mine was interested in getting a Piper Cub. He wanted me to sell my Mooney, let me buy into half of his Mooney and he would buy into half of the Cub. But for me, that arrangement is more binding than my marriage and I just couldn't see myself married to a 50 something guy... 

 

I do like the "share agreement" concept. With your qualifications, you might be lucky to find an owner who is not putting enough time on the plane and this would be a way for them and you both to benefit.  I do know one owner near me that is doing that with his plane. He is letting a Citation pilot fly it at cost just to make sure it gets run enough.

 

Too bad you live so far out west...