jmills Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Well, I bought N401RK, a '90 M20J. Both the engine and prop recently overhauled with both only at 25 hours when I picked it up. Pretty nicely equipped, with a 530W, Century 2000 AP, and an EDM-700 to name some of the avionics. It was out in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I had Northern Air, a MSC do the pre-buy, then an annual and IFR cert while I was at it. I brought my CFII with me, Eric Baron. Nice guy, and a former M20K owner and devout Mooniac. We flew it home from Grand Rapids Michigan to North Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday. The storms and tornado warnings across the country grounded us in Springfield, IL on Friday. On Sat., we finished up and got her home. Prior to this weekend, I haven't landed a plane or talked on the radio in 14 years! So, I've got loooooooooots of training to do. Well, there's a second time for everything right? Anyway, I wanted to personally thank Ken Reed (KLRDMD) and Sanjeev (Jeev) for really helping me out in making Mooney my choice for my first aircraft, and for putting up with my endless stupid questions. Surely, I will continue to bother them and tred on their good graces by continuing to ask even more stupid questions over the coming months and years. Well, off to do some pattern work with Eric today, and begin my re-introduction to flying! -jason PS My signature is linked with some photobucket pics of the plane and trip home. Quote
danb35 Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Congratulations! The plane looks great--should have many enjoyable years of flying ahead of you! Quote
MooneyMitch Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 WOW! What a gorgeous looking Mooney you found! Congratulations and have a blast. So exciting!!!!! Quote
Magnum Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Just yesterday I looked at N401RK, it is adverised in Europe, too. How much did you pay, asking price (delivered to Europe) was US$126.000. A really nice aircraft, very good choice. Get a GPSS to get the maximum out of the 530/Century 2000 combo. Quote
mooneygirl Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Many Many congratulations on becoming a Mooney owner. You will not regret it I am sure. Good luck on your training! You should think about joining MAPA if you haven't. They are our Mooney Aircraft and Pilots Assn. http://mooneypilots.com/forms/members/form.html Make sure to use these boards to get support, mentoring and questions answered. Again, what a happy happy day!!! Quote
KSMooniac Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Beautiful plane! You did very well. Congrats! Quote
skyking Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Way to go jason. She is a beutiful airplane. Hope you have a long and wonderful time flying her. Quote
Mooney_Allegro Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Hi Jason, and congratulations on your new purchase! The plane looks very clean and beautiful. Do you keep it at Henderson or North Las Vegas? My parents just sold their hangar at North Las Vegas, and if I move out to Las Vegas, they will buy a hangar at Henderson for my Mooney since we are all pilots. I like the paint job, it's very nice and nice interior. Looking forward to seeing it next time I'm out in Las Vegas. Quote
FlyDave Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Congratulations Jason!!! It's a great feeling to buy a plane like that. I transitioned to my 201 starting in mid March and I now have about 40 hours in it. Take you time and pick your instructors brain as well as the people on this board. It's a great airplane to fly - getting used to the speed was a real factor for me as I transitioned from a Cherokee 140. Quote
piperpainter Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Niiiiiccceee!! Congrats Glad you got to fly it home as well! Quote
Jeev Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Jason did exceptionally well on this purchase... It looks even nicer in person, I was making my J jealous when I came back last night.... Jason is three spots down from me and i drooled all over his new Mooney!!! SWEEEEEET! Quote
kerry Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Nice plane, You followed me into KVGT Saturday evening. I saw you at the fuel island as I taxied back to the south shades. Now I understand why you looked so excited. Quote
231Pilot Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Congratulations! You will love the J. It is a wonderful aircraft. Fast, efficient, and fun to fly! Quote
jmills Posted May 3, 2010 Author Report Posted May 3, 2010 Yep, I joined MAPA even as I was looking. I plan on going to that owner seminar in June. I'll be keeping it based at KVGT under the covered shades. I'd like to move to KHND as it's closer to my house, but there is a four year wait list for covered shade at Henderson. I got on the list a month ago. Few years from now, they should give me a call. As for the look on my face Kerry, that was just my typical 'deer-in-the-headlights' look that I possess naturally without any work at all! Haha. My landings today were... um... well, we walked away from them, and the plane isn't bent. So that's good. And thanks for the well wishes, folks! Quote
Sven Posted May 4, 2010 Report Posted May 4, 2010 Bought my first plane ever, M20D, a year ago after 20 years of flying inactivity. I know exactly how you feel. I jumped right into the FAA's WINGS program and joined AOPA and have been taking every seminar they offer along with a lot of studying. So much has changed in 20 years that it feels like I'm starting all over. I earned my bronze and silver WINGS and am gaining in confidence with every flight. The Mooney, even though it's a fixed gear, is very different than the Cessnas and Pipers I was used to flying. It's much more of a challenge and requires flight by the numbers but I love it. I've already experienced a complete electrical failure and a tire blowout on touchdown. I'm getting more comfortable with the radio and trusting the fancy new GPS unit I wasn’t so sure about. Look at attending a Vintage Mooney Group fly in. I've yet to get to one myself but I look forward to the camaraderie. My partner told me during my re-training that I would reach a point where I would be thinking I made a really bad mistake. I did about 6 hours into my recertification. But then I had a couple of night flights that brought back the magic and made me feel like the pilot in command that I was once was instead of the old student again. The day my instructor signed me off last summer was just like the first time soloing and getting my ticket all in one. Only this time I was old enough to celebrate with a beer afterward. Enjoy the recertification and maybe we’ll see each other at a fly in out here in the west. -Sven Quote
DaV8or Posted May 4, 2010 Report Posted May 4, 2010 Congratulations! Very nice plane! I too hope to join the ranks of the Mooney owners club very soon... I'll keep my fingers crossed for the prebuy. Quote
Jeff_S Posted May 5, 2010 Report Posted May 5, 2010 Nice, Jason. That one hadn't been on the market when I was looking last year or it would have been on my list. I know you'll enjoy getting to know your bird. Incidentally, I glance through Controller and TAP all the time, and I've noticed that there is a dearth of Js on the market right now...I think the tide is shifting and the good ones are starting to get bought. So it seems like we bought right at the bottom of the market...that so seldom happens to me! Quote
jj73 Posted May 12, 2010 Report Posted May 12, 2010 Jason -- Curious if your pre-buy turned anything up about the false spar and the rivits that were added. Quote
jmills Posted May 12, 2010 Author Report Posted May 12, 2010 Quote: jj73 Jason -- Curious if your pre-buy turned anything up about the false spar and the rivits that were added. Quote
jj73 Posted May 12, 2010 Report Posted May 12, 2010 Quote: jmills Yes. Northern Air was quite thorough in the pre-buy inspection and subsequent annual I had them perform. Quote
Tom_Veatch Posted May 12, 2010 Report Posted May 12, 2010 Quote: jmills ...Prior to this weekend, I haven't landed a plane or talked on the radio in 14 years! So, I've got loooooooooots of training to do. ... Quote
jmills Posted May 12, 2010 Author Report Posted May 12, 2010 Quote: jj73 Yes. Northern Air was quite thorough in the pre-buy inspection and subsequent annual I had them perform. Quote
jmills Posted May 16, 2010 Author Report Posted May 16, 2010 Yowzers. Got my complex endorsement and BFR knocked out today. Warning, steer clear of the Southwest until I log another 100+ hours... haha. Quote
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